Bulls FC Academy have won the National Premier Leagues Women’s NSW Championship with a come from behind 4-3 grand final victory over APIA Leichhardt at Jubilee Stadium on Saturday.
It was a game that had it all – goals, comebacks, red cards and a late saved penalty to clinch the Championship, in one of the greatest grand finals in NPL NSW history.
“It was crazy, but what a final,” said Bulls FC coach Marty Garces afterwards.
“It’s the pinnacle, and it was an enjoyable and entertaining match.
“It’s surreal (to be Champions).
“We worked pretty hard, with a lot of challenges, and it means a lot for us and the club.”
But it was APIA Leichhardt who struck first, netting a clinical goal to take the lead In the 7th minute,.
APIA doubled their lead 13 minutes later, shocking Bulls Academy.
In the 33rd minute, Bulls went agonisingly close to halving the deficit and finding a way back into this match.
Bulls went close to scoring on two occasions, but they headed to the half time break down two goals.
But it took them just 10 minutes in the second half to finally get on the scoreboard, courtesy of a penalty from the spot.
Substitute Avaani Prakash showed tremendous trickery inside the box to bait a foul and get her side an opportunity from 12 yards.
To no surprise, it was Tamires Souza who stepped up, and she thundered the ball past Magnus and into the side netting with a perfect penalty shot.
An already fired-up Bulls crowd had finally found reason to cheer, with the tremendous atmosphere setting up an exhilarating last half an hour at Jubilee Stadium.
Shortly after their goal, Bulls hit the woodwork for the second time in the match, with Prakash striking the near-post off a powerful effort inside the box.
In the 75th minute Bulls found their moment, earning their second penalty of the match after substitute Jade Guichon was brought down in the box just moments after stepping on the field.
With Souza off the field, Claudia Valletta promptly stepped up and made no mistake, placing her shot into the bottom-right corner to draw the scores level at 2-2.
Near the end of the 90 minutes, the match took a sudden turn, with Guichon receiving a red card after pulling Jordan Jasnos’ hair to deny her from dribbling forward.
But Jasnos was quickly sent off herself, after pushing Guichon to the ground in retaliation, and, suddenly, it was 10 v 10 in the grand final.
Following the player reduction, it was the Bulls who were continuing to look more threatening, and in the 90th minute, were denied a late winner by a fantastic save.
With the match heading into extra time, APIA took an opportunity to reset, and came out looking far more reassured and prepared for the challenge ahead.
And 12 minutes in, they took the lead once more, with Ashlee Brodigan emerging as the hero off the bench.
However, Bulls hit back when Jyanna Dos Santos scored in stoppage time to make it 3-3.
In the second-half of extra time, 111 minutes into the match, Bulls FC finally took the lead, with captain Elizabeth Grey netting the crucial goal.
After Dos Santos won a tackle, Jasmine Meli produced a brilliant cross into the box, finding the far post, where Grey was positioned.
The Bulls’ captain rose highest in the box, and with a sensational leap, found the back of the net to put her side in the driving seat at 4-3.
There was one more dramatic act: a penalty to APIA in the second half of extra time.
Bulls goalie Mio Nemoto made a sensational save to keep her side ahead at the final whistle
The Bulls inspirational captain Elizabeth Grey was named Player of the Match (pictured below).
Bulls Academy FC team for the grand final: 1. Mio Nemoto, 5. Elizabeth Grey (C), 6. Arna Hogarth-Scott (7. Avaani Prakash 45’), 8. Claudia Valletta, 10. Tamires Souza (2. Mya Calil 73’), 11. Daniella Naeimi (33. Jade Guichon 73’), 12. Jasmine Meli, 14. Petria Phillips, 16. Isabella Coco-Di Sipio, 17. Jynaya Dos Santos, 18. Gemma Ferris (4. Ruby Davies 118’)
BY JACK GEORGE
