The Western Sydney Wanderers NPL Women’s side have been left disappointed after conceding late to draw 3-3 with UNSW at Wanderers Football Park.
The Western Sydney Wanderers were minutes away from securing a third win in three games, if not for a late Marcella Santos equaliser in the dying moments of the game that saw the UNSW side claw back a two goal deficit to share the spoils with the Wanderers.
The Wanderers were without the services of Aimee Hall, who travelled with the A-League Women’s side to make her debut in a 4-4 draw in Brisbane. Jasmine Selva made her inaugural start for the Red and Black, in a side that also saw Amelia Cassar line up in midfield in place of Estella Cameron.
The Red and Black started off the game in dominant fashion, as they overwhelmed the UNSW defence with an attacking onslaught that almost resulted in a Talia Kapetenellis goal in the sixth minute, as the shot went inches from finding the back of the net.
Although it was Kapetenellis who broke the deadlock directly from a corner, the goal was cancelled out six minutes later as a Maya Yamahata penalty saw the UNSW side equalise.
Kapetanellis was at it again as she pounced on a ball at the back to assist Miriam Zumaya for the Wanderers second right before half-time. That concluded what was a dominant first half for the Wanderers, piling on fifteen shots on goal.
Two minutes into the second half, Anika Stajcic found herself on the end of a great ball by Amelia Cassar, to add to her growing tally this season for the Wanderers third of the game.
A mistimed punch from Goalkeeper Jasmine Selva saw UNSW’s Demi Koulizakis head in their second goal.
Olivia Vanderlaan almost restored the two goal lead with a great header following a great delivery from Cassar. Although it would be UNSW’s Santos who would have the final say of the game as she got her chest to a loose ball in the box to bring the game back to level proceedings in the seventh minute of extra time.
The draw leaves the Wanderers feeling disappointed as they felt like they should have collected all three points after being the dominant side for the majority of the game. Plenty of positives to take from the game but also plenty of lessons learnt as they travel to Lynwood park to take on the Macarthur Rams next Monday.
