It was more finals heartbreak for Sydney FC captain Teresa Polias as the Sky Blues went down 2-0 to Melbourne City in the W-League grand final on Sunday.
In front of a record crowd for a W-League game of more than 6,000 at Allianz Stadium, Sydney FC were undone by a defensive mistake and a world-class free-kick as City won their third title in a row.
Sydney had much the better of the contest before City took the lead 10 minutes before half-time when Jessica Fishlock produced a delightful chip from 25 metres. Sydney FC goalkeeper Aubrey Bledsoe had looked to roll the ball out quickly to launch a counter attack only for Fishlock to pinch the ball away from Georgia Yeoman-Dale.
With Bledsoe bumped to the ground after releasing the ball and still backtracking towards her line, Welsh international Fishlock clipped a crisp strike over the Sydney No.1 to give Melbourne the lead against the run of play.
Melbourne sealed the result 14 minutes from full-time when Fishlock struck a wicked free-kick from distance, with Bledsoe producing a fine save to tip the ball onto the bar. With no Sydney defenders following up, Jodie Taylor was allowed to poke the ball home into an empty net.
“The girls never gave up. 2-0 and we’re still chasing hard into the 92nd minute so I’m super proud of that,” Sydney FC coach Ante Juric said.
“I had huge belief in them, I really did. Even at [1-0 down] at half-time I still thought we would win and maybe we could’ve done if that world-class free-kick didn’t go in because we just kept going and going.
The girls never gave up. 2-0 [down] and we’re still chasing hard into the 92nd minute so I’m super proud of that.
- Sydney FC W-League coach Ante Juric
“It’s a learning curve for us that we’ve got to back ourselves and put our chances away if we’re going to be champions next season.”
Along with premiers Brisbane, Sydney had been one of the standout teams all season. They controlled much of the final and created the more clear cut chances with veteran striker Lisa De Vanna uncharacteristically not making the most of two opportunities in the first half.
St George junior Polias, who was outstanding in the middle of the park, also had a stunning free-kick denied by City goalkeeper Lydia Williams.
Sydney FC have not won the W-League title since 2012-13, having made the finals in each of the last five seasons, making two grand finals.
