Match of the Round: Sydney Olympic vs Sydney University
Sunday evening saw a strenuous battle play out between 2019 Premiership runners up Sydney Olympic and 2019 treble winners Sydney University at a wet and windy Valentine Sports Park.
With both teams energised off the back of strong wins in Round 1, this fixture would prove to be an early insight into the perseverance of two formidable favourites for the condensed 2020 season.
While Olympic were studded with new recruits from the W-League including Courtney Nevin, Taylor Ray and Cortnee Vine, it was the away side that created the most chances and retained the majority of possession.
Uni started in a 4-4-2 formation, playing Grace Maher and Nickoletta Flannery up front. Early in the first half, Tori Tumeth proved that she is a forward thinking centre-back for the Students, lobbing a beautifully weighted pass onto the end of Irish international Julie-Ann Russell’s run into the right corner of the field. But the first real chance for Uni came in the 16th minute, when Flannery closed in on goal and forced a close-range save from Olympic goalkeeper Amanda Horafios.
Olympic, playing in a 4-5-1 formation, had their best chance of the game in the 28th minute when Sarah Yatim sent a curling ball down the central right flank for Vine, the former Students golden boot. The Wanderers signing showed some composure to get the ball down but couldn’t repeat her goal scoring dexterity from Round 1, instead grazing the top of Courtney Newbon’s crossbar.
The second half saw Olympic coach George Beltsos substitute Nevin for Sydney FC attacker Shadeene Evans, who was switched into left wing while Julia Vignes was shifted to left-back. Uni coach Alex Epakis made a tactical change halfway through the second half, bringing substitute Stephanie Augoustis into a central attacking role, while shifting Flannery to left wing and Maher to defensive midfield, mirroring Olympic’s 4-5-1 formation.
Despite sturdy midfield formations, both teams seemed to be playing a similar tactic of having their defenders bypass the midfield with long overheads to their attackers. In the 73rd minute, Ray sent an excellent pass up to Vine who, despite her speed, couldn’t reach the ball before a capable Newbon. Seconds later and in a mirror image, Tumeth launched a similar ball for Augoustis, who clashed with Horafios on the edge of the box.
Both Olympic and Uni proved that their defensive brawn will be difficult to beat as the season progresses. But with neither side able to convert, the outcome will no doubt come as a disappointment for the players in the new condensed competition format where every goal counts.
Sydney Olympic 0
Sydney University 0
Sydney Olympic: Jess Frampton (yellow card 45+1’), Mackenzie Hawkesby, Amanda Horafios, Angelique Hristodoulou, Charlotte McLean, Courtney Nevin (Shadeene Evans 46’), Teresa Polias, Taylor Ray, Cortnee Vine (Emily Kos 88’), Sarah Yatim (Alexia Karrys-Stahl 81’), Julia Vignes.
Sydney University: Teigan Collister (Gabrielle Peak 77’), Nickoletta Flannery (Carla Trimboli 79’), Bianca Galic (Stephanie Augoustis 67’), Tiana Jaber, Taren King, Grace Maher, Courtney Newbon, Julie-Ann Russell (yellow card 90+3’), Rachael Soutar (Brianna Oliverio 67’), Tori Tumeth (yellow card 38’), Clare Wheeler.
Around the Grounds
NWS Koalas 2 Northern Tigers 0
Manly United 4 Emerging Jets 1
Bankstown City 1 Macarthur Rams 6
FNSW Institute 1 APIA Leichhardt 2
Illawarra Stingrays 1 Blacktown Spartans 1
