The Westfield W-League is set for the most exciting finale in its four-year history after heavyweights Sydney FC suffered a shock 2-1 reversal at home against the resurgent Newcastle Jets.
The Westfield W-League is set for the most exciting finale in its four-year history after heavyweights Sydney FC suffered a shock 2-1 reversal at home against the resurgent Newcastle Jets.
The result, combined with Melbourne Victory-s 1-1 draw with Canberra United in an abbreviated Week 10, leaves just three points separating second and fifth with two rounds remaining.
The big winners of the weekend were Canberra who, despite being held on their road trip to Melbourne, are now just one point away from claiming the premiership.
Canberra can make it a dual celebration when they host Adelaide United next weekend where Jitka Klimkova-s team will be aiming to go through the league season undefeated.
United though needed a late intervention from ace goalgetter Michelle Heyman in Melbourne to maintain their proud record. Heyman cracked home a wonderful strike from the edge of the penalty area with just nine minutes remaining to draw the team-s level.
The goal was Heyman-s tenth of the campaign and leaves the Wollongong-born striker closing in on her second Westfield W-League top goalscorers crown within three seasons.
The only player that can seemingly haul in Heyman is Victory-s Jodie Taylor who scored from the penalty spot in the first half for her eighth of the season.
Victory made much of the running in hot conditions on the artificial surface but found Canberra-s Lydia Williams in inspired form once again.
Indeed it was the visitors who could have snatched the game at the death with Taryn Hemmings denied by a wonderful Brianna Davey intervention.
The result was a costly one for Victory who are suddenly in danger of missing the finals with the Jets just two points in arrears with a game in hand.
The last time Newcastle played at Campbelltown Stadium they secured an against-the-odds 2-1 win, and they repeated the feat in equally impressive fashion.
The Jets were hungry from the opening whistle and could easily have been two goals to the good inside the opening ten minutes before getting their reward via a pinpoint Gema Simon strike.
Nicola Bolger, playing against her former club, soon made it two and only the long arms of Sky Blues goalkeeper Allison Lipsher halted Lisa De Vanna-s lofted effort to prevent an astonishing three-goal half-time deficit.
Sydney returned from the break with renewed vigour creating numerous opportunities but only Renee Rollason could convert.
The result leaves Sydney third, a point behind rivals Brisbane Roar, with the pair to meet in a potentially pivotal final round match in a fortnight.
Adelaide United, Brisbane Roar and Perth Glory all had the bye ahead of next week-s penultimate round.
Westfield W-League 2011/12 Week 10 Round-Up
Melbourne Victory 1 (Jodie Taylor 20- pen)
Canberra United 1 (Michelle Heyman 81-)
Friday 30 December
Veneto Club, Melbourne
Local kick-off: 5pm
Melbourne Victory: Brianna DAVEY (gk), Rebekah STOTT, Maika RUYTER-HOOLEY, Kendall FLETCHER, Danielle JOHNSON, Stephanie CATLEY, Ashley BROWN (RITA MANKOWSKA 89-), Jodie TAYLOR, Catlin FRIEND, Louisa BISBY (Enza BARILLA 66-), Amy JACKSON (Georgie KOUTROUVELIS 84-)
Substitutes not used: Cassandra DIMOVSKI (gk)
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
Canberra United: Lydia WILLIAMS (gk), Caitlin COOPER, Caitlin MUNOZ (Grace GILL 62-), Ellie BRUSH, Michelle HEYMAN, Nicole SYKES (Snez VELJANOVSKA 90-), Ashleigh SYKES (Georgie YEOMAN-DALE 94-), Sally SHIPARD, Ellyse PERRY, Taryn HEMMINGS, Jennifer BISSET
Substitutes not used: Aroon CLANSEY (gk)
Yellow Cards: Nicole Sykes 19
Red Cards: Nil
Sydney FC 1 (Renee Rollason 70-)
Newcastle Jets 2 (Gema Simon 10-, Nicole Bolger 37-)
Saturday 31 December 2011
Campbelltown Stadium, Sydney
Local kick-off: 3pm
Referee: Kirralee Gardner
Sydney FC: Allison LIPSHER (gk), Teresa POLIAS, Danielle BROGAN (Brittany WHITFIELD 81-), Renee ROLLASON, Estelle JOHNSON, Caitlin FOORD, Sarah WALSH (Teigan ALLEN 66-), Kylie LEDBROOK, Thea SLATYER, Leena KHAMIS, Kyah SIMON
Substitutes not used: Sham KHAMIS (gk), Chloe LOGARZO
Yellow Cards: Caitlin Foord 77-, Kylie Ledbrook 90-+4
Red Cards: Nil
Newcastle Jets: Melissa Barbieri (Gk), Alanna Kennedy, Alexandra Huynh, Nicola Bolger, Gema Simon, Linda O’neill (Rhali Dobson 83-), Emily Van Egmond, Lisa De Vanna, Monnique Kofoed (Tara Andrews 90-), Stacey Day, Ariane Hingst
Substitutes Not Used: Alison Logue (Gk), Cassandra Koppen
Yellow Cards: Ariane Hingst 61-
Red Cards: Nil
Bye: Adelaide United, Brisbane Roar, Perth Glory
