2022 NSW NPL Women’s Grand Final: Northern Tigers vs Macarthur Rams
After three years in the wilderness, Macarthur Rams has returned to the promised land, defeating Northern Tigers 6-5 on penalties after a scoreless 120 minutes to claim victory in the NSW NPL Women’s Grand Final at Valentine Sports Park on Sunday evening.
Tigers goalkeeper Morgan Aquino kept her side in the match with an incredible 15 saves across the 120 minutes and another in the shootout, as well as converting her own effort from the spot. However, her heroics went unrewarded as Rams counterpart Sham Khamis saved from Abbey Green in sudden death to claim the title.
Right from the off, Macarthur looked to impress themselves on the match, with striker Leena Khamis and winger Laura Murtagh forcing impressive reflex saves from Aquino within 13 minutes of the opening whistle.
Murtagh once again brought the best out of Aquino, finding herself on the end of an awkward cross from Bethany Gordon at the far post, only for the Tigers keeper to tip her volleyed effort over the bar after half an hour.
Seven minutes later, Aquino again saved her team’s blushes after the Tigers defence was cut to pieces by the Rams’ front three, turning Miku Sunaga’s low driving effort away for a corner.
Tigers found themselves inches from taking the lead seconds after the half-time break when a poor defensive clearance fell to Shadeene Evans, though her dipping controlled volley fizzed wide of Khamis’ right-hand upright.
Macarthur had another brilliant chance on the hour mark, again through Sunaga. The Japanese midfielder was played in behind the Tigers’ back four through a brilliant 1-2-3 move by Cáceres and Khamis, but virtually every Rams player had their hands on their heads after another incredible Aquino save.
Nine minutes later Tigers cut Macarthur to ribbons on the counter-attack down the left flank, with Beth Bernardi playing a perfect square pass to right-winger Ash Brodigan, only for her to mistime her run by milliseconds, allowing Patty Charalambous to collect and play out of danger.
With 10 minutes remaining in regular time, Macarthur appeared to have finally found a way through the hermetic seal of Aquino’s goalkeeping. Murtagh’s sliding far-post shot appeared to have crossed the line in Aquino’s gloves, only for assistant referee Alexis Johnson to wave play on and deny her the opener.
Nevertheless, neither team could trouble the scorers across the 90 minutes. As the teams looked to make in-roads during the additional half-hour Tigers finally found its first effort on target through wingback Green, cutting to the byline away from two Rams defenders and fizzing a shot on goal, though Khamis gloved it easily on her second attempt.
Try as they might though, neither team could force the crucial opening, meaning the match and the title would be decided in the cruellest possible way: a penalty shootout.
With only Evans and Ledbrook failing to convert their respective attempts, the contest moved to sudden-death. After McComasky and Bart’s well-taken efforts, pressure fell on the shoulders of Macarthur veteran Leena Khamis, who coolly stroked her penalty down the middle to fool Aquino before pointing to sister Sham on the by-line in a show of confidence.
And so, forward stepped young wingback Green, the weight of her side’s season comfortably on her capable shoulders. Smiling in the face of immense pressure, ahead she strode, striking her effort sweetly and on target – but her surety soon crashed into agony as Khamis read her technique perfectly, diving to her left and parrying it away. The dramatic save crowned Macarthur as Champions of New South Wales for the fifth time and consigned Tigers to its second Grand Final shootout defeat.
Northern Tigers 0
Macarthur Rams 0
Macarthur win 6-5 on penalties
Northern Tigers: Morgan Aquino; Abbey Green, Malia Steinmetz, Teal Kilbride, Josie Wilson; Maddie Bart, Isabel Gomez; Hannah McNulty, Beth Bernardi (Ariella Cabezas 91’), Ashlee Brodigan; Shadeene Evans.
Unused subs: Sienna Fraser, Tess Rickard, Lily McMahon, Sabine Montenegro, Danielle Bartels.
Yellow cards: Bart 43’ Gomez 53’ McNulty 89’
Macarthur Rams: Sham Khamis; Patty Charalambous, Alex Huynh, Madison McComasky, Isabella Foletta (Holly Williams 91’); Darcey Malone (Chloe Gordon 112’), Bethany Gordon, Miku Sunaga (Kylie Ledbrook 59’); Melissa Cáceres (Danielle Bishop 98’), Leena Khamis, Laura Murtagh.
Unused subs: Chrystal Duggan, Brianna Clarke.
Yellow cards: B Gordon 72’ Huynh 118’
