Melbourne Victory were held to a draw by Sydney FC on Sunday evening.
The Ninja A-League’s 33rd instalment of the Big Blue ended goalless despite plenty of goalmouth action at The Home of The Matildas.
Victory, through Sofia Sakalis and Kennedy White, went closest to finding a winner during a second half that they dominated in every aspect but the scoreline.
Team News
Jeff Hopkins made two changes to his starting XI for the clash in Bundoora. Rhianna Pollicina, following surgery on a fractured wrist earlier this week, and Laura Pickett were out of the matchday squad, with their spots being taken by Rachel Lowe and Rosie Curtis.
Recent absentees Grace Maher and goalkeeper Payton Woodward were among the substitutes.
Match Action
Goal-shy Sydney, yet to score on the road, started brightly, seeing a Hana Lowry corner crash off the woodwork and Skye Halmarick’s drive scooped around the post by Courtney Newbon.
When Victory first made attacking tracks, it took some fine defending to deny White. The American striker met Holly Furphy’s low centre, but was smothered at the near post by the fine defensive efforts of Willa Pearson.
Newbon was called into action again after a quarter of an hour, remaining agile to follow the flight of Amelia Cassar’s shot and tip the ball over.
Chances continued to be exchanged, and White went even closer this time, slamming the base of the post with visiting goalkeeper Heather Hinz well beaten. From the second phase of a corner shortly after, Alana Jancevski’s cross was headed off target by the returning Lowe.
In the 32nd minute, Sienna Saveska went for the spectacular, shaping a long-range shot narrowly wide of the goal. Also taking aim from distance, Jancevski looked to replicate her free-kick heroics from last season’s meeting, but it was a routine save for Hinz.
Half-time: Melbourne Victory 0-0 Sydney FC
The opportunities to open the scoring kept coming after the restart, with the best of these falling to the hosts. Fine build-up play from Saveska sent Sakalis clear, only for her fired effort to fly the wrong side of the upright.
An even clearer opening fell to White when she pounced upon a mistake in the Sydney backline, but the opposition goalkeeper won the battle of wits to make a save.
The one-way traffic was not, however, breaking the deadlock, and Hopkins turned to his bench approaching the closing stages. Ella O’Grady, a hero off the bench away to Central Coast Mariners in December, was the first introduced, followed by the arrivals of Sienna Techera and Grace Maher.
It was the latter, who fresh into the action, supplied another big chance. Flying down the left, Maher crossed perfectly into the path of White, but her firm connection was shovelled away from danger by Hinz.
Match Details
Melbourne Victory 0
Sydney FC 0
Melbourne Victory Starting XI: 1. Courtney NEWBON (GK), 27. Rosie CURTIS (28. Sienna TECHERA 81′), 18. Kayla MORRISON (C), 3. Claudia BUNGE, 66. Alana JANCEVSKI, 6. Taylor RAY, 23. Rachel LOWE, 8. Sienna SAVESKA (81. Grace MAHER 81′), 5. Sofia SAKALIS, 9. Holly FURPHY (7. Ella O’GRADY 73′), 16. Kennedy WHITE.
Substitutes not used: 30: Payton WOODWARD (GK), 4. Chelsea BLISSETT, 41. Jessica YOUNG.
Booking: SAVESKA 79′.
Sydney FC Starting XI: 1. Heather HINZ (GK), 2. Madison AYSON, 4. Tori TUMETH, 5. Kirsty FENTON, 7. Amelia CASSAR (17. Claire CORBETT 69′), 8. Hana LOWRY, 13. Riley TANNER, 14. Abbey LEMON (24. Caley TALLON-HENNIKER 79′), 16. Willa PEARSON, 19. Skye HALMARICK (9. Jodi ÜLKEKUL 56′), 21. Sarah HUNTER (C).
Substitutes not used: 30. Tiahna ROBERTSON (GK), 18. Amber LUCHTMEIJER, 23. Rubi SULLIVAN.
Booking: PEARSON 68′.
Coming Soon
The Girls in Blue are on the road next weekend, facing another team in the top six mix, Canberra United, on Saturday, January 31, kick-off 5:30pm, at McKellar Park. It is then to Shepparton and the John McEwen Reserve for the hosting of Newcastle Jets on Saturday, February 7, kick-off 5pm.
