NPL NSW Women’s 2 Finals Series Week 1 Review
Sydney Olympic booked their spot in the Grand Final, while Southern Branch were eliminated in the first week of the NPL NSW Women’s 2 Finals Series.
Sydney Olympic came out on top against favourites Central Coast Mariners Academy in the Major Semi Final and in the other game of the week, Inter Lions required penalties to defeat Southern Branch.
Sydney Olympic survived a spell of opposition chances to defeat Central Coast Mariners Academy 3-1, who they had lost to 6-0 just days earlier, booking their spot in the Grand Final. Sydney Olympic were able to scrape through to half time with their 1-0 lead in tact, with Kristy Kunovski scoring early on, but added two more in the second half thanks to Dani Calvi and Kate Halaska before Kayla Alexander scored a late consolation goal for Central Coast.
Sydney Olympic posed the first threat of the match in the seventh minute when they counter attacked with speed, something that proved to be a feature of their victory. Calvi received possession with her back to goal on half way, managing to turn and dink a pass over the top for right winger Lisa Mitchell to race onto. Coming into the box from the right side, Mitchell’s shot was well hit towards the far corner and required Central Coast’s goalkeeper Ashley Sweetnam to make a smart save down to her right.
But four minutes later, Olympic took advantage of their pace and smart combination play on the break, with Halaska receiving possession after pulling out to the right wing. She skipped past left back Natalie Waddell with ease before racing to the byline and crossing towards strike partner Calvi in the box. A slight deflection on the cross put the ball behind Calvi’s reach but Kunovski was well positioned at the back post to squeeze the ball past Sweetnam and over the line.
But Central Coast were soon able to work their way back into the match, with set pieces a primary route to goal. Their spell of domination began in the 23rd when a left footed, in-swinging corner from Tahlor Thackray caused problems for goalkeeper Sihaem Saade who failed to punch clear before Taylah Alho was forced to clear the delivery off the line at the back post.
Sydney Olympic again escaped when striker Jayme Fressard also had her effort cleared off the line 25th minute. After being played in with a ball over the top, Fressard was just quicker to the ball after Saade came off her line and Fressard recovered her balance after being clipped to shoot towards goal, only for recovering left back Ashley Rabie to clear the ball for a corner.
Thackray again delivered the resulting in-swinging corner from the right, with the ball coming back off the near post before Saade was able to dive on the loose ball.
After surviving by the skin of their teeth, Sydney Olympic gave Central Coast goalkeeper Sweetnam some heart flutters, with Calvi twice charging down attempted clearances before the halftime whistle blew.
Within seconds of the restart, Sydney Olympic again survived a scare when Thackray again saw an effort off the bar. When Lucy Metcalfe played a free kick into the box from the left, Thackray threw a boot in the direction of the ball and her looped effort was fumbled by Saade onto the crossbar before she collected it safely.
Unable to convert their chances, with two efforts cleared off the line and two off the post, Sydney Olympic doubled their lead when Calvi converted a penalty in the 50th minute. The play started, again on the counter attack, when Alho regained possession from right back before driving through midfield and playing a ball over the top to Halaska who was fouled by Sweetnam after she attempted a shot. Sweetnam received a yellow card for the incident and Calvi placed the spot kick into the bottom right corner coolly.
Central Coast, after making a double substitution, then pushed players forward in search of a way back into the match but they created little and Olympic looked dangerous immediately after regaining possession.
A spectacular Halaska goal came in the 81st minute to put the game beyond doubt after Olympic regained possession in Central Coast’s half of the pitch. The Mariners played themselves into trouble when a Sweetnam pass put right back Tegan Boden under pressure. Kunovski was able to dispossess the defender and passed to Calvi who drew defender Lauren Bryant before passing to Halaska in space 25 metres from goal. Halaska quickly played the ball out from under her feet and unleashed an unstoppable shot into the top left corner of the goal.
Frustrated, Central Coast nearly got a goal back when Meaghan Mcelligott forced a save from Saade before Alexander curled a left footed shot into the goal in the 90th minute.
After winning 6-0 on Wednesday, they would not have expected Sydney Olympic to be so dangerous and deadly on the counter attack. Central Coast, bar for a spell in the middle of the first half, struggled to consistently create chances and will need to rectify a number of problems before taking on Inter Lions, who they last lost to 4-0, in the Elimination Final next week.
Minor Semi Final: Inter Lions vs Southern Branch, at Popondetta Park, Saturday 3.45pm
Inter Lions won in a penalty shootout over Southern Branch to book an Elimination Final match against Central Coast Mariners Academy. Having cancelled each other out during the regular season, with each team winning once and the third match being drawn, Inter Lions and Southern Branch each scored four times before Inter eventually prevailed 3-0 in the high pressure penalty shootout.
Christina Ferreyra scored a hat trick, with Sarah Mandile adding another, for Inter Lions who went into half time 1-0 ahead. Caylie Wise (x2), Tallara Shaw and Wrylka Colburn were the goal scorers for Southern Branch who came up just short after scrapping into the finals late in the season.
Reserve Grade
In the Reserve Grade Major Semi Final, first placed Inter Lions thumped second placed UNSW Lions 5-1 with Sarah Mandile, incredibly, scoring four times. Inter Lions go straight through to the Grand Final, with UNSW Lions to face Central Coast Mariners Academy who won the Minor Semi Final 2-1 over Southern Branch.
-By Kate Cohen
