With the Young Matildas returning from the Philippines and the Junior Matildas strutting their stuff in Indonesia at the Under-18 AFF Championships, our NSW-based NPL stars are back on the job in the mostly-brilliant winter sun.
This week we’re at Lambert Park under the Sunday Night Lights as APIA Leichhardt host ladder-leaders Sydney University.
APIA Leichhardt vs Sydney University
APIA Leichhardt’s undefeated home run to start season 2022 is over after the side’s 0-1 loss to local rivals Sydney University on Sunday night.
Rola Badawiya’s lone goal just after the quarter-hour mark was enough for the Students, who now sit nine points clear of Northern Tigers atop the NPL Women’s NSW table.
Missing defensive workhorse Sarah Hunter, APIA opted for Madeleine Mirković in her stead after impressing in the final half-hour of last week’s win against Sydney Olympic, while University brought in Tara Baudana to replace winger Brianna Oliverio.
Despite the chilly conditions at Lambert Park, the visitors started the hotter of the two sides and tested the makeshift APIA defence after only seven minutes after kickoff, with fullback Gabrielle Peak bombing through midfield only to have her shot blocked at close range.
It wasn’t long before University took the lead, and it was their industry in midfield that bought them the opportunity on goal; capitalising on an Estelle Fragale slip, Badawiya pounced on possession 30 metres from goal before hammering a long-distance effort just beneath the crossbar before Sarah Willacy could tip it over.
APIA came close to equalising six minutes later from a set piece, with Leah Davidson’s towering header cleared off the line by Peak before possession was whisked upfield by Emma Ilijoski.
The home team again threatened from the right wing, this time through striker Shea Connors, whose powerful run and cross from the flank was snuffed out by University goalkeeper Courtney Newbon, wrapping up Connor’s square pass as it fizzed across the six-yard box.
Newbon again saved her side’s blushes on the other side of half-time after a brilliant pass from Rhianna Pollicina found Connors free in behind the Students’ defence, with the shotstopper palming the low effort wide of the near post.
University should have doubled their lead, and Badawiya her tally for the evening, after the striker pounced on a contested ball in midfield and made a bee-line for Willacy’s goal, before Claudia Cicco slid in with an incredibly-timed tackle to keep her side in the match.
The Students again came close to a second goal five minutes from full-time through the crafty Holly Caspers, with the Canberra United winger stepping past Cicco before APIA’s defensive rock won front position again and parried her shot almost onto Marion Street.
APIA Leichhardt 0
Sydney University 1 (Badawiya 19’)
APIA Leichhardt: Sarah Langman; Deborah-Anne de la Harpe, Alexandra Tims (Kaitlyn Torpey 61’), Madeleine Mirković (Elizabeth Ralston 78’), Claudia Cicco, Nickoletta Flannery; Estelle Fragale, Leah Davidson, Rhianna Pollicina; Shea Connors, Sophie Hoban.
Unused subs: Sophie Magus, Kaitlin Kiparizov, Isabella Coco-di Sipio, Lauren Johnson.
Yellow cards: Nil.
Sydney University: Courtney Newbon; Emma Ilijoski, Taren King, Ashely Irwin, Gabrielle Peak; Hannah Jones, Sarah Morgan, Tara Baudana (Stephanie Augoustis 68’); Annabel Martin, Rola Badawiya (Jaime Beaufils 80’), Holly Caspers (Ashley Dribbus 90’+2).
Unused subs: Maxine Peak, Nadine Knight.
Yellow cards: King 27’, Morgan 36’.
Around the Grounds
NWS Spirit 1 Manly United 1 at Christie Park
Macarthur Rams 1 Northern Tigers 1 at Lynwood Park
Blacktown Spartans 1 Bankstown City 2 at Blacktown Football Park
Emerging Jets 0 Sydney Olympic 1 at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility
Illawarra Stingrays vs Football NSW Institute – postponed
| Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| Sydney University | 15 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 22 | 6 | +16 | 36 |
| Northern Tigers | 15 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 31 | 17 | +14 | 27 |
| APIA Leichhardt | 15 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 28 | 17 | +11 | 27 |
| Macarthur Rams | 15 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 25 | 16 | +9 | 25 |
| Sydney Olympic | 12 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 26 | 13 | +13 | 21 |
| Bankstown City | 14 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 22 | 19 | +3 | 21 |
| Manly United | 15 | 3 | 10 | 2 | 27 | 22 | +5 | 19 |
| Illawarra Stingrays | 13 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 18 | 20 | -2 | 19 |
| Blacktown Spartans | 16 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 19 | 21 | -2 | 18 |
| NWS Spirit | 16 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 22 | 33 | -11 | 15 |
| Football NSW Institute | 15 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 11 | 23 | -12 | 11 |
| Emerging Jets | 15 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 11 | 55 | -44 | 1 |
Read more of our NSW NPL coverage here.
