A Cortnee Vine double has secured Sydney FC a dramatic 4-2 extra-time comeback win on Friday over Melbourne City and passage to a fifth consecutive grand final.
REACTION: ‘To be honest, Vine destroyed them’ – Juric lauds Vine’s impact
A double from Hannah Wilkinson had Melbourne City in charge before substitute Vine pulled a goal back and Maria Jose Rojas sent a torrid contest into 30 added minutes.
Rojas’s goal completed a momentum-shifting few minutes with City’s TJ Vlajnic sent off for a foul on Vine.
Teenage substitute Sarah Hunter gave the home side the lead six minutes into extra time and Vine bagged another to end the scoring at Jubilee Stadium.
City’s night went from bad to worse in the dying stages with veteran goalkeeper Melissa Barbieri dismissed after handling the ball outside the penalty area.
Sydney FC had made history last Sunday when they topped the ladder for a record-breaking fourth time after finishing two points clear of their opponents, and were presented with the Premiers Plate prior to kick off.
Melbourne City will have another opportunity to feature in the decider thanks to the league’s new finals format.
City now face the winner of Sunday’s elimination semi-final between finals’ debutants Adelaide United and the visiting Melbourne Victory, with Sydney FC to host the season decider in a fortnight.
City failed to breach the Sky Blues’ penalty area during the first 20 minutes until Vlajnic produced a flying save from goalkeeper Jada Mathyssen-Whyman.
A minute later City had the all-important opener when the league’s top scorer Wilkinson profited from captain Natalie Tobin’s uncharacteristic defensive error and was left with an easy finish past an exposed Mathyssen-Whyman.
The halftime introduction of Vine added spark but a City side who have won all of their eight A-League Women finals matches rarely looked like being exposed.
The contest seemed over when New Zealand international Wilkinson doubled the advantage 13 minutes after the break with a perfect near-post finish, following strong lead-up work from Leticia McKenna and Rebekah Stott.
Vine’s powerful headed goal on 73 minutes pulled the home side back into the contest after Ally Green’s powerful run set up the opportunity.
The goal saw momentum swing the way of the Sky Blues and Vine pinged an effort off the top of the crossbar.
Vine looked set to score when she rounded goalkeeper Barbieri in the final minutes only to be bundled over by Vlajnic who was dismissed for the last-player foul.
Substitute Rojas fired home a loose ball a minute into the five minutes of added time.
Eighteen-year-old Hunter powered home a close-range header and Vine extended the winning margin with seven minutes left.
RE-LIVE: Sydney v City, as it happened
By Matt Comito for KEEPUP
FULL-TIME: SYDNEY 4-2 CITY
116′ – Disaster strikes for City as Barbieri sent off
A second red card of the night sees City’s night go from bad to worse, with Sally James coming off the bench in the absence of the dismissed Barbieri.
The City keeper was brandished a red card for handling the ball coming outside the box to try and contain the ever-dangerous Vine.
114′ – GOAL! Vine makes it 4-2 as Sydney go out of sight
The subs combine once again as Rojas finds Vine all on her own, steaming in at the far post to put Sydney two goals clear.
“What a difference she has made,” said Pellizzeri on co-commentary. “Cortnee Vine: super-sub extraordinaire!”
97′ – GOAL! Hunter puts the hosts in front
It’s a three-goal turnaround at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium as teenage Sydney midfielder Sarah Hunter heads home a Hawkesby corner in the first-half of additional extra time.
It’s Hunter’s first goal for her new club in her debut campaign at the Sky Blues – and what a time it was to score it.
The premiers have turned it all around, and are on the cusp of victory in an instant classic.
FULL-TIME: SYDNEY 2-2 CITY
In an unbelievable turn of events, Sydney have forced extra time.
90+2′ – GOAL! Rojas comes up with the last-minute leveller
From 2-0 down, to 2-2. Maria ‘Cote’ Rojas has levelled for the hosts, and extra time beckons!
Just minutes after Vlajnic’s dismissal Sydney have taken full avantage, with a ball whipped from the left flank dropping to Rojas to poke home.
87′ – LATE DRAMA! Vlajnic sent off as Vine goes down with goal at her mercy
What a dramatic moment at the death at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium.
Vine’s dangerous second-half display continued as she rounded City goalkeeper Melissa Barbieri who came off her line to try and intercept a long through ball played into the path of the Matildas speedster.
Tyla-Jay Vlajnic paid the price, tangling with Vine as the pair go to ground. The City wing-back received her marching orders in the aftermath, but Princess Ibini shot high and wide from the resulting free-kick.
82′ – Vine off the bar!
“The home team are coming at them here,” said Paramount+ commentator Teo Pellizzeri as Sydney tighten the clamps in pursuit of an equaliser.
And that equaliser almost came in style, as Vine thundered a shot from a tight angle off the crossbar.
73′ – GOAL! Vine makes things interesting
What a run by Ally Green – and what a goal from Cortnee Vine. It’s 2-1 to Melbourne City with still plenty of time on the clock for the home side to take this one to extra time.
Green set up the chance with a lung-busting run down the left flank toward the byline, floating the ball into the six-yard box for Vine to attack, rising above Winonah Heatley to head her side back into the contest.
58′ – GOAL! Wilkinson doubles her tally – and the lead
This is turning into a statement performance from City. Rebekah Stott set up the chance with a brilliant touch of class, drawing in her defender before playing Leticia McKenna into the box to cross for Wilkinson to finish at the near post.
It’s 2-0 to City with just over half an hour to play.
46′: It’s ‘Vine time’ in the second half
Chasing the game, Sydney FC have turned to Cortnee Vine to make her impact off the bench. The Sky Blues’ leading goalscorer has 45 minutes to turn this around, with the Premiers trailing 1-0.
HALF-TIME: City ‘have one foot in the grand final’
A shock result is brewing.
City have never lost a Finals Series game, winning all eight of their previous post-season fixtures.
Is win number nine on the way? Or can Sydney pull this one out of the fire?
43′: McKenna calls Whyman into action as City threaten for two
City are applying the clamps. The hunt for a second goal before the break is on, as Leticia McKenna shoots on the turn from inside the box, challenging Whyman from a promising position.
The Sydney keeper made her second stellar save of the first half to prevent City’s lead doubling.
22′: GOAL! ‘An absolute gift’ for Wilkinson
Far too easy for Wilkinson as City take a shock lead.
A ball from the left flank destined for Wilkinson was intercepted by Tobin – but her touch was loose, falling directly into Wilkinson’s path in the box to tap home.
1-0 City – there’s a potential boil-over brewing!
10′: SAVE! Lowe denied at point-blank range
That should have been the opener for the Sky Blues.
A free-kick floated down the left-hand side of Sydney’s attacking box was controlled by Rachel Lowe, and suddenly the midfielder was eye to eye with Melissa Barbieri.
She slid her shot toward the bottom-left corner but Barbieri got down quickly to make an incredible reactionary save.
1′: KICK-OFF: It’s showtime at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium (7.05pm AEDT)
We’re underway in the Finals Series!
Hopefully, a classic encounter awaits in what looms as a potential Grand Final matchup.
TEAM NEWS
Cortnee Vine returns from a calf injury for Sydney FC – but can only make the bench as Paige Satchell retains her place in the starting XI.
The Sky Blues’ leading goalscorer will look to make her mark as an impact substitute. Remy Siemsen, Princess Ibini and Mackenzie Hawkesby have scored five goals apiece this season – just one fewer than Vine – and will look to shoulder the attacking burden once again.
The visitors welcome New Zealand international Rebekah Stott back into the starting lineup, with that dynamic duo of Hannah Wilkinson and Rhianna Pollicina set to cause problems for Sydney up front.
Pre-game trophy lift for Premiers
Sydney FC received their Premiers Plate – earned last weekend in a win over Adelaide United on the road – in the hour before kick-off to this evening’s Semi Final.
Captain Nat Tobin led the celebrations by lifting the club’s second-consecutive Premiers Plate aloft; the Sky Blues will now put down the silverware and refocus on the task at hand against a hungry City side this evening.
Did you know?
- Sydney FC have won two of their last three A-League Women games against Melbourne City FC (L1) – including a 3-0 win in their only previous clash at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium – after having won only one of all their 10 clashes prior (D1, L8).
- This will be the fourth finals clash between Sydney FC and Melbourne City FC in the A-League Women, with Melbourne City FC having won all three of their previous post-season clashes by a combined score of 7 -1.
- Sydney FC have won 11 of their last 12 A-League Women games played at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium (L1), including their last five on the bounce; they have outscored their opposition 16-0across their last four games at the venue.
- Melbourne City FC (4) and Sydney FC (3) have been crowned A-League Women champions more times than any other team; the Sky Blues (8) have featured in twice as many Grand Finals as Melbourne City FC (4).
- Melbourne City FC have never lost a finals game in the A-League Women, winning all eight of their previous post-season encounters and conceding just two goals in that span.
