Final Series Round Two – National Premier Leagues 2 NSW Women’s Preview
Finals Week Two brings us two exciting match-ups as the four remaining National Premier League 2 Womens sides resume hostilities in search of the holy grail – the championship! Let’s get onto the preview for the weekend.
Semi Final 2: Central Coast Mariners vs APIA Leichhardt Tigers, Saturday 18 August, 3:45pm, Marconi Stadium
One shot. One opportunity to seize everything these sides want to be. Central Coast Mariners and APIA both travel out to Marconi Stadium trying to keep their season alive in the first semi-final this weekend.
It might be slight advantage, Central Coast Mariners. Whilst they lost in a close 2-1 loss to SD Raiders at Seymour Shaw, it was within the 90 compared to APIA, that needed to go to penalties, as they knocked out Nepean FC.
Central Coast Mariners hold the regular season advantage as well. They prevailed in a wild contest, 3-2 back in Round 2 before they doubled the dose, Jordan Evans starred on a cold evening at Lambert Park, in a 5-2 goal fest to whet the appetite for the weekend.
There is plenty of glittering attacking talent spread across the field for both teams in this fixture. Leading off for the Mariners, is golden boot, Candice Phelan with 44 goals as the yellow-and-navy bounce back from the rare taste of defeat. The youthful side will feel right back on the coast as all five of their academy sides take on the turf Saturday.
The biggest battle on Saturday afternoon might be between the sticks. Rhiannon Hines for Mariners and Courtney Halpin for APIA are charged with stopping some of the best attacking talent in the competition as finals can be decided on such fine margins.
APIA have had a whirlwind first season in NPL2. They started brightly before a mid-season bump that rode a six-week unbeaten run to end the season in fourth. The Tigers produced their best display in the penalty shootout victory over Nepean FC.
Matteo Maiorana has his whole squad to choose from emphasized by a bench that included their top-scorer Ash Palombi, Karen Saavedra and impact of Filiz Urkanci and Madeline Latham added to their high powered starting eleven makes for a mouth-watering clash.
Semi Final 1: Sydney Olympic FC vs SD Raiders, Sunday 19 August, 3:45pm, Sydney United Sports Centre
Sydney Olympic FC’s back alright. The Premiers get their finals campaign underway as they take on battle hardened SD Raiders for the first stop in the NPL2 Womens Grand Final.
These two sides had two tense encounters during the regular season. Sydney Olympic FC swept the series, although the contests were much closer than the 2-1 and 4-1 final score lines indicate, and after the Raiders downed Central Coast they head into the weekend full of confidence.
The Raiders were at their tenacious best as they took down the Mariners for the third time this season. Kasia Wojtowicz continued to fill the goal-shaped hole upfront for the south-west side. Her combination with Elizabeth O’Reilly and defender Gabriela Pace, who assisted both goals last weekend wil be something for the Olympic FC defense to keep an eye on.
For Matt Constantini, the Raiders coach knows it will be an uphill battle against what he dubbed the “Real Madrid of the NPL2 competition” but like Pinky and the Brain, he’ll do the same thing he does every weekend – come up with a plan, hoping to stay compact, defend stoutly and trouble Olympic with the team’s style of play.
Refreshed after their short break, Sydney Olympic FC want to go one step better this season. The premiers were pipped in the Grand Final, so they have the fire in their belly as they head to Sydney United Sports Centre to book their spot in the big dance.
Across the season, there has been many plaudits for Olympic’s front three. Lieke De Bever, Madelaine Costanzo and Danielle Calvi combined for 72 of the premier’s 100 goals in the regular season. Those three are ably assisted by a robust midfield including Kristy Kunovski that will throw up a big challenge for the Raiders.
Olympic FC are relishing the challenge that finals series bring. The Premiers know that one false step against a disciplined SD Raiders side, but their coach, George Beltsos is confident in his side that they can get the job done and into a second straight grand final.
The table is set for a wonderful encounter to round off a weekend of intense semi-final action as we edge closer to the pointy end of the National Premier Leagues 2 Womens season.
By Justin Davies
