Finals Series Round 1 Review – State League Women’s
We’re down to three teams left in the competition after an electric pair of semi final clashes in State League Women’s.
Elimination Final: SD Raiders 2 defeated UNSW Lions 1
SD Raiders live to fight another week thanks to a Caterina Moio brace in a tense contest out at Valentine Sports Park this afternoon.
It was a tense opening as both sides traded set pieces which neither could convert. Georgia Goulding’s delivery was wayward and she couldn’t test Raiders keeper Karrinda Moodley.
For the Raiders it was the usual grit of their midfield which got them into the contest. Nicole Monti down the flanks was vital in creating chances.
Her interception in the 17th minute gave Catherine Cannuli space to wind up and she tried to beat the Lions keeper but it sprayed wide.
The Lions were mostly finding their fortune through set pieces and Goulding almost placed the free-kick right on the head of a teammate but Moodley watched the header wide.
As the half wore on, SD Raiders started piling up the attempts through Dominique Caridad and Caterina Moio but it remained deadlocked.
The pressure tolled just after the half hour mark as Stephanie Conejeros-Berjerie’s pressing opened up the space for Moio to chip home for a deserved 1-nil lead.
After a frustrating first half it was UNSW Lions who came out fired up and Emily Fardell was nearly rewarded for an inventive play from a throw in but couldn’t sort out her feet.
Moio had a prime opportunity to double her total in the 53rd minute when she was played through but panicked, taking the chance early which landed right in Donna Helm’s hands for the Lions.
Following that chance, Uni started to wake up and hit everything but the back of the net in the next five minutes as they cracked the crossbar and a clearance off the line.
It would take something special for UNSW Lions to equalise and up stepped Goulding who took one touch and unleashed a 40 yard strike over Moodley’s head for 1-1.
The intensity ramped up once the equaliser went in as both teams wanted to avoid extra time.
Monti once again stole the ball as the clock ticked past 80 minutes and cushioned it for Moio who volleyed home smartly for 2-1.
UNSW Lions coach Renato Jelen threw on extra attackers in the attempt to find a second equaliser and it looked to have worked when Emily Hewson was through on goal but she fluffed her lines.
SD Raiders held on and earnt themselves the first spot in the preliminary final next weekend. It was a successful afternoon for the Souther Districts as their reserves team also progressed through to next weekend.
Their coach Catherine Cannuli was happy to move on in a tough contest.
"It was a physical challenge out there today and the better team won tonight but it was a challenge as Uni put up a huge fight,"
On Caterina Moio’s brace.
"Cat is a good player her skill and technical side is amazing. When she wants to turn it on she can like she did today." Finished the Raiders coach.
Lions coach Renato Jelen was disappointed to have lost in such circumstances but was proud of the effort across the season from his side.
MATCH STATS
SD Raiders 2 (Moio ’34 and ’80)
MOODLEY Karrinda, BITTNER Sarah(KLAPOS ’45), HAMMOUD Sasha, D’MELLO Rhea, MOIO Caterina(MUSSETT ’90), HANKIN Brooke, CARIDAD Dominique, MONTI Nicole, CANNULI Catherine, CONEJEROS-BERJERIE Stephanie and IGNJATOVIC Natalia
Subs not used: ACOSTA Erica and BRYANT Sheree
Yellow card: BITTNER ’18
UNSW Lions 1 (Goulding ’75)
BRUNO Claudia, AMBERG Amanda, HEWSON Emily, GOULDING Georgia, ORR Helen, KAVA Lauren Clare, CAILLON Mayliss, SKEOCH Kelsey, HELAL Assmaah, FARDELL Emily(ABEL ’72) and HELM Donna
Subs not used: OLARTE Jessica, AIZEN Michali and MILISAVIJEVIC Tiana
Yellow cards: nil
Qualifying Final: APIA Leichhardt Tigers 2 defeated Western NSW Mariners 1
APIA Leichhardt Tigers booked their place in the State League Women’s grand final with a heartstopping 2-1 victory at Lambert Park this afternoon.
It was a warm afternoon but both sides came out firing with their usual styles of football. Jess Salomoni almost scored in the opening 120 seconds but couldn’t finish her chance.
Dana Buttigieg fresh from her goal last weekend fired one past the posts as Mariners keeper Jess Daymond watched on.
Daymond was called into action a few minutes later as she required to touch Erin Clout’s shot onto the bar and over.
Buttigieg opened the scoring in the 9th minute when a lovely cross was swept home and APIA Leichhardt Tigers were in the lead.
The game settled down a bit as APIA Leichhardt’s slick passing game was stretching the Mariners defense in the heat at Lambert Park.
It would take a moment of brilliance to get back into the contest for Western NSW Mariners and Samantha Wood provided it as she smashed home a strike to make it 1-1.
Both teams tried to break open the contest again before halftime but neither could find the back of the net so 1-1 it stayed.
Teegan Courtney had the first chance after the break with a flicked header but it floated over the bar. Wood also went close after she was slipped in but APIA keeper Courtney Halpin tipped it away.
Mariners dominated the opening 15 minutes of the second half but weren’t able to take their chances against a dogged APIA side.
Their wastefulness almost came back to bite them in the 69th minute as a good APIA movement finished with Buttigieg flashed it high.
The striker would make amends as the clock ticked into the 90th minute when a corner was piloted home for her third goal in two weeks.
APIA Leichhardt celebrated a momentous achievement as they qualified for the grand final while Western NSW Mariners will face SD Raiders for the other spot.
Afterwards APIA coach Matteo Maiorana was delighted with his team.
"On that performance we deserved to win. We created a lot of good chances and came away with the result,"
"Dana is a great striker and was top goalscorer halfway through the year. She has taken one on the chin for the team playing out wide." Finished Maiorana.
Michael Godbier was upbeat for the Mariners despite their loss.
"We scrambled really well and were real gutsy today. Got another game next week so we head home to prepare for that," added the Mariners boss.
MATCH STATS
APIA Leichhardt Tigers 2 (Buttigieg ‘9 and ’90)
HALPIN Courtney, GLANVILLE-FYFE Stephanie, BUTTIGIEG Dana, SCARLATO Samantha, GILFEDDER Lucy, CLOUT Erin, CANINI Carla, URKANCI Filiz, SIM-SING Marie, MUNRO Clare(KING ’80) and ALPKAYA Sheral(CICCO ’29)
Subs not used: CARMICHAEL Nicole and SCHUMANN Tiarne
Western NSW Mariners 1 (Wood ’28)
DAYMOND Jessica, ARMSTRONG Alyssa, PAKAI-KELLY Katie, MEADLEY Annabel, COLLINGRIDGE Kristy, STEEDEN Kayla, GODBIER Kya, COURTNEY Teegan, WOOD Samantha, LLOYD Tayla and SALOMONI Jess(TRAPPETT ’80)
Subs not used: COLMAN Sarah, JOHNSON Tara, LANHAM Chloe and MORRIS Sarah
