Adelaide United v Sydney FC: W-League Match Report

Sydney FC has consigned the Lady Reds to their sixth straight loss of the Westfield W-League season after a 4-1 win at Hindmarsh Stadium.

Marijana Rajcic shocked the Sky Blues by giving Adelaide the lead with a sublime first-time chip however Sydney took all three points with goals to Heather Garriock, Servet Uzunlar and Caitlin Foord.

Despite conceding four goals Adelaide played well and were unlucky not to get more out of the match with a number of cruel goalkeeping efforts impacting upon the result.

The game opened in a free-flowing fashion with the first 10 minutes punctuated by quick passing and sharp defending to cut off any chances.

Adelaide’s 15-year-old Emma Checker was stoic at the back for the Lady Reds, showing composure that belied her age by stopping a number of Sydney attacks.

Sydney was denied the opening goal in the 17th minute after a brilliant save by Lady Reds ‘keeper Sian McLaren. Rollason found the ball in her attacking half and slid a through ball to Leena Khamis which put her one-on-one with the 20-year-old ‘keeper, who was well up to the task.

McLaren again saved United’s blushes just a minute later with a strong reflex save at her near post after Danielle Brogan’s power drive from a tight angle.

The Lady Reds faced wave after wave of Sydney attacks but managed to hold on to their clean sheet with desperate saves from McLaren matched by shot blocks by American international Ashleigh Gunning.

Despite having only 30 per cent possession after a half hour of play, the Lady Reds’ stubborn defence and counter-attacking style threatened the Sky Blues on a number of occasions.

United’s Marijana Rajcic stunned Sydney by scoring a sublime chip-shot in the 30th minute to take a 1-0 lead. With the Sky Blues defence not dealing with a long ball over the top, Rajcic capitalised and hit the ball first time with the shot clipping the post and spinning into Allison Lipsher’s goal.

Sydney’s didn’t take long to respond as Heather Garriock showed her skill with a world-class strike in the 38th minute. After winning the ball on the break Sarah Walsh moved to ball to an open Garriock whose curling shot on her non-preferred was nestled perfectly into McLaren’s top corner.

Disaster struck for the Lady Reds after Servet Uzunlar gave Sydney the lead just four minutes later with a goal coming from nothing. Uzunlar blasted a cross directly at McLaren who misjudged the pass and it slipped through her hands and into the net.

Sydney went into the break holding a 2-1 lead after dominating possession, but Adelaide would have been disappointed to let two goals slip after absorbing plenty of pressure in the first 45 minutes.

Neither team could maintain the frenetic pace of the opening half with both coaches maximising the use of their bench to freshen up the squad. Both teams’ defences began to take control with fewer and fewer clear-cut chances coming to the fore.

Sydney had a golden chance to double their lead after being awarded a penalty in the 68th minute after Emma Checker brought down Caitlin Foord inside the box. Kylie Ledbrook stepped up to take the resulting penalty, sending the ‘keeper the wrong way, but she slammed the shot into the post as the Lady Reds escaped with the scores stuck at 2-1.

Sydney found their third and fourth goals in a quick-fire two minute burst by the Sky Blues. A Sydney corner flew directly to the centre of the box and McLaren ‘s errant punch deflected awkwardly towards her net as it spun in before the Reds’ defence could clear.

Asian Young Player of the Year Catlin Foord found Sydney’s fourth as her shot blasted through the ‘keeper’s hands and despite McLaren’s scrambling efforts, the ball trickled over the line.

The match ended at 4-1 but Adelaide performed admirably for much of the game and was unlucky it ended with such a one-sided score-line.