Goals on either side of half-time to Cortnee Vine and Remy Siemsen helped Sydney FC lodge a routine 2-0 victory over Newcastle Jets at Cromer Park on Sunday evening.
The result took the Sky Blues to the top of the Westfield W-League table, with four wins from four games to start the 2020/21 season.
Sydney edged the chances in the first half as they launched a series of threatening waves of attack. Ally Green posed the first threat to Newcastle’s goal with an ambitious attempt from distance which had Claire Coelho scrambling to make an excellent tipped save.
Cortnee Vine then put the hosts ahead with a cross toward goal which carried too much weight to land in the six-yard box, instead finding its way over Coelho off the left-hand upright and in.
Minutes later Remy Siemsen thought she’d added a second goal to the scoreboard – and her first of the campaign – but Teresa Polias’ pass found the striker in an offside position and the goal was chalked off.
With a 1-0 lead at the break Sydney came out in the second half looking for their fourth win in as many games to start the campaign.
Siemsen was unlucky not to register a goal in the opening 45 minutes but with an hour on the clock the striker finally found the back of the net, benefiting off some uncommitted defending in Newcastle’s box to steal the ball and put Sydney two goals up.
The Jets fought valiantly throughout the contest and created promising attacking play in the final knockings of the contest. Substitute Jemma House got on the end of the best of Newcastle’s chances but Jada Whyman was quickly out to make a brave block in one of the Sydney ‘keeper’s few actions of the evening.
Whyman’s intervention ensured Sydney completed their shut-out, cruising to the final whistle with their 2-0 ascendancy intact to record four straight wins to start a Westfield W-League campaign for the first time.
ROUND 6 REPORT: Melbourne City 2-3 Brisbane Roar
ROUND 6 REPORT: Adelaide United 0-1 Melbourne Victory
Key Moments
Ambitious Green strike thwarted by Coelho
Green isn’t known for her goalscoring prowess, which made this attempt from distance a particularly remarkable one.
If Coelho was caught by surprise the Newcastle ‘keeper did well to quickly assess and react to the strike, diving backwards to get a strong glove on the ball and push it over the bar.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6227753295001
Vine loops Coelho to put Sky Blues ahead
In a first half lacking in clear-cut chances, it was only fitting that the first goal of the game came from an over-hit cross from Vine, which looped Coelho on its way into the back of the net.
Princess Ibini sparked the chance with a marauding run through the middle of the park. With no Jets players prepared to pressure the forward Ibini drove into a dangerous position and fed Mackenzie Hawkesby, who in turn found Vine on the right side of the box.
Vine proceeded to play a curling ball toward the danger area, putting Coelho under pressure to clear which she ultimately failed to do as the ball nestled into the top left corner of goal.
ROUND 9 REPORT: Canberra United 3-0 Western Sydney Wanderers
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6227753291001
Siemsen nicks it off Tamplin to fire Sydney two goals up
Coelho had sent a clearance high into the air, and as the Jets ‘keeper was scrambling backwards the ball dropped toward Jets defender Tessa Tamplin with Siemsen circling, sniffing a chance to score.
Tamplin failed to get to the drop first as Siemsen nicked ahead to control the ball, look up and shoot over the back-pedalling Coelho to score her first of the 2020/21 Westfield W-League campaign.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6227756049001
Whyman alert to keep Sydney’s sheet clean
After a rather uneventful shift in the sticks for Sydney, Whyman ensured she was alert to the prospect of any danger the Jets could pose when she denied House a near-certain goal as the Jets substitute drove toward goal.
The Sky Blues were caught napping in defence when Rhianna Pollicina passed through to House who seemingly had the goal at her mercy, but Whyman’s block at the feet of house was brave and determined as the Sydney stopper retained her clean sheet.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6227757043001
