Adelaide United Women has succumbed to the Westfield W-League leaders after falling 2-1 against Sydney FC Women at Cromer Park on Sunday.
Set-pieces proved the Reds’ downfall as both Remy Siemsen and Cortnee Vine both scored from corners either side of half-time for the Sky Blues.
Matilda McNamara halved the deficit with her maiden Westfield W-League goal beyond the hour mark, but the visitors could not find an equaliser despite creating chances late on.
The result is a dent to United’s finals aspirations although they do remain in the top four for now.
Playing her 50th W-League game, Kahlia Hogg started in place of Chelsie Dawber due to illness, in what was the only change by coach Adrian Stenta.
It was a rather lacklustre opening 35 minutes with opportunities few and far between for both sides.
Adelaide absorbed a lot of Sydney’s pressure without consistently troubling United’s goal.
But in the 20th minute Annalee Grove was called into action, producing a strong save from point-blank range.
Siemsen was inadvertently played through by Charlotte Grant however Grove made herself big to deny the striker.
The match began to open up a little though United struggled to keep possession high up the field to cause problems for the Sky Blues.
Adelaide’s resistance was broken five minutes from the interval as Siemsen headed in Teresa Polias’ corner.
The hosts scored via the same modus operandi to begin the second-half with the Reds exposed from another Polias corner.
This time it was Vine that beat Grove’s flailing arm and she flicked her header in.
McNamara netted her first goal after getting on the end of Emily Condon’s set-piece on 64 minutes.
The introduction of Meleri Mullan and Lara Kirkby help lift Adelaide’s tempo as the Reds began to grow in confidence.
Rojas squandered a clear-cut chance to restore parity when Mallory Weber dispossessed her opponent and assisted the Chilean.
After skipping past Natalie Tobin, the 33-year-old only had to pick a corner but fired her shot straight at goalkeeper Jada Whyman.
It was a frenetic final few minutes with Dylan Holmes seeing her deflected lob hitting the crossbar, while Princess Ibini forced Grove into a strong save in the final passage of play.
Team news
Playing her 50th Westfield W-League game, Kahlia Hogg started in place of Chelsie Dawber due to illness in what was the only change by Head Coach, Adrian Stenta. Sian Fryer-McLaren also returned to the bench from injury, as Annalee Grove retained her spot in goal.
Key moments
20’ | SAVE! Grove makes herself big and blocks Siemsen’s close-range effort.
https://players.brightcove.net/5498268479001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6234066031001
40’ | GOAL: Siemsen nods home the corner from Polias.
48’ | GOAL: Vine heads in Polias’ corner after Grove is unable to punch the ball clear.
64’ | GOAL! McNamara gets a goal back on the end of a cross to poke the ball home.
https://players.brightcove.net/5498268479001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6234068014001
77’ | CHANCE! Rojas with just the ‘keeper shoots straight at Whyman.
https://players.brightcove.net/5498268479001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6234069041001
Match details:
Game date: Sunday, 21 February
Westfield W-League 2020/21 – Round 9
Sydney FC Women 2 (Siemsen 40’, Vine 48’)
Adelaide United Women 1 (McNamara 64’)
Venue: Cromer Park
