Sydney FC have made the perfect start to the new Westfield W-League campaign with a 3-0 win over last season’s Premiers, Melbourne Victory.
Two goals from Remy Siemsen – both assisted by Westfield Matilda Caitlin Foord – within the first quarter of the match gave the 2018/19 Champions a comfortable lead before substitute Shay Evans scored a header in stoppage-time to seal the three points.
Siemsen – who didn’t score a single goal last season – struck for Sydney in the fourth minute after a smart assist from Foord. The midfielder then doubled the lead after heading home a Foord cross less than 20 minutes later.
Both teams traded several chances throughout the match, and Victory came close to pulling back goals through Natasha Dowie and Melina Ayres on several occasions, but they were unable to find a way past goalkeeper Aubrey Bledsoe.
Eventually, Sydney FC sealed the match in the final minutes when Evans rose to head home a cross from point-blank range.
Read on below to watch highlights and read the key moments from the game!
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Key Moments
Sydney strike three minutes into the new season
Siemsen sparked the perfect start to the defending Champions’ campaign when she put the Sky Blues ahead within four minutes.
Caitlin Foord picked up the ball drove towards Victory’s area before laying a pass to Siemsen near the penalty spot.
The Sydney midfielder took a touch to her left past the defender and then drove a low shot past the goalkeeper into the bottom left corner of the goal.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6105028217001
Victory come close to equalising
Ayres and Dowie combined on several occasions as Victory looked to equalise.
Dowie twice assisted Ayres for attempts on goal, but the attacker wasn’t able to direct her shots on goal.
Siemsen’s super header doubles lead and earns brace
Siemsen and Foord combined again as the former headed home her second goal of the match to double Sydney’s lead.
After a sustained build up, Siemsen got on the end of Foord’s cross from the right-hand flank to the ball past the goalkeeper.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6105032540001
Victory, Sydney forced into strong saves
Both teams continued to trade attempts. Sydney’s Bledsoe forced into a couple of strong saves, including a left-footed shot from close-range from Amy Jackson.
Bledsoe was also alert to jump on a chance after Dowie attempted to control a cross off her chest towards goal.
Dowie came close to pulling a goal back through a headed attempt before half time, but Sydney’s goalkeeper was again in the right place to claim the ball.
Sydney also forced Victory’s Casey Dumont into saves late in the first half off the back of shots from Siemsen and Sofia Huerta.
Chances traded in second half
Huerta and Teresa Polias as well as Victory’s Dowie and Angela Beard created chances in the second half, but none troubled the goalkeepers.
Victory’s Grace Maher unleashed on goal from long-range with just over 15 minutes to play, but her shot curled wide of Sydney’s goal.
Siemsen also had a chance to seal a hat-trick when she was played in on goal within the final 10 minutes, but her attempt at goal was blocked.
Substitute Evans makes it three for Sydney
Evans, who came on as a substitute, almost got a goal of her own when she broke into Victory’s area with minutes remaining, but Dumont was alert to come out and block the shot.
But, Evans only had to wait a few more minutes to get her goal as she connected with Angelique Hristodoulou’s cross to head home Sydney’s third goal of the game.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6105044020001
