A warm Campbelltown Stadium proved an attractive prospect for fans of both Western Sydney Wanderers and Sydney FC, as the women’s version of the Sydney derby saw an evenly split crowd of 872. Sydney ran out 3-1 winners, and the scoring began early for the away side.
Jodie Taylor staved off two Wanderers defenders and played an on-running Leena Khamis who calmly slotted home to give the Sky Blues an 8thminute lead.
Image by Pete Nowakowski.
Retiring Wanderer Catherine Cannuli replied almost instantly with a powerful shot on goal that forced an outstretched save from Casey Dumont.
It was then an attempt from Jenna Kingsley that had the contingent of RBB fans excited, her shot rattling the crossbar as it skimmed over the top of goal.
Back up the other end in the 30th minute and Taylor could have made it two for Sydney FC. The English centre forward rounded the ‘keeper but indecision led to her eventual cross looking more like a failed shot, rolling past the face of goal and out.
Captain for the match Servet Uzunlar hit the crossbar again for the Wanderers in what was a frustrating half of football for the home side that got worse in the 37th minute..
A quickly-taken freekick finally extended Sydney’s lead. On fire Taylor made a calculated run through the flat-footed Wanderers defence and hit the back of the net.
The restart began with two wonderful stops from Poulos and a third at the other end from Dumont, all three of which would have resulted in goals.
For all of Dimitra Poulos’ bravado though it would be for nothing. On 57 minutes Jodie Taylor made it three for Sydney FC with the simplest of tap ins.
Cannuli brought her career to an end in fine form, winning a penalty in injury time and finishing well to give the home side at least a goal to take away from Campbelltown. Meanwhile the win means Sydney are one step closer to the premiership, now sitting on top of the Westfield W-League ladder.
Campbelltown Stadium
Crowd: 872
Referee: Kate Jacewicz
Western Sydney Wanderers: 22. POULOS Dimi, 2. COOPER Caitlin, 5. VAN EGMOND Emily, 6. SOUTAR Rachael, 9. KINGSLEY Jenna, 10. UZUNLAR Yesim Servet, 13. CANNULI Catherine, 14. KENNEDY Alanna, 15. ALLEN Teigan, 16. ONEILL Linda, 18 PETINOS Helen.
Subs: 1. ARNOLD Mackenzie, 8. HUSTER Victoria, 12. SEAMAN Jessica, 19. BAKER Jordan
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