A distraught Teresa Polias has spoken of her pride for her Sydney FC teammates following a 2-0 loss to Melbourne City in the Westfield W-League Grand Final on Sunday.
Sydney FC started brightly but failed to capitalise on their chances as goals to Jess Fishlock and Jodie Taylor in either half sealed a third-straight W-League crown for City.
Polias, in tears at full-time, paid tribute to her side’s achievements this season which saw the Sky Blues make the Grand Final after losing their opening three games of the campaign.
FT | An end to end clash in front of a record crowd, but the girls fall just short! Thanks for a memorable season, onto 2018/19! #SydneyIsSkyBlue #WLeagueGF #SYDvMCY #SydneyIsSkyBlue #WLeagueGF #SYDvMCY pic.twitter.com/QtDa7cumQO
— Sydney FC (@SydneyFC) February 18, 2018
“It’s really tough. I’m so proud of my team. There’s a lot of stories in our team,” Polias told Fox Sports.
“For us to have done what we did this season I’m so incredibly proud.
“I’m sorry to the people – there’s a few people on the sideline that we didn’t quite do it for today, our friends and families. But I’m so incredibly proud of this team.”
Polias admitted City’s opening goal put Sydney on the back foot as they struggled to break down the visitors’ well-organised defence in the second half.
“I think we started really well. Once City scored I think maybe we got our heads down and then the game plan went out the window a bit,” Polias said.
“We tried to come out in the second half but when you’re trailing teams like to sit and they did that really well.
“Congratulations to them for their third Championship but it just wasn’t to be [for us] today.”
👌👌👌 #WLeagueGF #WhyWePlay pic.twitter.com/gG0CvCEMXj
— Liberty A-League (@aleaguewomen) February 18, 2018