Young gun scores extra-time stunner as heroic keeper cops last-minute heartbreak

Melbourne Victory won their second W-League crown in a extra time stunner after a teen starlet scored in the final minute.

Melbourne Victory celebrate their W-League victory.

It took Melbourne Victory a whopping 30 shots and a full 120 minutes to break a resolute Sydney FC defence, but teen sensation Kyre Cooney-Cross scored a sensational strike direct from a corner in the final seconds of extra time to seal the club’s second-ever W-League Premiership.

Cooney-Cross, at 19 already widely heralded as a future Matildas star, has enjoyed a breakout season in the W-League. And with the match seemingly destined for a penalty shootout, the young gun curled a corner into a packed goal line and into the goal.

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It spelled heartbreak for Premiers and hosts Sydney and especially keeper Jada Whyman, who was the standout performer of the match and made a number of outstanding saves throughout the clash, only to finally be beaten in the dying seconds. Whyman was left in tears after the final whistle, but deservedly was handed the player of the final award.

Cooney-Cross said: “I was just thinking I didn’t want it to go to penalties, I was stressing about that probably as soon as it went into extra time.”

“We had so many chances tonight, we hit the crossbar a couple of times...I think we deserved to win tonight.”

It was the first-ever usage of extra time in the 13 seasons of the W-League, as a gripping clash went down to the wire.

Victory were the more settled team in the early running, and were denied twice by the crossbar in the first half.

Cooney-Cross uncorked from range and saw her shot crash into the crossbar in the 12th minute, missing by mere millimeters. Then in first-half stoppage time Matildas all-time top scorer Lisa de Vanna directed a header into the top corner, but was again denied by the woodwork.

As the match opened up in the second half, both sides launched a barrage of shots in a scintillating display of end-to-end attacking football.

But stalwart defending from the Sky Blues - led by Whyman’s stunning display with the gloves - blocked shot after shot and pushed the match into extra time.

One save in particular was staggering, making a double-block on her own line despite being caught in the goal netting.

That's some insane forcefield technology...#WLeagueGF#SYDvMVC

— Kevin Airs (@KevinAirs) April 11, 2021

The rampaging Whyman took no prisoners in her own box, even cleaning up teammate Charlotte McLean in the additional time period as she claimed an aerial ball, with McLearn then forced from the field following the head knock.

It seemed that Victory’s all-star attacking line-up would prove unable to break the deadlock despite growing dominance. That was never more clear than with five minutes remaining when Melina Ayres poked just wide from close range, having been gifted a dream opportunity by a defensive miscue.

But Cooney-Cross split the difference with her sensational curler into a packed six-yard box, which Whyman failed to clear.

Here's the crossbar defending @kyracooneyx's MEAN right foot 😤

🎥: @FOXFOOTBALL#GetItAll#SYDvMVC#WLeagueGF#MVFC#BigBluepic.twitter.com/FvKTmPr0rV

— Westfield W-League (@WLeague) April 11, 2021

The result caps five years of development for Victory. From bottom of the ladder in 15-16 and 16-17, they have climbed up the ranks under the tutelage of Jeff Hopkins. In 2018-19, they claimed their first Premiership. And now, they own a second Championship trophy, and their first since 2013/14.

For a youthful Sydney team, there were plenty of positives to take away from the defeat in front of a roaring crowd at Jubilee Stadium - in what was their fourth grand final in four seasons.

Princess Ibini was superb down the flanks, as was Clare Wheeler, the former Newcastle Jets star. Whyman was a brick wall between the sticks. And a very, very inexperienced defensive line - with veteran star turned makeshift centre-back Natalie Tobin at its core - was extremely impressive in denying Victory more goals.

Captain Teresa Polias, usually so deadly from set-pieces but who struggled to find her range, was extremely gracious despite the result.

After thanking the crowd and Victory, she said: “To our group, hold your heads high ladies. What a season we’ve had. What an amazing group you are. Ante, thank you. Four grand finals in a row, that’s something special, so well done to you.

“But girls, we keep going. You keep your heads very high. You deserve to. Today didn’t go our way unfortunately but you’ll take lessons from today and I know you’ll continue to be successful, so well done and I can’t wait to see us go again next season.”

That was one intense and exhilarating @WLeague Grand Final. Congratulations to @gomvfc and well done to @SydneyFC on a fantastic season #wleagueGF 😀⚽️

— Tony Pignata (@tpignata9) April 11, 2021

COONEY-CROSS FROM THE CORNER!!! Incredible. That has to be it. #WLeagueGF@WLeague

— Senator Nita Green (@nitagreenqld) April 11, 2021

That one will go down in folklore. What a game to decide the @WLeague! Congratulations to @victorywleague. #WLeagueGF

— Kyle Dundas (@kyle_dundas) April 11, 2021

Sometimes that has to be the worst feeling, to win a BOG medal in a losing team, but well and truly deserved still by Jada Whyman #WLeagueGF#wleague#SYDvMVC

— Clint W (@Clintwits) April 11, 2021

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