Sydney FC rout Western United to claim fourth A-League Women’s crown

Sydney FC have underlined their status as Australia’s most successful women’s club after thumping Western United 4-0 in the grand final to claim a fourth A-League Women’s championship.

Striker Madison Haley scored two goals and assisted Natalie Tobin for another while Princess Ibini won and scored a penalty as Sydney completed the premiership-championship double at CommBank Stadium.

In their sixth consecutive grand final, Ante Juric’s charges won for the first time since 2018-19 while denying Mark Torcaso’s United silverware in their first season.

Sydney have drawn level with Melbourne City on four championships but have five premierships to City’s two and are the first team since City in 2015-16 to complete the double.

Juric said whether Sydney were the greatest ALW club ever was “for other people to judge” but relished their consistency.

“For me, this is the best team ever, as in a squad and continuous,” he said. “I’m just so proud of the girls, I know every coach says that but I just love seeing the smiles.”

Madison Haley celebrates one of her two goals in Sydney FC’s grand final rout.Credit: AAP

The match, in front of a record and largely pro-Sydney ALW grand final crowd of 9519, was set against the Australian Professional Leagues’ controversial decision to sell the decider in a deal with Destination NSW.

It meant Sydney played in their home state while United had to travel to the decider rather than receiving hosting rights by beating the Sky Blues 1-0 in the semi-final.

American striker Haley, a first-year player unscarred by Sydney’s previous grand final heartbreaks, was the star – earning praise for her influence on the play from Cortnee Vine and Ibini, who after the match dubbed her a “cheat code”.

“When you’ve got one hand on the trophy, essentially you gotta go and win it,” Haley said. “So that’s kind of what I was focused on. It probably helped a bit that I didn’t have the history.”

Princess Ibini celebrates the spot-kick which put her side 3-0 up.Credit: Getty

Sydney drew first blood in the fourth minute when Hawkesby looped a corner to the back post and Haley rose highest over Tyla-Jay Vlajnic to head home.

Adriana Taranto and Keane had chances in the eighth and 14th minutes but Sydney doubled their lead in the 18th minute.

Hawkesby curled in another back-post corner and Haley flicked the ball on for captain Tobin, in her 100th game, to head home.

Matildas winger Vine rolled her left ankle in a challenge with Alana Cerne in the 22nd minute but battled through pain to trouble goalkeeper Hillary Beall multiple times without besting her.

Sydney goalkeeper Jada Whyman denied United three times in quick succession late in the half.

She claimed a Sydney Cummings long-range effort in the 36th minute, then a minute later got down low to deny Keane and in the 40th, came off her line to brilliantly block a Taranto shot.

The game was effectively over in the 63rd minute after Ibini surged into the area and was pulled back by Stacey Papadopoulos.

Ibini, the only player involved in Sydney’s last grand final win four years earlier, coolly dispatched the spot-kick into the bottom corner before celebrating with Sydney’s fans.

Haley put an exclamation mark on the win in the 91st minute.

“I can’t believe we did it!” said Sydney captain Tobin. “Those last three grand final losses were heartbreaking, but now it’s just elation.”

AAP

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