Round 7 Review – State League Women’s
Round seven was another round filled with action, comebacks and tense encounters. It was highlighted by our match of the round APIA Leichhardt Tigers vs SD Raiders.
Match of the Round: APIA Leichhardt Tigers 2 defeated SD Raiders 1
A brace from Christina Ferreyra has helped APIA Leichhardt overcome a spirited SD Raiders team under lights at Lambert Park.
After he lamented his side missing chances last weekend, Matteo Maiorana would have been delighted in how APIA started the contest.
Christina Ferreyra collected the ball and went through several defenders before she encountered Karrinda Moodley who rushed up.
The striker kept her composure and calmly looped the ball over the SD Raiders keeper to score within the first minute.
SD Raiders are the comeback warriors in State League Women’s this season and came into tonight the only undefeated side left in the competition.
They worked hard through the midfield to disrupt the feed to the front three of APIA Leichhardt which has scored 21 goals thus far this season.
APIA were able to still find some gaps to exploit as they tried to spring the offside trap on several occasions with Ferreyra and Lucy Gilfedder.
Filiz Urkanci almost doubled their advantage midway through the half when she slid in Erin Clout who couldn’t place her shot.
As Catherine Cannuli pushed her side forward they had their best chance with Dominique Caridad saved well.
SD Raiders found their way back into the contest just before the halftime whistle. Rhea D’Mello combined with Brittany Holzheimer who was taken down in the box.
Sarah Bittner stepped up and slotted the spot kick to send us to the break 1-1.
Following their equaliser, SD Raiders started the second half on the front foot. First Caridad went close with a curling effort then a superb moment of football.
Nicole Monti took a free-kick about 30 yards from the goal and rocketed an effort that was going in until the crucial palm of APIA keeper Courtney Haplin pushed it over the bar.
With all three points still up for grabs both teams tried to find the moment to break their opponents resolve as tension also racheted up.
APIA found the moment six minutes from time, as Ferreyra pounced on an errant pass and swept home to make it 2-1 to the home team.
They could have a third when Olivia Cicco was almost one-on-one with Moodley but was taken down just outside the penalty area. The resulted free-kick was cleared but APIA were professional in seeing out the rest of the contest.
"It was a good game played by two very good teams. I was just glad we finally took our chances. It showed that we can hang with the top sides"
"Tonight proved especially for the girls that the things we are trying to do is working and we are right in the race for the top," said APIA coach Matteo Maiorana.
SD Raiders coach Catherine Cannuli lamented a slow start. "They came out firing and made it a difficult game. We were quiet and it wasn’t our day."
"It is their first loss and now they know what a loss feels like, and it will have them ready for next weekend." Finished Cannuli.
MATCH STATS
APIA Leichhardt Tigers 2 (Ferreyra ‘1 and ’84)
HAPLIN Courtney, GLANVILLE-FYFE Stephanie, SCARLATO Samantha, GILFEDDER Lucy, CLOUT Erin, FERREYRA Stephanie, URKANCI Filiz, BARBI Koo, SIM-SING Marie, CICCO Oliva and POLETANOVIC Bojana(KING ’45)
Subs not used: SANTORO Selen, KARTAMBIS Claire,
SD Raiders 1 (Bittner ’45)
MOODLEY Karrinda, BITTNER Sarah(CONEJEROS-BERJERIE ’60), HAMMOUD Sasha, D’MELLO Rhea, HANKIN Brooke(MUSSETT ’86), CARIDAD Dominique, MONTI Nicole, KROPE Courtney, HOLZHEIMER Brittany, NGAUORA Helena and IGNJATOVIC Natalia
Subs not used: HANCOCK Katelyn and MUSCAT Rhianna
Yellow cards: Krope and Ignjatovic
UNSW Lions 5 defeated St George FC 3
The Lions put together a spirited comeback to overcome St George FC this afternoon.
The Saints rushed out to a 3-1 halftime lead with goals to Lily Chen, Lauren Gardner and Marissa Nicopoulos.
UNSW kept their head and piled on four goals in a second half blitz to move into first on the State League Women’s ladder.
Breen got a double while Amanda Amberg, Rachelle Godman and Georgia Goulding added the other goals.
Mt Druitt Town Rangers 6 defeated Parramatta FC 1
Mt Druitt collected their first points in style with a dominant home victory.
The Town Rangers scored three goals in each half in a clinical display.
Coach Danny Abboud praised his team as he “congratulated them on a good effort and all the credit should go to the players and staff for their commitment”
Yadira Renfigo continued her goalscoring feats with Parramatta’s only goal.
Western NSW Mariners FC 2 defeated Gladesville Ravens 0
Western NSW continued on their winning ways with a 2-nil win.
Brianna Trappett and Tayla Lloyd scored the goals for the Mariners to secure the victory.
Gladesville Ravens dominated the chances but weren’t able to make them count which frustrated coach John Cook.
WNSW coach Michael Godbier was estastic with his side’s effort “as injuries tested their depth today”.
-By Justin Daies
