Sydney Olympic scored two late goals to secure an incredible 2-1 derby win against Bankstown City Lions at Jensen Park on Sunday evening.
Olympic’s newly-capped Armenian international Claudia Cholakian finished off a memorable week, netting a last-minute winner to seal victory over their local rivals after Charlize Rule had cancelled out Baxter Thew’s first-half opener moments earlier.
Bankstown got off to the perfect start as Thew sent in a floating free-kick from 35 metres, picking out the top corner of Jada Whyman’s goal and leaving the experienced A-League Women’s goalkeeper with no chance of palming it clear.
Olympic came close to equalising just seven minutes later as Lions glovewoman Brianna Edwards spilled her collecting of Taylor Ray’s through-ball under pressure, forcing Stephanie Ambrose to clear her lines before Cholakian pounced.
Edwards was called into action again moments later, parrying Ray’s long-range free-kick out of the top corner and grasping the rebound as four Olympic attackers barrelled down on her.
Despite Bankstown’s ascendency on the scoreboard, Olympic continued to press the Lions’ goal into the second half, keeping Edwards busy time and again as they pushed for an equaliser.
With Matildas winger Cortnee Vine introduced at half-time in place of Jess Frampton, Olympic seemed to gain a second wind, finding seemingly endless joy down the right flank as the substitute crossed or cut inside to find teammates.
Bankstown however almost doubled its lead with a quarter-hour to play after a moment of madness from Whyman. The Olympic stopper rushed almost 40 metres off her line to clear Emily Condon’s delightful through ball to Siobhan Edwards, only to watch hopelessly as the Lions’ substitute’s shot ricocheted off the upright and away to safety.
That miss would prove costly minutes later as Rule found Olympic’s equaliser, combining with Vine on the right to loop a first-time shot over the onlooking Lions defence and inside the far post.
With the rain teeming down as the match ticked towards 90 minutes, Olympic looked much the fresher team. There were only moments left in regulation time when Cholakian made herself the hero on the night, expertly timing her run along the last line of defence to meet Rule’s precision pass and slotting home beyond the diving Edwards to seal an amazing three points.
Bankstown City Lions 1 (Thew 4′)
Sydney Olympic 2 (Rule 78′ Cholakian 89′)
Bankstown City Lions: Brianna Edwards; Stephanie Ambrose, Baxter Thew, Emma Stanbury, Tiana Jaber; Liana Danaskos, Olivia Price, Emily Condon; Georgia Plessas (Siobhan Edwards 54′), Paige Hayward (Daisy Arrowsmith 83′), Skye Casacchia.
Unused subs: Maryam Mostaghini, Kate McPherson, Stephanie Grimbilos, Alyssa Jansen.
Yellow cards: Paige Hayward 23′, Skye Casacchia 51′, Liana Danaskos 58′.
Sydney Olympic: Jada Whyman; Jess Frampton (Cortnee Vine 45′), Charlotte McLean, Angelique Hristodoulou, Winonah Heatley; Charlize Rule, Taylor Ray, Georgia Koutzoumis; Teigan Collister, Claudia Cholakian, Sarah Yatim (Maddi Costanzo 72′).
Unused subs: Georgia Manos, Kate Anthonisz, Lexie Moreno.
Yellow cards: Sarah Yatim 60′.
Around the Grounds
NWS Spirit 1 Northern Tigers 2 at Christie Park
Blacktown Spartans 0 Manly United 0 at Blacktown Football Park
APIA Leichhardt 3 Illawarra Stingrays 1 at Lambert Park
Postponed: Sydney University v FNSW Institute (Junior Matildas callups) and Emerging Jets v Macarthur Rams (washout)
Tue 26 Apr (Round 1 catchup game): Blacktown Spartans 1 Sydney University 0 at Blacktown Football Park
Football NSW Institute and Manly United will play their Round 1 catchup game at Valentine Sports Park on Thursday
