Sydney settles for point in W-League clash with the Jets
Second half goals to Sydney?s Leena Khamis and Newcastle?s Katie Gill cancelled each other out, with the 1-all result the first draw of the inaugural Westfield W-League competition.
The Jets applied the pressure early in the first half, led by Matilda?s Captain Cheryl Salisbury and forward Joanne Peters.
Sydney stayed in the contest with its tough midfield working hard to keep the Jets at bay, and always looking for opportunities to move into attack.
The efforts finally paid off with a goal early in the second half when Khamis connected and was helped onto the scoreboard by a Salisbury deflection.
Newcastle didn?t take long to equalise, however, capitalising on a clumsy Sky Blue clearance, with Gill?s strike from outside the box sailing past Sydney?s stranded keeper.
FC finished with a flurry but couldn?t claim the winner, leaving Alen Stajcic?s side to settle for a single point.
?It was an even game and probably a fair result,? said Stajcic. ?Generally we played well in patches and in terms of football I think we?re a quality team.?
Sydney midfielder, Servet Uzunlar was named player of the match but was left wondering what could have been after the full time whistle.
?I think we should?ve finished our chances because we had a lot more than them,? she said. ?We needed that composure to finish those chances but I think we still played well.?
The Sky Blue women will have the chance to get back on the winners list when they return to Campbelltown Stadium to face the Central Coast Mariners at 6pm next Saturday.
Match Details
Sydney FC 1 (Leena Khamis 48?)
Newcastle Jets 1 (Katie Gill 68?)
Sydney FC: 2. Samantha SPACKMAN 3. Danielle BROGAN, 4. Alesha CLIFFORD, 5. Lisa GILBERT (c), 6. Servet UZUNLAR, 8. Joanne BURGESS (13. Loren MAHONEY 30?), 10. Kylie LEDBROOK, 16. Linda O?NEILL (14. Maggie ELHUSSEINI 78?), 17. Danielle SMALL (15. Jessica SEAMAN 86?), 18. Nicola BOLGER, 19. Leena KHAMIS, 20. Nikola DIETER (gk).
Substitutes not used: 1. Rachel Cooper (gk).
Yellow Cards: Linda O?NEILL 64?.
Red Cards: nil.
Goals: Leena KHAMIS 48?.
Newcastle Jets: 1. Alison LOGUE (gk), 3. Samantha WOOD (9. Rhali DOBSON 78?), 5. Cheryl SALISBURY (c), 6. Amber NEILSON, 7. Gema SIMON, 10. Joanne PETERS, 11. Stacey DAY, 12. Katie GILL, 14. Nicole JONES (8. Leia SMITH 89?), 16. Kirstyn PEARCE, 21. Taleah DOYLE.
Substitutes not used: 4. Elizabeth SHARPE, 30. Harmonie ATTWILL (gk)
Yellow Cards: Katie GILL 26?.
Red Cards: nil.
Goals: Katie GILL 68?.
Referee: Lee Corey.