The field has been cut from four to two in the search for the 2015-16 W-League Champions, and we have ourselves a cracking finale for women’s football.
We’ll start with the Canberra versus Sydney FC game, played at the packed McKellar Park in Canberra.
Sydney were 1-0 victors, after the ref controversially didn’t call a foul on Lydia Williams.
Watching the replay, it is clear the goalie is fouled, so the goal shouldn’t have stood, however football is a 90-minute game, and Canberra had 89 minutes to go score a goal but didn’t. That one decision shouldn’t affect Ash Sykes and Michelle Heyman’s ability at the other end.
This was Sydney’s first win at McKellar since 2012, with Jasyne Spencer finding the back of the net.
Where to now for Canberra? A few players will head overseas either with the Matildas or for game time with international clubs – previous seasons have seen players head to Sweden or America to get more experience during the offseason.
The other match was Brisbane Roar taking on the unbeaten Melbourne City. It was 0-0 at halftime, fulltime, and at the end of overtime.
I posted on social media before the shootout that the Brisbane goalie, Haley Kopmeyer, should be player of the match regardless of the result, as she had a blinder. That honour ended up going to Claire Polkinghorne, who also had a great game for the Roar.
Melbourne City took the shootout 5-4, Brisbane’s Angela Beard hitting the post on her team’s last shot. City’s Lisa De Vanna made no such mistake, hitting the back of the net and giving her team the win.
What made it special though, was the show of sportsmanship, with both teams shown comforting Beard after she missed the shot. Penalties are a horrible way to end a season.
Looking to next weekend’s match, Sydney’s defence means City will find the going easier than they did against the Roar. As premiers, City also have hosting rights, another advantage.
When I was growing up playing hockey, the advice was simple: score more than the opposition, if they score three, go score four. Sydney won’t be able to out-defend City, but if they get on the scoreboard first, especially two up, then it’s a different proposition altogether. Scoreboard pressure is what undid Canberra, and is Sydney’s best chance of upsetting City.
Melbourne City host Sydney FC on Sunday afternoon at AAMI park. Kickoff at 2pm, with coverage live on Fox Sports and the ABC.
Prediction: Melbourne City 3-0
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