In one of the great semi finals in Westfield W-League history, Sydney FC defeated a 10-player Newcastle Jets 3-2 after extra time on Saturday.
Hannah Brewer was red-carded for the Jets late in the first half as a brave Jets side came back from 2-0 down at the break to make it 2-2 and force the game into extra time.
Lisa De Vanna with the winner in the first half of extra time.
In front of over 2000 fans at Sydney’s Leichhardt Oval, the result, however, was soured with Sydney FC’s Westfield Matildas star Caitlin Foord leaving the pitch in the first half suffering from a left ankle injury.
Foord revealed she’ll have scans on Monday as her ankle was iced on the sidelines.
Re-live the game in the MATCH CENTRE
STORY OF THE GAME
- GOAL SYDNEY FC The home side take the lead after just six minutes courtesy of Caitlin Foord
- VAN EGMOND CLOSE The Jets skipper with an audacious long-distance set piece that almost catches out Sydney FC’s keeper Bledsoe.
- ECKERSTROM SAVE The ball falls to Ledbrook in the box who powers her shot straight at the Jets keeper.
- GOAL TO SYDNEY FC Ledbrook wasn’t to be denied, smashing home a second. 2-0 to the Sky Blues.
- RED CARD TO JETS! Hannah Brewer off after she clipped De Vanna who burst through on goal in stoppage time.
- HALF TIME: 2-0 The Sky Blues in control but injury clouds hang over De Vanna and Foord.
- GOAL TO JETS! The lethal Arin Gilliland with a powerful header to make it 2-1 after 52 mins.
- JETS CHANCE The Jets skipper powers her shot into the side netting after 67 mins.
- GAME SLOWS A hot day in Sydney’s inner west as both sides fatigue.
- JETS GO THREE AT THE BACK Inside the final 10 mins and Jets adjust in a final desperate move to find an equaliser.
- FIVE MINS OF STOPPAGE TIME! Exhausted Jets desperately trying to find a way though.
- JETS GOAL!!! Unbelievable. Sydney FC cannot keep out Tara Andrews and it’s 2-2!!
- EXTRA TIME AT LEICHHARDT OVAL
- STENGEL BRILLIANCE Bledsloe in Sydney’s goal denies Jets striker Katie Stengel with a powerful drive after 96 mins.
- SYDNEY FC GOAL!!! De Vanna fed by Sonnet and slips it home to make it 3-2!
- DE VANNA GOES CLOSE The star striker forcing Eckerstrom into a great save low down. 102 mins.
- CRUCIAL SAVES Eckerstrom denies De Vanna and Siemsen. What a game the Jets keeper has had.
GOALS
Foord Sydney FC 1-0, 9′
Foord holds up the ball, jinks left and right in the box as two defenders sit off before a low shot beats Britt Eckerstrom in the Jets goal. Brilliant goal from a brilliant player.
Ledbrook Sydney FC 2-0, 34′
Ibini brings the ball inside and feeds the Sky Blues’ sharpshooter and from outside the box the ball sits up nicely and she dips a stunning drive over Eckerstrom.
Gilliland Jets 1-2, 90+2′
Sydney’s defensive frailty exposed from a set piece as Van Egmond’s corner is powered home at the far post by Arin Gilliland.
Andrews Jets 2-2, 90+2′
De Vanna gives the ball away, Jets pounce and Sydney FC’s dithering defence allows Jets in and Andrews smashes the ball home.
De Vanna Sydney FC 3-2, 97′
Sydney FC on transition, and it’s Emily Sonnet with the driving run and the US national team player feeds De Vanna who finishes with a low drive.
