A-League Women grand final: Sydney FC’s Sarah Hunter’s cheer squad for decider against Melbourne Victory

Not many players bring a cheer squad of around 180 fans and supporters to a game. But this Sydney FC teenager is ahead of her first A-League grand final against Melbourne Victory.

Sydney FC's Sarah Hunter is living her dream as a former fan now playing in the grand final.

When 18-year-old substitute Sarah Hunter scored an extra time goal to help deliver Sydney FC into the A-League women’s grand final there were 180 people quickly putting a save the date in the calendar.

This young Sydney FC fan from an early age, who made her a league debut last season with the Wanderers, will have more support than just about anyone on Sunday when her club turns out against Melbourne Victory in a replay of last years A-League women’s season decider.

Sarah Hunter of Sydney FC is a fan favourite.

“We had to get more tickets because I’ve had a lot of support over the last few years, my friends and mum’s friends and now it’s a grand final everyone wants to come to the home ground,” Hunter said.

“My mum’s really organised. She identified a lot of people would want to come and started letting people know in advance and everyone pencilled it in and now we have a big list of family and friends.

“I’ve got my own personal cheer squad. It’s so good.”

Even an aunt and uncle from the UK will be at the game to cheer on Hunter and her teammates from 4pm Sunday.

Sarah Hunter in action against Meleri Mullan of Adelaide United. Pic: Mark Brake/Getty Images

Victory beat Melbourne City 3-1 in the preliminary final to keep alive their campaign for a second successive A-League crown.

Sydney FC also beat Melbourne City to book their finals berth with a dramatic victory in which substitutes Hunter and Cortnee Vine scored in extra time to save the day for the Sky Blues.

Sarah Hunter, 6, with 2010 Sydney FC double winning player Hayden Foxe.

It was a game Cammeray teenager Hunter, who only left Pymble Ladies College last year, said she will never forget.

“The assistant coach told us we had nothing to lose, just go out and change the game,’’ Hunter said.

“I went on in the 60th minute and I felt the momentum shift. We were building as they were dropping off.

“After the 91st minute when Maria Jose Rojas has scored the equaliser, that just sent everyone a bit crazy.

“We went into extra time at 2-2 and then they were man down and we went into a huddle and Ante was like, whatever happens I’m proud of you girls. Five to 10 minutes later I saw the corner come in, I saw it all the way, a perfect little header and I nailed it. It was so good. ’’

Sarah Hunter celebrating her goal during the A-League match between Sydney FC and Melbourne City. Pic: Brett Hemmings/Getty

While being part of an A-League women’s grand final winning team is the immediate goal, the youngster, who started playing with her brothers as a four-year-old, also has his sights set on representing the young Matildas in the World Cup in August in Costa Rica.

“That would be absolutely amazing,” said Hunter who is studying exercise physiology at Sydney University.

Sydney FC will be playing in their fifth successive grand final on Sunday and looking to avenge their loss to Victory last season.

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