The Gladesville Ravens defeated the Western Sydney Wanderers NPL Women’s side 2-1 on Sunday evening at Christie Park, following a second-half double that saw the Wanderers surrender a half-time lead.
The Western Sydney Wanderers have fallen to the Gladesville Ravens in a 2-1 loss after goals by Patricia Charalambous and Alyssa Ng Saad saw a half-time lead slip from their grasp as the Ravens stormed to victory.
The Wanderers were without the services of Talia Younis, Amelia Bennett and Anika Stajcic as the young superstars were called up to the Junior Matildas camp ahead of the qualifiers for the U-20s Women’s Asian Cup.
Nevertheless, Aimee Hall made sure to keep out the Ravens in the opening moments, as Bianca Galic struck from distance, forcing Hall into a flying save to keep out the Croatian international.
Cushla Rue found acres of space on the flank shortly after, although Olivia Vanderlaan was unable to keep Rue’s cross on target as the header travelled wide of the goal.
Charalambous would find herself one-on-one with Hall moments later, but the keeper’s pace and positioning denied the experienced winger as she proceeded to rush out.
Vanderlaan would lay off a Miriam Zumaya-threaded ball for Amy Barker to bury away the opener. Following a chaotic opening half hour, it would be a composed piece of play that would put the Wanderers ahead.
The Ravens would equalise early in the second half as their cross came off the crossbar and found its way to the feet of Alyssa Ng Saad for the equaliser.
Déjà vu would strike once more for the Wanderers as a pressure pass into midfield off a goal kick would prove costly, with Ava D’Costa losing possession, leading to a Charalambous strike that would make its way into the back of the net despite Hall’s best efforts.
Sham Khamis would deny Alvina Khoshaba in the dying moments of the game, as the Wanderers would be left questioning how they let their lead slip in such fashion.
The loss sees the Ravens jump the Wanderers on the table, with the Wanderers returning to Wanderers Football Park this Sunday to take on APIA Leichhardt in a bid to build late-season form.
