Round 2 Review – State League Women’s
Round 2 of the State League Women’s took centre stage as the Match of the Round saw the Mt Druitt Town Rangers tackle Parramatta FC at Popondetta Park while there were interesting clashes elsewhere around NSW.
Match of the Round
Mt Druitt Town Rangers FC vs Parramatta FC, 3pm Sunday April 9th at Popondetta Park
This rounds Match of the Day took us out to Popondetta Park home of Mt Druitt Town Rangers FC as they took on Parramatta FC. 2016 represented a challenging year for both these clubs as they only recorded 4 wins between them and Parramatta recorded a solitary point for the year.
This early match up represented a chance for both clubs to begin the 2017 season on the right foot as Mt Druitt had their first-round fixture washed out while Parramatta enjoyed the first bye of the season.
In what turned out to be an extraordinary game in many ways Mt Druitt ran out 11-2 victors in an afternoon that Parramatta will want to quickly forget.
In what was ideal conditions Mt Druitt began the game with a greater intent as they looked to dominate the ball and press Parramatta all over the pitch.
Stefanie Trovato was inches away from opening the scoring within the first few minutes as she saw her shot come back off the post.
Parramatta though took the lead against the run of play a couple of minutes later as Marissa Girardi was slid through with a lovely ball before she slotted calmly past the Mt Druitt keeper. This seemed to spur Mt Druitt on even more so as Lisa Fressard was denied one on one by the Parramatta keeper a few moments later.
In the 8th minute though Mt Druitt’s relentless early pressure finally told as Stefanie Trovato hit a powerful shot from 20 yards which gave the keeper no chance of stopping and pulled Mt Druitt deservedly level.
Mt Druitt continued to pepper the Parramatta goal they got their second on twenty minutes after a lovely floated cross from the right by Stefanie Trovato found Lisa Fressard free on the back-post to tap home.
The floodgates seemed then to open up as a couple of minutes later, Mt Druitt went 3-1 up as Stefanie Trovato who was dominating the central midfield, split the Parramatta defence with another ball in behind which Ashleigh Krenich ran onto finish.
Parramatta’s weak resistance continued to take a battering as on 28 minutes Lisa Fressard finished her second goal of the game after following up an initial volley effort by Yadira Rengifo.
A minute later Mt Druitt made it 5-1 as Lisa Fressard completed her hat-trick after a precise cut back from Yadira Rengifo who turned provider.
Parramatta at least did muster another shot before half-time as Angela Francis powered her way through only to see her effort go wide.
The misery though was not over for Parramatta as in the 38th minute Yadira Rengifo finished off a lovely exchange of passes to make it 6-1 before Lisa Fressard scored her fourth after following up yet another deflected shot in the 44th minute made the half time score 7-1.
The half-time break did nothing to change the momentum of the game as Mt Druitt added an eighth barely a minute after the re-start as Stefanie Trovato saw her effort come back off the post but Ashley Rea was jolly on the spot to stroke the ball home.
Mt Druitt though did not settle on their laurels as Stefanie Trovato added a ninth in the 48th minute after slicing through the non-existent Parramatta defence before Ashley Rea completed a quick double after being slid through by Stefanie Trovato to make the score 10-1.
Mt Druitt added an eleventh goal to the tally after 61 minutes as Yadira Rengifo rounded out the scoring for Mt Druitt.
Mt Druitt could have added even more goals to the scoresheet but their intensity wavered as the clock ticked down and for the last 20 minutes they played with ten as Rebecca Valiente had to be removed after sustaining an injury as Mt Druitt had used up all their substitutions.
Parramatta in fairness never stopped running and competing and were awarded with an 89th minute consolation goal through Angela Francis who struck a sweet shot into the bottom corner of the net.
This game though indicates a long season ahead for Parramatta while Mt Druitt look like they may be one of the big improvers in season 2017.
Match Stats
Mt Druitt Town Rangers FC 11(Lisa Fressard 20’,28’,29’,44’, Stefanie Trovato 8’,48’, Ashley Rea 46’,49’, Yadira Rengifo 38’,61’, Ashleigh Krenich 22’)
Parramatta FC 2(Marissa Girardi 5’, Angela Francis 89’)
Sunday 9th April,2017
Popondetta Park
Mt Druitt Town Rangers FC: 27. Jessica Broadfoot, 12. Alexandria Colosimo, 11. Brittany Duggan, 6. Lisa Fressard, 9 Ashleigh Krenich (15. Brianna Trigg 52’), 13. Ashley Rea, 8. Yadira Rengifo, 21. Semira Tanea (10. Katherine Bacha 60’), 4. Jessica Thorley, 5. Stefanie Trovato (16.Olivia Fraser 71’), 7. Rebecca Valiente
Substitutes Not Used: 2. Monique Donovan, 14. Stephanie Lagudi
Yellow Cards: 6. Lisa Fressard 82’
Parramatta FC: 22. Loredana Caltanide, 6. Elena Cebara, 31. Yeliz Dogan (25. Emily Clark 16’), 19. Katerina Anjos Dos, 40. Angela Francis, 9. Crystal Gallagher, 26. Marissa Girardi (10. Charlotte Ercil 66’), 29. Gemma Goldhagen, 2. Dimitra Hatzidakis, 4. Theodora Hatzidakis (5.Nicole Robb 82’), 36. Alicia Kotsiopoulos (12. Amy Hay 31’), 30. Mary-Jade –Ansah-Owusu,
Yellow Cards: 9. Crystal Gallagher 67’, 4.Theodora Hatzidakis 70’
Western NSW Mariners FC vs SD Raiders FC, 3pm Sunday April 9th at Proctor Park, 0-1
SD Raiders FC made the tough away trip this week to face Western NSW Mariners FC and continue their winning start to the year.
Western NSW Mariners FC had the better of the first half chances but could not convert their dominance on the scoresheet. SD Raiders made the Mariners pay as early in the second half Caterina Moio put SD Raiders FC 1-0 up.
The game was then halted as a massive storm hit the ground, the players did eventually get back on the pitch after the delay as SD Raiders held out the late pressure from the Mariners to record their 2nd win of the year and continue their perfect start to the 2017 campaign.
APIA Leichhardt Tigers FC vs UNSW FC, 7pm Sunday April 9th at Lambert Park 3-0
APIA Leichhardt Tigers FC have continued their stong start to the season with a comprehensive 3-0 win over UNSW.
The first half was a scrappy affair as the pre-game downpour continued throughout the first half.
The second half though opened up as the rain cleared and APIA took full advantage as Erin Clout opened the scoring with a 30m rocket which gave the keeper no chance.
Rachelle Wang doubled APIA’s lead after finishing off a slick passing movement before Christy Ferreyra wrapped up the scoring with a powerful finish.
APIA coach Matteo Maiorana was suitably pleased after the match.
“It was a tough game, UNSW are a strong club and Renato is a great coach so we knew it was going to be a tough game.
“First half was poor, but the surface and the rain didn’t help, but in the second half we got in good rhythm and really played well.”
The win places APIA nicely after 2 games as they head into the Easter Break.
On a sour note though APIA’s star playmaker Filiz Urkanci suffered a season ending ACL injury and we wish her a luck with her recovery.
-By Sebastian Kalos
