Jack Snape takes a look at what Sydney FC’s title-winning group of rising stars means for women’s football in Australia:
Sydney FC defeat Melbourne City in A-League Women grand final – as it happened
- Shea Connors settles the grand final in the 69th minute
- Sydney FC celebrate a record fifth A-League championship
Updated
Sat 4 May 2024 04.58 EDT
First published on Sat 4 May 2024 01.37 EDT
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Summary
Thank you for joining me this afternoon for another chapter in the Sydney FC success story. They’ve had to do it the hard way all season in the absence of skipper Nat Tobin, and this grand final was no different with Melbourne City dominating the ball for most of the game. But it was the Sydneysiders who prevailed and entered the record books in doing so.
It’s time for me to take my leave but stay tuned for plenty more from Joey Lynch and Jack Snape from AAMI Park.
Sydney FC are A-League Women Champions
The last to the podium is captain Princess Ibini. As quickly as possible she thanks the sponsors, commiserates Melbourne City, and congratulates her teammates, before taking the championship trophy over to them and holding it aloft as fireworks take flight and confetti rains down on the 2023-24 A-League Women Champions.
Followed by a jubilant squad full of Sydneysiders.
City’s players and staff trudge up to collect their runner-up medallions.
Mackenzie Hawkesby Player of the Match
Sydney’s hardworking midfielder Mackenzie Hawkesby is named the player of the grand final. In fairness it could have been any of her side’s back four or midfield.
Time for the presentations, on a dais in the middle of a sparsely populated, and now chilly AAMI Park.
Jada Whyman’s in tears (happy tears) while Indi dos Santos reflects on her second championship at the age of 16! Dos Santos delivered the most important moment of the match with her magnificent through-ball unlocking Melbourne City’s defence and allowing Connors the match-winning shooting chance.
On the pitch an exhausted Cortnee Vine speaks of heart and grit as the secret to Sydney’s success. Centre-half Charlotte Mclean is adamant this is the most satisfying of Sydney’s recent successes on the back of the injuries and adversity they have faced all season.
Connors, of course, was only just on as a substitute after being injected by Ante Juric. The Sydney coach deserves enormous credit for accepting the terms of this game as attack vs counterattack, and backing his speedsters up front to capitalise on the few opportunities they would receive, and his defenders to remain resolute against the barrage of City attacks.
A record fifth Championship for Sydney FC, and this will be celebrated as fervently as any. Melbourne City bossed the game between the two penalty areas but it was only Sydney who found the back of the net. They defended from front to back doggedly, denying their hosts any time in their attacking third, and when the crucial opportunity arose Shea Connors was on the spot to take it.
Full-time: Melbourne City 0-1 Sydney FC
Sydney FC are A-League Women Champions!
90+8 mins: Ray intercepts in midfield, Hawkesby quickly feeds Vine through 1-on-1 but she shoots early and blasts her effort over the bar.
90+7 mins: The XG has just been revealed as 1.7 v 0.56 in favour of Melbourne City. Along with their dominance of possession, City will sorely rue this defeat if they fail to come back from the dead.
90+6 mins: Nothing flash now from City, just helping the ball forward and hoping for the best. Galic profits down the right but her cross is claimed by the safe hands of Whyman.
90+5 mins: More chaos – this time in Melbourne’s half with Henry’s poor throw magnified by Otto’s fatigue allowing Sydney to nip in and invite Connors to chase a through ball. Barbieri rushes out and gets enough on her clearance to keep the game alive.
90+4 mins: Vine gets another opportunity to milk the clock on the break, and this time she jogs the ball into the right corner, and, with the support of Connors, earns a throw-in that allows her defence to reset.
90+3 mins: Chaos in Sydney’s box with bodies tumbling to the turf as Galic tries to bulldoze her way to goal. The ball doesn’t break kindly for City and Sydney clear.
90+2 mins: Sydney can really milk the clock – or score a second – with Vine on the burst, but City’s lone defender Stott stands firm and keeps her team alive.
90+1 mins: The first minute begins with Whyman clutching a City corner from the left.
90 mins: Wow! Nine minutes of injury time to be played. Where have they come from? There’s barely been a stoppage all night – just one goal and three bookings. That’s incredible.
89 mins: City build again down the left but the player making the run is centre-back Otto, and Sydney are happy to see the ball run away for a goal kick.
87 mins: City are pushing so hard now. Pollicina has a shot charged down on the edge of the box, then Galic dinks over a cross that doesn’t find another light blue jersey. Sydney are digging deep.
85 mins: Still City come, but another cross from the right has only Ekic to aim for now that Wilkinson is off the field. Henry then has a pop from range but Whyman is equal to it. Davidson is then withdrawn for Caitlin Karic in City’s second sub of the night.
84 mins: How have City not equalised!? First McKenna, now Pollicina. The cross from the right is only pawed out by Whyman as far as Pollicina 10 yards from goal but she can’t control her volley and smashes high when it looked easier to score.
82 mins: Ekic swings over the resulting free-kick but it’s all Sydney in the air. City recover the second ball, it reaches McKenna in the six-yard box, and she has to score – but somehow it’s deflected over the bar! City’s best chance of the night! Credit to Hollman for defending her line, not turning her back, and glancing a header wide. Huge moment.
81 mins: Ekic is repelled by Tumeth, then Galic, the latter earning the Sydney defender a yellow card. City’s players have been unimpressed by Tumeth’s physicality all match.
80 mins: City try to build down their left but Sydney are winning all the 1-on-1 duels with boots and bodies getting in the way at every crucial moment.
79 mins: Pollicina wins possession near Sydney’s box. Ekic feeds Hughes within shooting range, but the midfielder’s effort is always slicing over the bar.
77 mins: Finally a change for the hosts with the disappointing Wilkinson replaced by Leticia McKenna. A match to forget for the veteran Kiwi. City have lacked a link between midfield and attack all day, perhaps McKenna will provide that attacking cohesion?
Photograph: Daniel Pockett/AAP
76 mins: Since the goal everything has become more frantic and anxious with City trying to too hard to force the issue and Sydney happy to throw bodies on the line to keep the ball out of their penalty area.
74 mins: Dario Vidosic is running out of time to impact this grand final.
7671 is the crowd at the A-League Women grand final. #MCYvSYD
— Joey Lynch (@joeylynchy) May 4, 2024
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