Western United’s debut season will have the most extraordinary end after a Semi Final upset, writes Tom Smithies at Allianz Stadium.
The team who came from nowhere are marching onto the biggest stage of all.
Western United’s debut season will reach the crescendo of a Grand Final after Mark Torcaso’s side sensationally cut down three-time reigning premiers Sydney FC on their home turf in the Liberty A-League Semi Final at Allianz Stadium.
Hannah Keane’s first-half goal, a typically predatory strike, proved enough for Western to prevail despite Sydney dominating the contest throughout. It adds more lustre to a remarkable first season, coming second to Sydney on the ladder by only a point and now proving their appetite for the biggest of occasions.
It also provided further notice of Keane’s arresting form all season, this goal coming after the 13 in the regular season that were enough to secure her the Golden Boot. As Sydney snatched at myriad chances in the second half, they could only lament their inability to show Keane’s clinical edge just when it mattered.
The goal when it came on 26 minutes epitomised Western’s gameplan – direct, ruthless and highly effective. It was a strike borne of a thousand training sessions, and came from a careless loss of possession by Sarah Hunter in Sydney’s midfield.
Emma Robers held the ball on United’s right side for a couple of seconds, allowing Khali Johnson to speed past her down the wing and receive the ball on the run. Her low cross was begging for a finish, and Keane provided it from close range.
It was the visitors’ only attack of note in the first half and yet the lead wasn’t a huge surprise, for all of Sydney’s territorial dominance. Western’s first season has been marked by a refusal to be cowed or intimidated by an occasion, and they didn’t seem affected by nerves in their first finals appearance.
No doubt much of that stemmed from the discipline of their defensive structure, smothering Sydney’s vaunted attack at source. The Sky Blues are so lethal in transition usually thanks to their speed that can stretch any opponent, but Western’s game plan afforded them no space – and on the few occasions when Sydney could cut loose, the sure hands of Hillary Beall coped comfortably with early shots from Cortnee Vine.
Beall was able to breathe easily after her one mistake, a flunked clearance that left Rachel Lowe clear on goal and racing into the box, but the Sydney striker pulled a shot across goal and beyond the far post.
The same fate awaited Princess Ibini’s header when well placed in the box, and the missing of such chances became ever more pivotal as Western refused to allow Sydney to dictate the game on their preferred terms.
Vine cut an increasingly tired figure, no great surprise after returning from Matildas duty in London only on Thursday evening. With 20 minutes left she limped from the contest after gesturing to her calf, a concerning sight for Sydney coach Ante Juric.
Juric had already gone to his bench to some effect, bringing American striker Madison Haley on after recent injury troubles. Haley’s awareness of space, and ability to find pockets of it, was immediately apparent; she helped to create a chance for herself but screwed the shot wide as Sydney unleashed an increasingly desperate fusillade of shots on Beall’s goal.
Western’s composure was tested by a distressing injury suffered by left-back Angela Beard, the defender helped from the pitch though coach Mark Torcaso played down concerns later over what he termed a “sprain”.
In Beard’s absence, her team-mates battened down the hatches even further, and collapsed in exhausted elation at the end. Now they have the luxury of a weekend of rest, while Sydney must navigate a path past Melbourne Victory in next weekend’s preliminary final if these two sides are to meet again this season.
