Cortnee Vine and Remy Siemsen have capped their call-ups to the Matildas’ Asian Cup squad in style as they led Sydney FC’s 4-0 demolition of Perth Glory in the A-League Women on Saturday.
Siemsen was handed a direct call-up to Tony Gustavsson’s squad for this month’s tournament in India after making her Matildas debut last year, while Vine will hope to prove her worth and win one of the two remaining spots in the Swede’s set-up.
Vine played a role in all three of Sydney’s goals in the first 30 minutes at Kogarah Oval to help maintain the Sky Blues’ unbeaten start to the season before both she and Siemsen were given a breather on the hour mark.
Charlize Rule’s well-weighted header in the second half further extended the winning margin.
Perth, who were playing their third game in a week, barely ventured into Sydney’s final third and struggled whenever the Sky Blues pierced forward.
It only took 11 minutes for Sydney to strike when Vine made a break down the right.
She crossed to Siemsen who fired a shot at Courtney Newbon, who was unable to hold, with Mackenzie Hawkesby on hand to bundle in the rebound.
Barely five minutes had passed when Hawkesby returned the favour, sending a pin-point cross-field ball in Vine’s direction.
In space, the 23-year-old drove past Sarah Carroll and finished perfectly beyond Newbon’s outstretched arms.
Perth were in trouble and, after having failed to heed Vine’s initial warning, Carroll was made to pay once more.
Vine chased a ball that looked to be going out and as she managed to keep it in, went to the byline and nutmegged Carroll.
She swung a ball in to the near post and Siemsen poked past Newbon in the 25th minute.
Perth looked to have a bit more about them after halftime once Lisa de Vanna was introduced at the expense of Poppie Hooks.
But they still couldn’t offer much in response to Sydney’s waves of attack and Rule put the result beyond doubt just after the break.
Hawkesby missed a penalty after a Liz Anton handball with Newbon saving to her left to prevent a fifth late on.
