The 2021 WNPL and WSL Cup First Round got underway in South Australia last weekend with a total of eight matches played.
The first action took place on Friday night at the VALO Football Centre where Metro United came away with a 3-0 win against hosts Football SA NTC. Three goals in a thirteen minute spell just before half-time settled the action with Victoria Mansueto, Gabriella DeMarco and Millie Scott all on target.
On the same night, Salisbury Inter Reserves racked up a 6-2 victory over Modbury Jets at Underdown Park. It was the Jets who started the best and they went ahead after five minutes thanks to Brittany Thomas, then an own goal doubled their lead just before the half hour mark. Salisbury Inter recovered with a spell of three goals in six minutes. Zoe Pinnegar got the hosts off the mark on 33 minutes before Effie Arharidis levelled on 36. Three minutes later Amber Pratt put the hosts ahead with the first of her two goals on the night, and grabbed her second on the hour mark. Two goals from Gabrielle Bentley in the closing four minutes settled matters.
Metro United Reserves were first in action on Saturday when they travelled to Adelaide Comets Reserves. The outcome of the game at Ellis Park was never in doubt as Metro’s Reserves ran out 4-1 winners thanks to a Natasha Pritchard hat-trick and Olivia Tripodi. Georgia Giavis was on target for the Comets.
Following this game at Ellis Park was the clash between Adelaide Comets and Adelaide University which came with lots of late drama. Pirrie Weeks put the home side ahead on 52 minutes before Ellie Sparrow’s leveller for the University with thirteen minutes left. With five minutes on the clock, Valeria Guajardo looked to have won it for the Comets when she re-established their lead, only for Georgia Iannella to equalise five minutes into stoppage time, sending the game into extra time. The drama wasn’t over as a minute before the final whistle, Guajardo popped up to clinch a 3-2 win for the Comets.
Fulham United gained a comprehensive 9-0 win from their trip to Frank Mitchell Park to play White City, with both Siobhan Eastham and Angela Mills hitting hat-tricks. Two goals in the opening quarter of an hour set the tone with Eastham and Mia Lundqvist putting the visitors ahead. Two further goals from Mills made it 4-0 at the break. Eastham extended the Black & White’s advantage two minutes after the restart before two goals from Josephine Trimboli extended the lead to 7-0 with 20 minutes still to play. Mills and Eastham completed their hat-tricks with goals in the last three minutes.
Sunday’s action saw West Adelaide returning from their trip to Jack Smith Park to face West Torrens Birkalla with a 6-0 win. Lara Kirkby put Wests ahead just before the half-hour mark with Nicole Tilley making it 2-0 on 48 minutes. Two strikes from Mawa Sumaoro and another from Tilley was added to by Elena Psaroulis’ effort to complete the rout.
Modbury Vista ended the weekend’s action with a 7-1 win over Adelaide Jaguars at Newspot Stadium on Richardson Reserve. Two goals in four minutes from Kelly Tataryn and Georgia Dearden set Vista on their way before Tataryn added a third just before the break. The Jaguars’ resistance was finally broken with another spell of two goals in four minutes shortly after half-time when Tataryn grabbed her second and Caitlyn Williams added Vista’s fifth. Asha-Leaa Wahlheim got a goal back for the Jaguars, but further strikes in the last ten minutes from Sonita Phin and Renee Holmes for Vista ensured that they ran out comfortable winners.
Fulham United Reserves suffered a 6-0 defeat to West Adelaide Reserves at West Beach Parks Football Center on Monday night. The visitors, fielding Adelaide United W-League player Emily Hodgson, were two goals to the good at the break thanks to strikes from Olivia Wilson (28) and Harriet Burnett (39). The second half was one way traffic as West Adelaide killed the game off with three goals in a twenty minute spell. Khatima Sultani (47 and 57) plus Danica Fajardo (67) made it 5-0 before Fajardo completed the rout with a goal five minutes from full time.
The eight winners of these ties move into the next stage of the competition along with South Adelaide, Football SA NTC Reserves, Cove FC, Adelaide University Reserves, Adelaide City, Salisbury Inter, Adelaide City Reserves and Flinders Flames who all received byes.
