It was raining goals when Bulls FC Academy disposed of Western Sydney Wanderers 5-3 in round 20 of the National Premier Leagues Women’s NSW competition. However last year’s champions had to hold their nerve after a dramatic comeback from the Wanderers, reports NIKOLA POZDER.
Bulls FC raced out to a 3-0 lead inside the opening half hour before the Wanderers, who were playing at home, fought their way back into the contest, levelling the scores with 20 minutes remaining.
However, the Bulls showed their quality when it mattered most, scoring twice late to secure a crucial three points in a memorable eight-goal encounter.
The visitors made the perfect start, opening the scoring after just nine minutes through captain Liz Grey.
An inswinging corner found the central defender in space inside the penalty area, with Grey rising highest to head the ball into the back of the net and give the Bulls an early advantage.
Bulls doubled their lead in the 26th minute after their high press forced a defensive error from the Wanderers. Petria Phillips capitalised, with her finish taking a fortunate touch before rolling beyond goalkeeper Aimee Hall.
The visitors continued their fast start and extended their lead just a minute later through Daniella Naeimi.
A brilliant passage of build-up play ended with Amber Luchtmeijer cutting the ball back to Naeimi outside the box, with the attacker smashing her effort beyond Hall and into the bottom-left corner to make it 3-0.
The Wanderers had a chance to immediately respond after being awarded a penalty following a handball inside the area, but Alyssa Ng Saad sent her spot-kick over the crossbar.
Just when it looked like the hosts would head into the break three goals down, Talia Younis provided a lifeline.
Ng Saad broke into the box and saw her effort saved by Bulls goalkeeper Ashley Hughes, but Younis reacted quickest to the rebound and calmly finished to reduce the deficit.
The Wanderers carried that momentum into the second half, with Ng Saad making amends for her missed penalty in the 50th minute.
Alvina Khoshaba delivered a dangerous ball into the box from the left, with Younis cleverly allowing it to run through to Ng Saad, who finished neatly to make it 3-2.
The comeback was completed in the 70th minute when Younis scored her second goal of the evening.
After Amelia Bennett’s ball was not dealt with by the Bulls defence, Younis struck first time into the bottom corner to bring the scores level at 3-3.
However, the league leaders responded when it mattered most.
Inside the final 10 minutes, a misplaced pass in midfield allowed the Bulls to break forward, with Olivia Vanderlaan producing a superb delivery from the right for Phillips to slide in and restore their lead.
The Bulls FC Academy continued to push forward, with Luchtmeijer going close to sealing the result when her effort on the turn struck the post.
From the resulting passage of play, the Bulls finally put the contest beyond doubt.
Once again, Vanderlaan proved the creator, delivering a pinpoint cross into the area for Jade Guichon, who headed home confidently to secure a 5-3 victory.
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Macarthur Rams and Sydney University shared the spoils with their clash finishing at 2-2.
The Rams found an early opener when Gabrielle Sarkis’ pressed the Sydney Uni defence into coughing up possession, leading to Tea Mucenski finding the bottom corner from range in the 7th minute.
Eliza Ammendolia almost conjured a brilliant second for her side with a chip that rattled the crossbar and was eventually buried by Amelia Cassar on the follow-up to make it 2-0.
A great square ball into the near post saw Sydney Uni pull a goal back in the 61st minute through substitute Ella McCann before Emilia Murray was able to power her strike past the goalkeeper in the 66th minute to ensure a 2-2 draw in the end.
