A Jessica Seaman equaliser with just five minutes remaining has seen the Western Sydney Wanderers share the points against Melbourne Victory
A Jessica Seaman equaliser with just five minutes remaining has seen the Western Sydney Wanderers share the points against Melbourne Victory in a match they deserved to win in the Westfield W-League on Sunday.
The Wander Women started brightly, controlling play and limiting top of the table Victory to rare counter attacks.
The Wanderers’ two best chances of the first half came in quick succession and both fell to Michelle Carney.
The first was manufactured by Emily van Egmond whose cross found Carney in space in the box but the striker’s header sailed wide.
Moments later Carney went close again when Bri Davey in the Victory goal came and dived at the feet of an advancing Heather Garriock. The ball deflected to Carney whose shot this time hit the crossbar.
In what has become the story of season so far for the Red and Black, despite the pressure it was the visitors who were first on the board and it came with some luck.
Some fast footwork from Lisa De Vanna left her in space in the area and she fired on target.
The shot drew a sharp save from the impressive Dimi Poulos only to see the ball parry into a retreating Linda O’Neill resulting in an unfortunate own goal.
Starting the second half with renewed vigour, Shawna Gordon went close to levelling the scores just minutes into the second half when the Victory defence failed to fully clear a Wanderers corner. The ball fell for Gordon whose low, forceful strike towards the near post flew just wide.
Moments later Gordon had another opportunity when a Heather Garriock cross found her at the back post. She outjumped her opponent but saw her header back across the goal again go wide.
With five minutes to go, the Wanderers levelled the scores to set up a dramatic finish.
Jessica Seaman was left in space 25 yards out with and she let fly, her strike flashing into the top corner for her first ever Westfield W-League goal.
In a frantic final five minutes, the Wanderers piled on the pressure and twice the crowd rose thinking they snatched the win.
Carney came closest with a shot from just a few yards out, but with the crowd on their feet Davey somehow kept the shot out with one of the saves of the season.
Not a minute later Alanna Kennedy had a chance to score but, not realising how much time she had, rushed the shot which went high.
It was an unfortunate result for the Wanderers who outplayed the league-s top team but with finals still a possibility the Red and Black must regroup and ensure they get the three points against Brisbane next week
Western Sydney Wanderers 1 (Seaman 85-)
Melbourne Victory 1 (O-Neill og 34-)
Played at Campbelltown Stadium
Western Sydney Wanderers: 22. Dimitra Poulos, 2. Caitlin Cooper, 3. Shawna Gordon, 5. Emily Van Egmond, 7. Heather Garriock, 10. Servet Uzunlar (12. Jessica Seaman 64min), 11. Michelle Carney, 13. Catherine Cannuli (18. Helen Petinos 76min), 14. Alanna Kennedy, 15. Teigen Allen, 16. Linda O-Neill
Yellow Cards: Uzunlar 40-, Kennedy 62-, Carney 65-, O-Neill 90-
Melbourne Victory: 1. Brianna Davey, 3. Jessica Humble, 4. Katie Hoyle, 7. Stephanie Catley, 9. Caitlin Friend (6. Cindy Lay 74min), 10. Jessica Fishlock, 11. Lisa De Vanna, 12. Jessica Samuelsson, 14. Enza Barilla (16. Beatrice Goad 61 min), 15. Emma Checker, 17. Gulcan Koca
Image Credit: George Suresh
