Round 1 WNPL Review: Adelaide University vs MUWFC

MUWFC have started off the 2019 South Australian WNPL Season with a 2-2 stalemate against Adelaide University, after coming from behind twice.

MUWFC started well in the first 5 minutes, holding posession and creating a few half chances. However Uni broke the deadlock 7 minutes into the match after a quick break. The ball was played over the top of a flat MUWFC defensive line, with Valeria Guajardo finishing well into the top corner.

Our girls responded well with some good passages of play and a lot of side to side play, making Uni work. We created a few good chances with Chrissy Panagaris consistently getting in behind the Uni defence, while captain Stella Rigon was causing havoc whipping some wicked balls into some dangerous areas.

The pressure kept building on the Uni defence and in the 22nd minute, Kristy Moore gave the referee no choice but to award a penalty for MUWFC after the ball struck a Uni defender’s arm in the penalty area. Chrissy Panagaris converted the resulting spot kick with a thunderbolt into the back of the net to bring the score back to 1-1.

The rest of the 1st half was end to end football, with neither side creating a clear chance on goal.

The 2nd half started much as the first ended, with end to end entertainment for the crowd and plenty of chances for both sides.

In the 58th minute, after a scrappy turnover from MUWFC at the back, Uni capatilised on their attacking position with Guajardo netting her 2nd for the night with a neat finish from inside the box, to put Adelaide University up 2-1.

MUWFC instantly responded in the 60th minute with Ebony Kyriacou, fresh off the bench having only been on the pitch for a matter of minutes after replacing Lauren Steer, powering home a header from a Stella Rigon set piece to bring the teams level once again and make the score 2-2.

Roxy Dodd replaced Donna Cockayne in the 64th minute and was involved instantly, creating headaches for the Uni defence. Millie Scott, making her MUWFC debut off the bench after coming on for Chrissy Panagaris in the 81st minute, got in behind the Uni defence twice, and then follow up with pinpoint accuracy with cutbacks to Roxy Dodd and Kristy Moore, but neither could find the back of the net.

Adelaide Uni had the last 2 chances of the match with debutant goalkeeper Hunter Strudwick pulling off 2 fantastic saves, the first of which was a 1 on 1 which was then cleared by Kyriacou, followed up by a great near post reflex save in the dying minutes.

Coach Tony Scalzi said he was “happy with the football played and the fight showed in the girls, and it is a good start to build the rest of the season on”.

Although not the 3 points that the girls no doubt wanted, it was a thoroughly entertaining game for the fans as we start 2019 off with a point away.

Match Details: Friday, March 8 2019 South Australian WNPL 2019 – Round 1

Adelaide University 2 (Guajardo 7′, 58′) MUWFC 2 (Panagaris 22′(P), Kyriacou 60′) Venue: VALO Football Centre