W-League: Sydney dismantles woeful Adelaide

A brace from Renee Rollason has helped Sydney FC demolish Adelaide United at Adelaide Shores Football Complex on Friday night, knocking the hosts over to the tune of a 5-0 drubbing.

The Lady Reds never looked like scoring in the one-sided affair, while Sydney had opportunities seemingly each time they got the ball, which was almost always as Adelaide kept gifting it to them.

Things started well for the Sky Blues as they pressed Adelaide when in possession, forcing the Adelaide defenders to scramble the ball away on a regular basis from the opening minute. Sadly for the Lady Reds, it just kept coming back.

Adelaide’s experienced keeper Melissa Barbieri was peppered with shots, and in the 22nd minute it got too much as she fumbled a strong Rollason header over the line.

Five minutes later it was Rollason again, who skipped around a number of Red legs en route to goal, only this time Barbieri didn’t stand a chance, as the piercing run was capped with a solid drive into the right corner of the net.

Rollason’s first half bravados went unanswered by Adelaide, who went into the break looking like a team without any sort of plan.

In the second half, the calamity continued with Nicole Bolger getting her name on the scorecard with a solid volley from the edge of the area.

15 minutes later it was Olivia Price’s turn as she came off the bench and into the path of playmaker Jasmyne Spencer’s wide pass. Her unmarked run summed up the Lady Red’s performance, and her goal sealed their fate.

If anyone thought that things could get worse for the hosts, they were wrong, as strong claims for a Kristy Moore penalty were turned down after she was pulled down in the box. In the 90th minute when Jasmyne Spencer scored a well hit drive from long range they were wrong once again.

After the game Sydney’s boss Dan Barrett said his team’s effort was the best of the season, and was pleased that his side has found its early-season form again. He was also pleased with the Spencer and Rollason show, which overwhelmed the lacklustre hosts.

“I think that’s probably our best performance of the year so far, much more cutting edge,” Barrett said.

“That was the old Sydney FC, the Sydney FC that has been missing for the last three weeks.

“Jasmyne [Spencer] put herself about all game as she always does, and scored another late goal… and [Renee] Rollason was first class tonight,” he said.

In the much more sombre Adelaide dressing room, midfielder Katie Holtham admitted that Sydney were the better side, but also rued her team’s error-ridden performance.

“A team like Sydney have been around the top for a long time, and they have players that can cause problems,” Holtham said.

“I think we made some errors today and that cost us… I think we needed to be better on the ball, we weren’t as good at keeping the ball, and it hurt us,” she said.

Adelaide will play their next match at home against Western Sydney Wanderers on Sunday 23 November, while Sydney will host Perth Glory in a top of the table clash on Sunday 30 November.



Adelaide United starting XI: 1 Melissa Barbieri (GK), 2. Monique Iannella (off 45’), 3. Danielle Brogan, 7. Katrine Pedersen, 8. Emily Condon, 9. Lisa-Marie Woods, 11. Isabel Hodgson (off 66’), 12. Daila-Tais Borg, 15. Jenna McCormick, 16. Katie Holtham (off 80’), 23. Kristy Moore (C)

Adelaide United substitutes: 6. Dylan Holmes (on 80’) 10. Alexandra Chidiac (on 45’), 17. Tiarn Powell (on 66’), 20. Sarah Willacy (GK)

Sydney FC starting XI: 2. Teresa Polias (c), 4. Alesha Clifford, 5. Jasmyne Spencer, 6. Servet Uzunlar (off 70’), 7. Nicola Bolger (off 65’), 8. Amy Harrison, 10. Renee Rollason, 13. Trudy Camilleri, 15. Teigen Allen, 16. Samantha Johnson (off 81’), 21. Sian McLaren

Sydney United substitutes: 3. Elizabeth Ralston (on 81’), 12. Chloe Logarzo (on 70’), 14. Olivia Price (on 65’), 20. Alyssa Harris (GK)