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APIA Leichhardt crowned inaugural Sapphire Cup Champions

10 Sep 2023

APIA Leichhardt have defeated Northern Tigers to win the inaugural Sapphire Cup trophy at Leichhardt Oval on a sunny Sunday spring afternoon.

Northern Tigers looked to threaten from the very off, with Beth Bernardi forcing Sophie Magus into action after latching onto a loose ball and lashing a bouncing shot towards the goal.

Throughout the opening 10 minutes, APIA looked to control the game through keeping possession, building up from the back and finding players in central areas to influences the game.

Meanwhile, the Tigers looked efficient and menacing on counter attacks, and looked to capitalise on loose balls before attacking the space that opened up due to APIA’s marauding numbers forwards.

This was demonstrated in the 14^th minute – after Sophie Hoban had a shot from an acute angle saved by Jodie Drever, some electric skill and a well weighted pass from Caitlin Doeglas found Claudia Cholakian, who cut inside but couldn’t find meaningful contact on the strike.

However, it was APIA who took the lead in the 16^th minute.

Holly McNamara, who had been causing problems throughout the match with her pace and sharp running, was found in behind off a clever ball from Claudia Cicco.

The winger cut inside with elegant ease and released an awkward shot towards the near post which bounced over the outstretched arms of Drever and into the back of the net.

APIA continued to control possession following their opener, and had two chances to double their lead, with a Rhianna Pollicina floating precariously wide of the goal before McNamara miskicked an opportunity in front of goal.

McNamara was proving to be a consistent threat for APIA, with her directness, pace and technical ability causing consistent problems for the Tigers, and hit the crossbar with a bending shot towards the far corner after sweeping past multiple Tigers defenders.

It was the winger who was at the fulcrum of APIA’s second; after possession was strongly won by Natasha Prior, McNamara strode forwards, before finding captain Pollicina on the right flank.

The creative midfielder took a positive first touch into the box before converting clinically into the bottom left corner to double the NPL NSW Women Premiers’ lead.

APIA were beginning to thoroughly control proceedings, with the Tigers lacking the same energy and menace when moving forwards.

However, the Tigers did have a golden chance to halve the deficit in the 38^th minute, as they looked to re-discover the spark that looked so bright early on.

A clever intercept and powerful drive from Te Reremoana Walker moved the ball forwards for the Tigers, before playing an inch-perfect ball in behind to Cholakian.

The forward had the goal gaping with Magus coming off her line, but the pressure was enough to put her off and the ball fell wide of the target.

Early in the second half, the Tigers did find their goal.

Looking reenergised after the break, they came out with a roar, with a mesmerising run from captain Hannah McNulty leading to the goal.

From the halfway line, McNulty picked up the ball, before driving forwards with purpose and penetration.

The midfielder calmly dinked the ball around both APIA central defenders – one after the other, before unleashing a lightning strike towards goal.

The shot was saved by Magus, but she couldn’t control the effort, and the ball rebounded into the path of Caitlin Doeglas, who passed the ball into an empty net.

Northern Tigers – along with their fans – were rejuvenated, and looked far more threatening in attack, despite APIA continuing to show their quality as they looked to settle down the tempo of the match.

APIA had a great chance to find a third and stagnate Tigers’ comeback efforts, but an exceptional recovery from Josie Wilson crucially prevented an open shot.

Pollicina made a clever, untracked run in behind the Tigers defence and squared the ball incisively to Cicco.

The left-back was presented with an empty net, but Wilson got across imperatively to prevent the shot, and keep her side well and truly in the match.

APIA had successfully navigated a period of high energy and threat from their opponents, and continued to control possession with class.

In the 71^st minute, the same angled run from Pollicina in behind forced Drever into action, with the goalkeeper making a sharp save after a near-post effort from the midfielder.

In the 76^th minute, Tigers were presented with a significant opportunity to draw level in dramatic style, but just couldn’t find the back of the net.

Cholakian clipped the ball past Charlotte Young, before swiftly passing Annabelle Daczko and advancing down the line.

She cut the ball perfectly across goal to find McNulty with time to shoot just outside the six yard box, but somehow Magus was in the way to prevent the ball from finding the back of the net.

The last 15 minutes were hotly contested, but it was APIA who showed their class to hold on and become the first team to win the Sapphire Cup.

APIA coach Spencer Prior was expectedly delighted for his side, who picked up their second trophy of the campaign.

“It’s a really good way to finish the season for us,” said Prior.

“Obviously we won the Club Championship and the Premiership and to be the first winners of the Sapphire Cup is something to be very proud of – there’s only going to be one first time winner.

“It’s been a phenomenal season all-round for our players.”

Match Stats

Sapphire Cup Final

APIA Leichhardt FC 2 (McNamara 16’, Pollicina 29’)

Northern Tigers FC 1 (Doeglas 48’)

Sunday 10 September, 2023

Leichhardt Oval

APIA Leichhardt FC: 1. Sophie Magus, 2. Claudia Cicco, 3. Tanya Borazio, 4. Natasha Prior, 9. Holly McNamara, 10. Rhianna Pollicina (C), 11. Ashlie Crofts (7. Isabella Habuda 60’), 16. Estelle Fragale, 18. Sophie Hoban (14. Isabella Coco-Di Sipio 79’), 24. Charlotte Young (15. Gisella Pipino 79’), 32. Annabelle Daczko

Substitutes Not Used: 21. Kaitlin Maree Kiparizov, 40. Emilija Vidakovic

Yellow Cards: Cicco 44’

Red Cards: N/A

Northern Tigers FC: 2. Josie Wilson, 3. Teal Kilbride, 5. Ariella Cabezas, 7. Hannah McNulty (C), 8. Te Reremoana Walker, 10. Claudia Cholakian, 14. Beth Bernardi (63. Olivia Cartwright 83’), 15. Lily McMahon, 21. Caitlin Doeglas (58. Saba Murray 75’), 35. Jessie Wharepouri, 43. Jodie Drever

Substitutes Not Used: 42. Chloe Tseros, 53. Tara Watson, 57. Jasmine Meli

Yellow Cards: Walker 45’, Wharepouri 74’

Red Cards: N/A

Player Ratings

APIA Leichhardt FC

Sophie Magus – 6.5

Magus was solid throughout, and made a crucial save late on to keep APIA in ascendancy.

Claudia Cicco – 7.5

Cicco was a threat through her consistent passes down the line to McNamara, and remained solid and sound as a defensive presence.

Tanya Borazio – 6.5

Borazio was strong in defence and comfortable on and off the ball during the match, although getting beat by the lively Caitlin Doeglas on occasion.

Natasha Prior – 7

Prior was comfortable and composed in possession throughout, helping her side dictate play over the duration of the match.

Holly McNamara – 9

Holly McNamara was the main threat for APIA, and the most decisive player on the field, netting a goal and assist in the 2-1 victory.

She showed a consistent directness which stemmed from her pace and technical ability, and was the deserved inaugural Player of the Match in the Sapphire Cup final

Rhianna Pollicina (C) – 8

Pollicina was exceptional with and without possession, making consistently clever runs in behind and defending actively.

However, it was her quality on the ball that truly shone through, which was evident in scoring what turned out to be the winning goal with a clinical finish into the bottom corner.

Ashlie Crofts – 6.5

Crofts was relatively quiet throughout the match but demonstrated her quality with her ability to keep possession and find dangerous passes inside.

She also threatened with runs in behind from the right flank but was substituted on the hour mark.

Estelle Fragale – 6.5

Fragale helped keep the ball moving in a central-midfield role for APIA, and showed her quality in keeping the ball under pressure on a plethora of occasions during the 90 minutes.

Sophie Hoban – 7

Hoban was key in APIA’s success in playing through the centre, dropping off and linking up play from a central striker role..

Whilst not finding herself with any clear cut chances, she was consistently involved in APIA’s production of opportunities throughout the match.

Charlotte Young – 6.5

Young was relatively solid throughout the match from centre-back, although getting caught by the pace and directness of Tigers’ attack a few times during the game.

Annabelle Daczko – 6.5

Similarly to her central defensive partner, Daczko looked comfortable during the match, but was caught out on a few occasions by the rapidness of the Tigers attack.

Substitutes

Isabella Habuda – 6

Substituted on in the 60^th minute, Habuda was solid for her side on the right-wing, defending and pressing well when necessary and linking with teammates well.

Isabella Coco-Di Sipio – N/A

Substituted on 79^th minute – minimal time.

Gisella Pipino – N/A

Substituted on 79^th minute – minimal time.

Substitutes Not Used

Kaitlin Maree Kiparizov, 40. Emilija Vidakovic

Northern Tigers FC

Josie Wilson – 7

Wilson struggled to keep up with the incisiveness of McNamara throughout the match but cannot be blamed considering the quality of the APIA winger.

Wilson also made a crucial block to keep her side in the game in the second half.

Teal Kilbride – 6

Kilbridge was solid throughout the game, but sometimes struggled to keep up with APIA’s swift attacks.

Ariella Cabezas – 6

Cabezas was consistent but was sometimes overrun by the quality of APIA, who were sometimes too much for the Tigers to handle.

Hannah McNulty (C) – 7.5

McNulty endured a quiet performance but made a blistering run to help bring the Tigers back into the match.

Te Reremoana Walker – 8

Te Reremoana Walker was exceptional with the ball, both in her dribbling and passing, and was consistently quality throughout the match

She was also active and aggressive off the ball and was the key to Tigers’ impressive performance.

Claudia Cholakian – 7.5

Cholakian contested duels well and looked tidy on the ball throughout, creating chances for others and herself, but not on a regular enough basis to have a true influence on the outcome of the match.

Beth Bernardi – 6

Bernardi struggled to have an impact with the ball at her feet, but covered good ground in midfield, defending solidly against the consistently threatening APIA attack.

Lily McMahon – 7

Lily McMahon was active in defence, kept possession well and made some threatening runs during the game.

Caitlin Doeglas – 7.5

Doeglas provided an attacking spark with her quality and pace throughout the match, and got a crucial goal just after halftime to present a road for the Tigers back into the game.

Jessie Wharepouri – 6

Wharepouri was, like Tigers’ other defenders, solid at times but sometimes overwhelmed by APIA’s narrow, consistently quality attacks.

Jodie Drever – 6

Drever put up a mixed performance – whilst allowing the ball to slip over her hands for the opening concession, she saved her side at other times with some strong stops in goal.

Substitutes