League One Women’s Semi-Finals Review
The Football NSW League One Women’s Grand Final is set after two fantastic semi-final contests which went down to the wire.
It will be Mt Druitt Town Rangers FC taking on reigning Champions St George FC in the big dance.
Let’s get onto the reviews.
Semi-final #1: Mt Druitt Town Rangers FC vs Bankstown City Lions FC
Mt Druitt Town Rangers won 3-0 against Bankstown City Lions FC to qualify for the Grand Final at Popondetta Park on Sunday afternoon.
The Town Rangers have the chance to put the icing on the cake of a tremendous season with a Grand Final success. Leena Khamis scored in the 35th and 38th minute for 2-0 then Rita Boateng sealed the win for 3-0 in the 82nd minute.
Bankstown City Lions battled hard but couldn’t find the final touch. They did have the chance to open the scoring from the spot through Aya Seino but Town Rangers keeper Renee Krstanovsa made a big stop.
Mt Druitt Town Rangers FC and Bankstown City Lions FC walked onto a sun-drenched Popondetta Park to book a spot in the Grand Final.
Rosaria Galea had the first chance of the game. She whipped an effort towards goal but it went over the bar.
The attacker went closer in the 14th minute. Galea found some space and rattled the crossbar with a strike.
Next, Chelsea Greguric was threaded through for Bankstown City Lions FC and fired right at Mt Druitt keeper Renee Krstanovska.
The visitors found their rhythm and worked the ball around well. Ena Harada stabbed an effort towards goal which fell to Aya Seino to poke wide.
Bankstown City Lions FC had a prime chance to open the scoring from the spot. Seino stepped after a hand ball but her shot was saved well by Krstanovska.
The Town Rangers surged forward looking for a goal. Galea had an effort right at Lions keeper Keeley Segavcic.
The Lions custodian then produced a double save on Rita Boateng and Leena Khamis to keep the game locked at 0-0.
Mt Druitt Town Rangers made it 1-0 in the 35th minute. Khamis found space and fired into the bottom corner.
Khamis doubled her delight in the 38th minute for 2-0. Caitlin Campbell angled a ball towards the striker who rifled home.
Greguric tried to pull one back for the Lions before half-time. She wriggled free and whipped one right at Krstanovska.
The Town Rangers were in full flow in the second half. Boateng had another chance which went right into the keepers hands.
Boateng continued to cause havoc on the wing. She cut inside her defender and fired an effort right at Segavcic.
Campbell almost snuck a third home from a set piece. She punched a free-kick low which hit the post and was swept off the line by the Lions defence.
The Lions kept pushing to get back into the game. Harada flayed one wide then Seino fizzed an effort wide of the post.
The Town Rangers made it 3-0 in the 82nd minute. Substitute Holly Dalrymple squared it to Boateng to tap home and send them into the Grand Final.
The hosts saw out the last few minutes of the game and celebrated booking their spot in the decider next weekend.
Post match, a delighted Mt Druitt Town Rangers coach Ben Gough reflected on the win for his side:
“It was a tough game, but we had a normal week, analysing what we needed. We took our chances and there was a great save from [Renee] Krstanovska as well. It has been a great season for the club, it has been a process and to get where we are it is superb.” said Gough.
For Bankstown City Lions FC coach Ante Covic, he reflected on their positives in the game and the season:
“I don’t the scoreline reflected the game. We played some good football in the first half and missed a penalty which could’ve changed the game. Two chances for goals put us in a tough position.” said Covic.
We played some good football but it was experience at the end of the day counted and it’s a loss that is hard to take for us. We’re a young side and there is plenty to come from this group.” added Covic.
MATCH STATS
Popondetta Park
Referee: Alana Zic
Assistant Referees: Mia Velarde & Ella Mcgarrity
Fourth Offical: Joseph Rovella
Mt Druitt Town Rangers FC 3 (Khamis ’35 ’38 Boateng ’82)
Bankstown City Lions FC 0
Mt Druitt Town Rangers FC: 2. Holly Williams, 5. Emily Kos, 7. Sheiden Jabour, 11. Rita Boateng, 15. Rosaria Galea, 16. Caitlin Campbell (29. Jessica Anand ’89), 23. Tiarne Flavin (30. Paris Vinuya ’71), 24. Leena Khamis, 41. Trudy Camilleri (18. Holly Dalrymple ’60), 47. Renee Houliaras (9. Peyton Crye ’60), 88. Renee Krstanovska
Unused subs: 1. Laura Tredinnick, 28. Kaitlyn Smith,
Yellow cards: Camilleri ’20 Williams ’40
Red cards: nil
Bankstown City Lions FC: 3. Stephanie Ambrose, 13. Zali Dean, 15. Chelsea Greguric, 17. Maya Miller, 18. Aya Seino, 23. Ena Harada, 24. Kahtia Bedano (29. Kyah Bedano ’45), 27. Keeley Segavcic, 33. Chiara Cencigh, 35. Claire Witton (9. Krystallia Kallidakis ’71), 36. Karen Bennett (26. Alyssa Broughton ’71)
Unused subs: 20. Jasmin Lawler, 28. Tori Hronopoulos, 30. Caitlin Beeker
Yellow cards: Greguric ’34 Kallidakis ‘76
Red cards: nil
By Justin Davies (@JustDavies90)
Semi-Final #2: SD Raiders FC 0 defeated by St George FC 0 (5-4 on pens)
St George FC won through on towards the League One Women’s Grand Final 5-4 on penalties after it was locked at 0-0 after 120 minutes at Ernie Smith Reserve.
It was the defending champions St George FC who started the better of the two sides, looking comfortable in possession, their first chance fell to Janan Codmani who shot header into the near post was saved after eight minutes.
While SD Raiders had a chance of their own minutes earlier, an Amanda Radmilo shot from the edge of the box narrowly missing the left facing post. That chance coming at the second phase of a corner.
It was the Saints looking the more dangerous and they continued to create going forward. Angelina Manos’ effort taking a touch on its way towards goal which sent in wide of the left post before the quarter hour.
While a SD Raiders break nearly unlocked the visitors defence shortly after. Miriam Zumaya running onto a through ball beyond the defence before her shot on target was blocked by a retreating defence.
St George only denied the first by a terrific save from Pentacost, the SD Raiders shot stopper getting down to her left to deny Janan Codmani after a Kyle Vanderlaan cut back just after the 25th minute.
Pentecost next denying Christina Dendrinos as the Saints continued to threaten. Christina Dendrinos teed up by Codmani inside.
Perhaps sensing their need to get a foot on the ball, the SD Raiders began then to settle holding plenty of possession over the next 5-10 minutes with a long range shot from Taiana Almeida on target forcing a save as we approached the 40th minute.
Another couple of chances for SD Raiders from Erin Phelan and Almedia completing the first half of action with not much between the two sides.
Having finished the first half creating more, the Raiders had the first chance of the second half. Erin Phelan drawing a save from Caitlin Russell in the St George net after Almeida slipped a through ball beyond the defence.
While the first chance at the other end fell to Kyla Vanderlaan whose effort on the end of substitute Emma-Jane Winston’s cutback on the right just missed the target past the right post before the hour. That effort soon followed by a Tayla Cvetkovski shot from the edge of the area.
Isabella Sultan was released for SD Raiders through on goal before a covering challenge saw a free-kick, her free-kick clearing the bar.
With the tension rising as the clock ticked down, the game then tightened up with neither side able to find create chances. One final chance falling for St George in the final five minutes. Abbey-Rose Cryer who couldn’t hit the target from around the penalty spot.
Heading into extra time, St George created the first noteworthy chance when Jaslyn Moore sent a ball flashing across the face of goal begging to be put in. While Sarah Mandile sent an effort wide of the target in a narrow escape for the visitors.
SD Raiders keeper Pentecost making a final crucial save before being substituted from Saltirov palming it onto the crossbar.
The game decided on penalties where Amy Orphanides stepped up for St George making the save before Abbey-Rose Cryer stepped up to convert the crucial pen and sent the Saints into the decider.
SD Raiders FC coach Bojan Radmilo reflected on a pulsating contest which both teams threw everything at each other:
“Nobody gave us a chance to finish top three but to finish Premiers is a big achievement. It was a 50/50 on penalties and congrats to St George. It was a brilliant campaign, we won 21 games and smashed our goal which was top four and were Premiers.” said Radmilo.
Victorious St George FC coach Mark Greenfield reflected on another dramatic win for his side who defend their title next weekend:
“I am very pleased and the girls put in across 120 minutes at this time of the year. This team never gives up and it was a brilliant effort. [Amy] Orphanides is good at penalties and we trusted her with the job after returning from holidays.” said Greenfield.
“It is a difficult way to lose on penalties so credit to SD Raiders FC who put in a solid performance tonight. Now we moved to back-to-back Grand Finals looking to raise it again.” added Greenfield.
MATCH STATS
Sunday 1 September 2024
Ernie Smith Reserve
Referee: Charlotte Flynn
Assistant Referees: Chloe Gray & Gabriella Arcidiacono
SD Raiders FC 0
St George FC 0
SD Raiders FC: 1. Natasha Pentecost (31. Caitlin Britton ‘120), 2. Sharina Harris, 5. Amanda Radmilo, 6. Jessica Neville (13. Olga Gasteratos ’80), 7. Abigail Boag, 8. Layne Knight, 9. Miriam Zumaya, 10. Isabella Sultan (11. Abuk Nyor ’92), 15. Erin Phelan (14. Sarah Mandile ‘66), 18. Madeleine Malone, 19. Taiana Almeida
Unused subs: 12. Lauren Wickremeratne, 16. Elana Topalidis
Yellow cards: Radmilo ’24 Boag ‘52
Red cards: nil
St George FC: 3. Kate Dale, 4. Nicole Besz, 6. Tara Palmer, 11. Kyla Vanderlaan (13. Alexia Saltirov 69’), 12. Janan Codmani, 14. Angelina Manos (8. Abbey-Rose Cryer ’45), 15. Genevieve Russo, 16. Emma-Jane Winston (22. Rebecca Cousins ’96), 20. Christina Dendrinos (18. Jaslyn Moore ’45), 30. Tayla Cvetkovski, 61. Caitlin Russell (1. Amy Orphanides ‘116)
Unused Subs: 2. Joanna Minas
Yellow Cards: Winston ‘63
Red Cards: nil
By Justin Smith
