Catherine Zimmerman stunned Sydney FC with a goal in injury-time to earn Melbourne Victory a 2-2 draw with the Liberty A-League title favourites.
REACTION: ‘Déjà vu’ in grand final rematch as late corner hurts Sky Blues and a record run ends
Victory jumped off the canvas from 2-0 down on Wednesday night to salvage a draw at City Vista Recreation Centre.
Second-half goals to Princess Ibini and Remy Siemsen gave Sydney FC the edge – and the chance for grand final revenge – before Lia Privitelli reduced the deficit in the 68th minute for the clearly second-best Victory.
In the 92nd minute, the Sky Blues were made to pay for missed chances when Zimmerman pounced on a loose ball in the box to thrash home a left-footed volley.
The result is unlikely to change the finals equation though as Sydney FC are still on top and likely to stay there, while Victory are on track for a top-four finish.
But it sets up a delicious finals series given last year’s grand final was won by Victory over their great rivals against the odds.
On the back of April’s grand-final win and this comeback, Victory might claim a mental edge.
Sydney laid siege to Victory’s goal without success in the first half and were on top of the contest without truly finding their groove.
Sydney fluffed their lines in front of goal before a moment of magic from Ibini.
The towering winger danced to the touchline and fired a left-footed shot from the tightest of angles after 50 minutes to break the deadlock.
Ten minutes later Siemsen was served up a fine chance from Charlize Rule’s inviting centre, heading past Casey Dumont at close range.
With Victory veteran Amy Jackson forced off with a lower leg issue, Ante Juric’s side looked set to blow out the margin.
Instead, substitute Privitelli popped up to tap home Courtney Nevin’s firm cross when Natalie Tobin made a hash of her clearance.
That goal ended Sydney FC’s record run without conceding in a 10-game streak dating back to November.
A dramatic finished looked in the off from that point.
Dumont, who had a top night in goal, produced a stunning save to deny Siemsen while Victory’s Alex Chidiac also forced Jada Whyman into a rare piece of action.
Just when Sydney looked to have done enough, Zimmerman popped up to earn Victory a point.
The draw might have broken Sky Blue hearts but it leaves their quest for an unbeaten season – a feat achieved just twice in the league’s history – on track and within sight.
Sydney face second-placed Melbourne City on Sunday in another top clash, while Victory host finals aspirants Perth Glory on Saturday.
LIVE FEED
By Matthew Comito for KEEPUP
FULL-TIME: Melbourne Victory 2-2 Sydney FC
History almost repeats as a late Cooney-Cross corner swings into the box – but the home side wasn’t able to find the all-important third to complete the comeback.
Watch the highlights below.
GOAL! Mad scramble sees Victory level through Zimmerman (9.58pm AEDT)
It’s a grandstand finish to this one as Victory come from two goals down to draw level with the Sky Blues through a clean Catherine Zimmerman strike after a moment of chaos in the box.
A Victory corner decided the grand final in 2020/21 and in the rematch it was another corner routine which produced the stoppage-time equaliser as Victory nicked a late point.
GOAL! Privitelli off the bench to make it interesting (9.37pm AEDT)
There’s life in this one yet for Victory, with substitute Lia Privitelli coming off the bench to meet a loose ball in the six-yard box on the slide to help it on its way into the back of Sydney’s net.
That’s the first goal the Sky Blues have conceded in more than nine games, with Jada Whyman’s record clean sheet run officially coming to an end as Victory hunt for a leveller.
GOAL! Sydney in the clear as Rule picks out Siemsen to finish (9.25pm AEDT)
What a cross from Charlize Rule to set up Siemsen for Sydney’s second.
It was a lethal whipped ball off the right flank which found Siemsen at the near post to divert the ball through the gap at Dumont’s near post.
GOAL! Ibini cuts left to convert from tight angle (9.15pm AEDT)
She’s prone to cutting onto her right foot off the left flank to find the top-right corner, but this time Princess Ibini elected to drive past Polly Doran toward the byline before sneaking a left-footed strike past Casey Dumont into the back of the net.
That’s four in the season for Ibini – an equal-best for her in the league – as the Sky Blues go 1-0 ahead.
CHANCE: Tobin hits the side netting as Sky Blues apply the pressure (8.30pm AEDT)
It may have looked as though Nat Tobin’s well-hit strike had rifled into the top corner as she struck on the turn from inside her attacking penalty area – but the shot went centimetres wide, brushing the side of the net as it sailed out for a goal kick.
The Sky Blues have been all over Victory in attack as the home side struggle to get a foothold in this one.
CHANCE: Lowe fires wide from inside the box (8.18pm AEDT)
Rachel Lowe should have opened the scoring with that opportunity down the left side of Sydney’s attacking box.
Mackenzie Hawkesby supplied the through pass, plucking out Lowe all alone in the box, but her left-footed strike didn’t even trouble the Victory keeper, brushing the side netting on its way out for a goal kick.
KICK-OFF: Sky Blues, Victory engage in battle (8.05pm AEDT)
Sydney FC venture outside of New South Wales for the first time this season to meet Victory in a crucial game in the race for the premiers plate.
Amy Jackson fills in at centre back for the home side in place of Claudia Bunge on New Zealand international duty.
PRE-MATCH
At long last, the Liberty A-League grand final rematch.
Sydney FC travel to meet Melbourne Victory for the first time this season. Ante Juric’s side sit atop the Liberty A-League table – just as they did at the end of last season as they clinched the Premiers Plate – but a shock grand final defeat was to ensue for the Sky Blues against a hungry Victory outfit led by young Kyra Cooney-Cross.
The Matildas midfielder turned 20 this week, two days after scoring a goal and setting up three more in a 5-0 win over the Wanderers. It’s an ominous sign of Victory’s late push toward the top of the table; Jeff Hopkins’ team sit in fourth heading into this Wednesday-night clash.
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