“Connecting to the grassroots is an important part of what we are trying to achieve as a football club,” said Sydney FC Chief Executive Officer Tony Pignata.

“Our players have spent a lot of time over the winter attending local football clubs and now it is our turn to host them.

“The parade is a just reward for the players who have been part of the best teams in New South Wales in their respective age groups and we look forward to having them part of our match day."

Adding to the match day experience at ANZ Stadium on Sunday will be a NYL curtain raiser with the Sydney FC youth team taking on Perth Glory at 2.15pm.

The Sydney FC NYL team is back in Australia after finishing third in an international U21 tournament in Vietnam where they defeated the Laos and Thailand National U21 teams.

“Sunday is going to be a great day with plenty on offer for the fans and we hope to see a big crowd in attendance for the first ever A-League game at ANZ Stadium," he added.

The 2012 EA SPORTS Champion of Champions matches took place last weekend at Valentine Sports Park.

Here are the winners and the story of how each team triumphed. And watch out for next month's FourFourTwo Australia magazine for a special feature on the tournament. Issue out Nov 14.

http://au.fourfourtwo.com/Gallery/320431,ea-sports-champofchamps.aspx/1

U12s Girls: Woonona prove too strong for Rangers North Epping Rangers

There is nothing more exciting than walking out onto a pitch with all your friends and family cheering from the sidelines. For the girls of North Epping Rangers and Woonona FC there was of course the added pressure of trying to win so that they can be crowned the Champions of Champions.

North Epping Rangers got the ball moving sporting their stunning black and orange kit. Within the opening five minutes though, it was Woonona FC who looked the hungrier of the two sides. First it was Keeley Davis with a curling free kick that was cleared by the Rangers’ keeper but a goal soon followed.

Having been playing for just six minutes, it was the young centre forward Hannah Byron who got a touch on the ball after some great build up play from midfielder Cheri Osborn. Having beaten her defender, Hannah Byron only had to beat the keeper and she did exactly that. Woonona were in front.

For the North Epping Rangers supporters, the wait for an equaliser wasn’t long. Just three minutes after Woonona had taken the lead it was Kelsey Hocking who took on two defenders before squaring the ball up for Kelsey Cooper Phillis to tap into the back of the net.

Just before half time, North Epping Rangers scored again however this time it was in the wrong goal. Another fine corner whipped in by Woonona striker Keeley Davis to the front post was met by North Epping Rangers defender Hannah Wilczynski. The young defender kicking the ball high into the air meant unfortunately the ball was carried by the wind to bounce on the line of the goal before ending up in the back of the net.

At half time the scores were set at North Epping Rangers 1 – 2 Woonona FC however it was obvious there would be more goals to come this game.

In the 27th minute, it was Woonona holding midfielder Jessica Hegarty made a fantastic run through the centre of the field managed to pop up and knock the ball under the North Epping Rangers keeper and into the back of the net. That goal extending Woonona’s dominance over this Grand Final.

Midway through the second half and the referee Shanaye Kuntze correctly identified a handball inside the box by North Epping Rangers defender Jessie Fox. This was Keeley Davies’ chance to step up and take the penalty to make the gap between the two sides even bigger and that is exactly what she did. A low, hard ball into the bottom corner enough to beat the North Epping Rangers goalkeeper, Jemma Cookson.

With just ten minutes left to play, it was North Epping Rangers’ striker Kelsey Cooper Phillis who had been causing problems for the Woonona defence all morning got her side back within reaching distance of winning the game. Nudging the ball into the back of the net after a poor judgement from Woonona goalkeeper Hayley Dunne meant there was plenty of time for plenty more action.

The atmosphere at the ground resembled a certain night in November back in 2005 thanks to cheering, chanting and sideline coaching from all spectators. The North Epping Rangers supporters group only got louder and louder with each passing minute.

Woonona’s centre back Tatum Etherden found herself in the right place at the right time taking the ball off the line after North Epping Rangers’ Emmeline Davies had a shot from just inside the box in the 46th minute of play. This was soon followed with a penalty shout waved away by the referee after Kelsey Cooper Phillis was brought down inside the box.

A solid 4-2 win for Woonona FC who deserved the result after some fantastic passages of play and some tactical brilliance from head coach Paul Connery. The pain of defeat might be tough for North Epping Rangers to deal with post game but there is no doubt that both teams have the ability to push on and have a rematch next year at the EA Sports Champions of Champions tournament.

Match Stats:

North Epping Rangers 2

Woonona FC 4

Sunday 21st October, 2012

Valentine Sports Park, Glenwood

Referee: Shanaye Kuntze

Assistant Referees: Timothy Harns and Chris Hanley

North Epping Rangers: 1. Jemma COOKSON, 2. Kelsey HOCKING, 4. Chole GOLDSMITH, 6. Brianna STEELE, 7. Brooke MORGAN, 9. Ella MacLEOD, 10. Hannah WILCZYNSKI, 11. Olivia KIER, 13. Erin DACEY, 14. Hannah ALLEN, 15. Kelsey COOPER PHILLIS, 16. Emmeline DAVIES, 17. Danya MAWASS, 21. Jessie FOX.

Yellow Cards: Nil.

Red Cards: Nil.

Woonona FC: 1. Hayley DUNNE, 2. Zoe CONNERY, 3. Kaisha PARSONS, 4. Cassidy WEARING, 5. Jessica HEGARTY, 6. Miya MARTIN, 7. Cheri OSBORN, 8. Layla SPARENBURG, 9. Keeley DAVIES, 10. Tatum ETHERDEN, 11. Hannah BYRON, 12. Shannon NEAVES, 13. Abby O’CONNELL, 14. Sine HAMILTON, 15. Georgia ATKINSON.

Yellow Cards: Nil.

Red Cards: Nil.

- By Pete Nowakowski

 

Girls U14s: Golden goal drama sees Bossley Sports defeat Avalon

A dramatic golden goal finish saw Bossley Sports defeat Avalon 2-1 in the U14s Girls Final on Saturday morning.

Briony Norton cancelled out Ashleigh Hart’s opener in the first half, and with nothing to separate the sides at full time it was Cassandra Araujo’s opportunistic finish that decided the final result.

Norton was in the thick of the action for Bossley Park throughout the match, narrowly missing an early flurry of chances before Avalon found their feet and the lead as Hart placed a clinical finish inside the near post.

Bossley Park responded accordingly and soon found themselves level as Norton capped off an incisive counterattack with a well-placed finish.

Both sides were predominantly limited to long range efforts throughout the second period; Lucinda Coleman saw her 35 yard attempt held shortly before succumbing to injury after a solid challenge.

Jacinta Mohammed handed Norton the best chance of the second period to Norton, however the in-form striker skewed her finish wide of the far post.

With scores level at the full time whistle the sides went into extra time which was decided in the first period as Araujo was on hand to tuck Norton’s rebounded shot into an open goal to seal the golden goal victory for Bossley Sports.

Match Stats:

Avalon 1 (Ashleigh Hart 5’)

Bossley Park 2 (Briony Norton 18’, Cassandra Araujo 68’)

Avalon: 2.Eliza McEwan, 2.Xanthe Shepherd, 4.Lucinda Coleman, 5.Gabriella Dent, 6.Genra Frew, 7.Christie Brandt, 8.Darcie Benthan, 9.Emily McGain, 10.Lara Simpson, 11.Abbey Dunbar, 12.Ashleigh Hart, 13.Zoe Johnson, 14.Ella Smith, 15.Kira Van Druten

Bossley Park: 6.Jessica Ojeda, 7.Amelia Reyes, 4.Elaine Lewis, 9.Erica Acosta, 8.Nicole Araya, 14.Daniella Sepulveda, 10.Tahni Singhini, 3.Briony Norton, 17.Jacinta Mohammed, 2.Brooke McDermott, 5.Anthea Mihalates, 23.Alicia Bitetto, 13.Cassandra Araujo, 11.Amanda Ciantar

-By Michael Shoolman