Newcastle Jets Women will travel to Lambert Park in Sydney on Saturday to play Sydney FC Women. A win would set up a final round showdown against Melbourne City Women in Coffs Harbour for a place in the Finals.
Sydney FC Women v Newcastle Jets Women –Â Westfield W-League 2016/17 Round 13
When: Saturday 21 January 2017
Where: Lambert Park, Sydney
Kick-off: 5:00pm
Head to Head
Played 16
Sydney FC 10
Draws 3
Newcastle Jets 3
Last Meeting: 2016/17 Round 5: Newcastle Jets 1 (Hoy 46’) Sydney FC 2 (Simon 17’ (p), Bolger 48’) at McDonald Jones Stadium
Attendance: 2,525
Referee: Kelly Jones
Where they sit on the ladder
Sydney FC 1st (22pts)
Newcastle Jets FC 6th (12pts)
Past 3 Starts (Most Recent First)
Jets – Won Roar 2-1 (h), Drew Glory 1-1 (a), Drew Adelaide 2-2 (a)
Sydney – Drew City 1-1 (h), Won Canberra 6-1 (h), Won Wanderers 2-1 (a)
Bottom Line
Jets Women kept their season alive last weekend with a pulsating victory over Brisbane, making it four matches undefeated against the Roar and three matches unbeaten in the Westfield W-League. Victory would ensure their final round match against Melbourne City would be a virtual elimination-final to make the finals, but defeat and they will have to rely on other results to fall their way.
It has been eight years since the Jets Women have made the finals series and once again in season nine of the Westfield W-League they are within touching distance of the play-offs.
Last season they were in the top four by round nine, but slipped off the pace in the final rounds to finish three points off a finals appearance. In 2014, they went so very close as well. Needing a win against Sydney FC in the final round at a drenched Lambert Park the Jets Women led 2-1 in the 70th minute only to concede ten minutes later when Kyah Simon struck. They finished a point outside the top four.
This season destiny is in the hands of Newcastle once more. Two wins to end the season and they will make the finals, there is nothing that will stop them if they take six points from a possible six. Is it a case of third time lucky?
Newcastle comes into the match on a high after winning one of the matches of the season against the Brisbane Roar. After dominating the first half it was the Roar who dominated the second 45, but a red card to Brisbane keeper Mackenzie Arnold changed the match and Rhali Dobson set up Jen Hoy for the winner.
Sydney FC come off a 12-day break after a 1-1 draw with Melbourne City and haven’t lost in four matches. The Sky Blues have lost just twice this season and while they have only the fourth best attack in the competition with 19 goals, their defence has been rock solid, conceding just eight goals in ten matches.
While it would seem a tough task for the Jets to get the victory over Sydney, their last meeting provided evidence as to why they are capable of causing a huge upset come Saturday. Sydney took the lead via a controversial penalty in the 17th minute, before the Jets got back into the match just after half time, only to concede less than two minutes later. It was strong performance from the Jets and will give them confidence come Saturday.
Historically it has been all Sydney in the matches between these two sides. The Sky Blues winning ten of sixteen matches and haven’t lost to the Jets since the final day of 2011 – a span of over five years. Droughts are there to be broken and if the Jets break this one, they will go a long way to ending another drought – their finals drought.
KeyÂ
Attack. They have scored five goals in their last three matches and if Newcastle want to be any chance on Saturday they need to continue to take their chance in front of goal.
