Sydney fc regain top spot – Round 9 review

Sydney FC are back on top of the Westfield W-League at the end of Round 9 after a tough 2-1 win over local rivals Western Sydney Wanderers.

Kyah Simon’s penalty ensured the Sky Blues finished the holiday period with two wins from as many starts and a two-point margin at the top, though having played a match more.

Canberra United needed to call upon all their know-how to collect a 2-1 comeback win over Melbourne Victory on Wednesday, a victory secured thanks to Ashleigh Sykes’ late penalty.

Adelaide United and Newcastle Jets played out a 2-2 stalemate on Thursday in a match both were desperate to win in order to stay in touch with the leading pack.

Canberra United and Perth Glory are equal second, with Melbourne City four points away in fourth.

Round 9 will commence on New Years Day with Brisbane Roar hosting Melbourne Victory, and will conclude with a massive encounter on Tuesday as Sydney FC host Canberra United in a match pushed back a day from the original fixture list.

Melbourne Victory 1 (Natasha Dowie 30’)
Canberra United 2 (Nickoletta Flannery 53’, Ashleigh Sykes 88’ pen)
Wednesday 28 December 2016
Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne
Kick-Off: 5.05pm

Referee: Rebecca Durcau

Melbourne Victory: Bethany Mason-Jones (gk), Alexandra Natoli, Alexandra Gummer, Annabel Martin, Natasha Dowie, Christine Nairn (c), Laura Spiranovic (Lia Privitelli 62’), Adriana Taranto, Samantha Johnson, Gulcan Koca, Kariah White (Melindaj Barbieri 77’)

Substitutes – Bianca Henninger (gk), Ayesha Norrie

Cautions – Annabel Martin 84’

Canberra United: Trudy Burke (gk), Yukari Kinga, Clare Hunt (Emma Checker 60’), Jenna McCormick, Grace Maher, Michelle Heyman (c) (Jasmyne Spencer 13’), Hannah Brewer, Celeste Boureille, Ashleigh Sykes, Nickoletta Flannery (Hayley Raso 56’), Steph Ochs

Substitutes: Georgia Boric (gk)

Cautions: Emma Checker 84’

Adelaide United 2 (Adriana Jones 14’, Alexandra Chidiac 46’)
Newcastle Jets 2 (Jenna Kingsley 22’, 52’ pen)
Thursday 29 December 2016
Venue: Elite Systems Football Centre, Adelaide
Kick-Off: 7pm

Referee: Kate Jacewicz

Adelaide United: Eliza Campbell (gk), Monica, Stella Rigon (c) (Emily Hodgson 67’), Racheal Quigley, Sofia Huerta, Adriana Jones, Grace Abbey, Georgia Campagnale, Danielle Colaprico, Katie Naughton, Alexandra Chidiac

Substitutes – Sarah Willacy (gk), Georgia Iannella, Isabella Scalzi

Cautions – Eliza Campbell 51’

Newcastle Jets: Katelyn Rowland (gk), Sophie Nenadovic (Liana Danaskos 86’), Megan Oyster, Cassidy Davis, Gema Simon (c), Jen Hoy, Grace McIntyre (Tara Pender 76’), Brooke Miller (Rhali Dobson 64’), Jenna Kingsley, Clare Wheeler, Ashlee Brodigan

Substitutes – Claire Coelho (gk)

Cautions – Brooke Miller 2’, Tara Pender 93’

Western Sydney Wanderers 1 (Katie Stengel 24’)
Sydney FC 2 (Alanna Kennedy 35’, Kyah Simon 84’ pen)
Friday 30 December 2016
Venue: Popondetta Park, Sydney
Kick-Off: 7pm

Referee: Casey Reibelt

Western Sydney Wanderers: Jada Whyman (gk), Caitlin Cooper (c), Helen Petinos, Kendall Fletcher, Sarah Yatim, Erica Halloway, Katie Stengel, Paige Nielsen, Eliza Ammendolia (Rachel Lowe 54’), Ellie Carpenter, Angelique Hristodoulou

Substitutes – Casey Dumont (gk), Alix Roberts, Chloe O’Brien

Cautions – Helen Petinos 60’, Kendall Fletcher 83’

Sydney FC: Sham Khamis (gk), Liz Ralston, Nicola Bolger, Caitlin Foord (Remy Siemsen 73’), Francisca Ordega, Natalie Tobin (Olivia Price 37’), Georgia Yeoman-Dale, Alanna Kennedy, Hannah Bacon (Princess Ibini 78’), Kyah Simon, Leena Khamis

Substitutes – Sarah Easthope (gk)

Cautions – Francisca Ordega 50’, Caitlin Foord 64’, Kyah Simon 88’

1:11 PM