Westfield Matildas in Westfield W-League 2019 Grand Final: Kerr unable to outshine Logarzo's glory
Chloe Logarzo saved her best goal until last as Sydney FC powered to a 4-2 victory over Perth Glory in Sunday afternoon’s Westfield W-League 2019 Grand Final.
The match was packed with a chorus of Westfield Matildas who put their friendships aside for a historic decider.
Stealing the show was Chloe Logarzo whose bullet past Eliza Campbell sealed a third Championship for Sydney FC and their first under head coach Ante Juric.
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Perth had pulled a second goal back via an Alyssa Mautz shot and appeared to be mounting a comeback on 68 minutes.
However, when Bobby Despotovski’s side were unable to clear their lines with 20 minutes remaining, Logarzo made them pay in the most sensational fashion.
A failed header rolled out of the box into the path of Logarzo who, without needing a second touch, whipped the ball into the top-right corner.
Cue delirium as Sydney FC took an unassailable 4-2 lead and vindicated calls that this Sydney FC frontline, which includes fellow Westfield Matildas Princess Ibini, Caitiln Foord and Lisa De Vanna, may be one of the most potent in Westfield W-League history.
Logarzo started the 2018/19 Season with a rocket against Western Sydney Wanderers in Round 1 and she had the last say of the campaign with her sumptuous strike.
Kerr fights valiantly for title
While Logarzo’s strike was the pick of the bunch, Sam Kerr led the line admirably and was unfortunate not to have bagged a brace or hat-trick.
Kerr registered eight shots during the match, three of which hit the target and two which forced smart saves from Sydney FC’s Aubrey Bledsoe.
Add to that her 11 duels won – the most by any player on the day – and you can see why Kerr is the talk of the town.
The Westfield Matildas forward looked threatening throughout the game as she slalomed through Sydney’s defence and stood up defenders with her sharp turn of pace.
She was rewarded for her hard work on 23 minutes when she was brought down in the box by Danielle Colaprico, burying the ensuing penalty for her 17th goal of the Westfield W-League 2018/19 campaign.
Foord turns provider
Much has been made about Foord’s 2018/19 Season.
With 10 goals and four assists heading into the Grand Final, you can see why there has been so much hype.
So perhaps it came as no surprise when Foord whipped in a delicious ball for teammate Savannah McCaskill, who headed home from an outrageous position, to give Foord her fifth assist of the campaign.
Sydney FC's coaching staff, which includes Juric and Anthony Harb, has brought out the best from the Shellharbour local both with regards to her mental and technical abilities.
The 24-year-old told The Women’s Game about the doubts she harboured following the injury she sustained against Newcastle Jets in last season’s Semi Final.
To now have the best season of her career is a testament to Juric – who has played an attacking style of football to accommodate the Westfield Matildas attacker – as well as Foord herself, who has almost certainly earned a ticket to France come June.
Foord played the full 90 minutes alongside Alanna Kennedy, while De Vanna came on in the 75th minute to replace Ibini, and Logarzo was substituted on 82 minutes.
For Perth, Sam Kerr played the full 90 minutes.
