Sydney FC staged a remarkable second-half recovery to snare a share of the spoils against Newcastle Jets, in a 3-3 Westfield W-League draw at Leichhardt Oval.
Sydney FC staged a remarkable second-half recovery to snare a share of the spoils against Newcastle Jets, in a 3-3 Westfield W-League draw at Leichhardt Oval.
Two second-half goals in as many minutes saw a youthful Sydney FC complete an impressive comeback in their season opener.
Both teams were fielding new look line-ups but it was the Jets that settled the quickest, going 2-0 up by the midway point of the first half with goals from Emily van Egmond and Tara Andrews.
Van Egmond’s long-range floated free-kick crept past Sky Blues goalkeeper Sian McClaren who fumbled the ball under pressure.
The lead was doubled as a lax Sydney defence allowed too much latitude to their Jets counterparts, and Andrews made them pay with a smart header.
The Sky Blues soon settled and their pacy young brigade – Sam Kerr, Caitlin Foord and debutant Larissa Crummer – were a constant danger.
It was little surprise when the home side pulled a goal back 10 minutes before the interval. Midfielder Alanna Kennedy executed a perfect back-post header from a typically pinpoint Ellyse Perry corner.
The two sides seemed set to go into the sheds level at the break as Nicola Bolger neatly squeezed home a first-time effort, only for the former Jets midfielder to be denied by the offside flag.
Sydney started the second half brightly but it was the Jets that extended their advantage as Tori Huster hit home into an unguarded net, after a McClaren save had diverted the ball into the path of the American.
Despite numerous dangerous attacks, time appeared to be running out for the Sky Blues until new signings Kerr and Perry intervened to save the home side.
The pair combined twice in as many minutes with Kerr profiting on both occasions from Perry’s lead-up work.
With 15 minutes remaining Kerr gleefully crashed home from close range as Perry’s fierce free-kick was parried into her path by goalkeeper Eliza Campbell’s block.
Perry then played in a superb cross from the right which was headed home athletically by Kerr to ensure the points were shared.
