W-League: Late strike lifts Sydney over Reds

Sydney FC's late show has helped them snatch all three points against the Lady Reds at Friday night's opening of Adelaide's new Western Shores Soccer Centre.

The Sky Blues appeared certain to share the spoils after Adelaide's Kristy Moore's goal in the 51st minute cancelled out Jodie Taylor's opener.

The scores were deadlocked for the majority of the second half until Sydney sucker punched the home side deep into stoppage time.

Amy Harrison was the hero for the visitors as she pounced on a goalmouth scramble to slot home and keep Sydney firmly planted on top of the Westfield W-League table.

The opening of the Centre provided the Lady Reds with a stern test as they faced off against an undefeated Sydney side.

After a number of attacking exchanges from both sides it was the visitors who struck first through Jodie Taylor.

Some positive play down the right flank from Sam Kerr opened up the Reds' defence and her low cross was clipped first-time by Taylor.

The attacker’s strike lofted up over Melissa Barbieri’s head and nestled in the back of the net to the despair of the home crowd.

The Sky Blues gained the ascendancy and began to dominate play but couldn’t find a way to land the killer blow.

Barbieri was forced into a number of decisive saves to keep the scoreline close, one of her best coming in the 39th minute to deny Khamis whose shot from outside the box had the ‘keeper diving high and wide to palm the ball out for a corner.

Adelaide went into the break a goal down and needing a much improved second half to take anything from the match.

The home crowd got what they were after just six minutes into the second half as Kristy Moore broke free to equalize.

Club captain Moore’s burst of pace helped her into perfect position as she calmly side-footed her shot past Dumont to send the home support into raptures.

With a vital three points up for grabs both sides pushed hard to take the lead and close out the match positively.

In the 65th minute, Harrison played a quick one-two to get herself away from her marker and in prime position to fire from distance.

The wingback’s fierce, dipping drive looked to have gotten the best of the Lady Reds only for Barbieri to come up with the goods again to frustrate the Blues.

Harrison would have the last laugh however as a goalmouth scramble in the Lady Reds’ penalty box gifted her a first W-League goal, deciding the match and keeping Sydney’s unbeaten streak alive.

The result leaves the Reds in fifth place heading into a clash with the Roar while Sydney will face off against Canberra United on the 29th of January.




Adelaide United: Barbieri, Stockdale, Quigley, Woods, Iannella, Borg, McCormick, Powell, Veljanovska, Moore, Mason

Adelaide subs: Wharepouri, Condon, Nagel, Barltrop



Sydney FC: Dumont, Polias, Brogan, Ralston, Bolger, Harrison, Foord, Rollason, Taylor, Khamis, Kerr

Sydney subs: Logarzo, Camilleri, Khamis, Kete