Evado Studios Women’s Match Report: Two Posts, One Goal, and a Point That Should Have Been Three

The visiting Royals women left Olympic Village on Saturday feeling hard-done by. Dominant from the first whistle, and two strikes against the woodwork should have made this a comfortable afternoon’s work. Instead, we share the spoils.

The Royals pressed high from the opening exchanges. We tested Mia Bailey early and often, and the Heidelberg keeper was the difference between a comfortable away win and the contest it became. Bailey played like an eleventh outfielder, sweeping up loose balls, intercepting through-passes, refusing to let the home defence be picked apart. She was outstanding.

Inside half an hour, Sasha Coorey suffered what looked like a serious shoulder injury, and the news after the match confirmed a dislocation. A tough watch for everyone in red and white. Cobi Wilbert came on to fill the gap, and the disruption did not blunt our edge.

Eight minutes later, we got our reward. The Royals forced an interception from a Heidelberg goal kick, Kelli McGroarty fooled the defence with a clever dummy, and Bronte Peel slid a first-time finish into the bottom corner. One-nil.

Half time arrived with the visitors deservedly ahead, and the woodwork still ringing from two earlier strikes that should have made the lead more comfortable.

Heidelberg coach Dennis Georgakopoulos made a triple change on 58 minutes, and the fresh legs swung the contest. For twenty minutes the Bergers had us pinned. Sophie Dehne was busy in goal, the wide channels opened up, and the equaliser felt like it was building. Then, on 78 minutes, the equaliser arrived. Irena Razumic picked on Jiyoun Seo with a pinpoint early cross, and Seo met the dropping ball on the volley, steering a classy finish into the top corner.

Ayano Koizumi went into the book a minute later. The temperature was rising on both sides.

The closing minutes had a real edge. Paige Kingston-Hogg, on as a sub, curled an effort across the face of goal that needed a touch. Bronte Peel was centimetres away from a tap-in, and the three points, and could not quite stretch to reach it.

At the other end, Heidelberg pressed for a winner of their own. Kendrah Smith and Mikaela Jurcic were a wall in central defence. Headers cleared, channels closed, set pieces dealt with, a back line that refused to crack twice in one afternoon. They earned the point.

Full time arrived with the scoreboard unsatisfying for both sides. Heidelberg couldn’t complete the turnaround. The Royals felt they’d let a win slip through their grasp.

The bigger picture sees us fourth on 23 points, seven wins from 12 games, still right in the mix at the top of the NPLW. Back-to-back draws against Preston and Heidelberg are not the results we wanted, but they keep us in the hunt.

Our next league game brings us home to Cross Keys to face South Melbourne. 3rd vs 4th: the pick of the fixtures in Round 13. But first, a meeting with Melbourne Victory in the NIKE FC Cup on Tuesday night.

To Sasha Coorey, get well soon. The whole squad is with you.

Up the Royals.