Julie Porter Final-Shellharbour City FC-9, Kiama Quarriers FC-0 @JJ Kelly Park
Kiama Quarriers’ fairytale cup run ended in a crushing defeat at the hands of a superior Shellharbour City in the Julie Porter Final.
In the 15th minute, Madelaine Costanzo anticipated a low cross from the wing and converted her chance into the bottom left corner.
1-0 to Shellharbour, a positive start to the final.
Emma Stretton from defence had enough space to pick out a long-range pass over the opposition defence into the path of Samara Wehmeyer. The midfielder’s first touch was enough to get past the keeper, where she then finished off the move when she knocked the ball into the empty net.
Two goals to the good for City in the 34th minute of the game.
Two minutes later, City added another as Costanzo leapt onto a ball in the midfield and first-time passed through the defence to Wehmeyer. She used her pace to get away from the defence, and when she entered the box, she rifled her effort into the top left corner, the keeper unable to get a hand to it.
In the 43rd minute, Kiama fell victim to Shellharbour’s counterattack play again.
Costanzo was given a golden opportunity as she received a ball that cut through the defence.
With all the time and space, the forward smashed her shot into the left side of the net, giving the keeper no chance to get down in time.
At the start of the second half, the Premier League leaders showed no mercy. Wehmeyer collected the ball from the cutback by Mia Riza, the creative midfielder from the edge of the box, dummied the defender to get a shot off. The keeper spilled the shot, and Dajana Popovic pounced on the opportunity. 5-0 to Shellharbour in the 51st minute, with still the rest of the half to remain.
A couple of minutes later, Charlize Fedele wasted no time in putting her name to the score she scored after being substituted on. Wehmeyer provided the assist to Fedele, open on the flank, and she scorched a banger into the top left bin at the near post just on the inside of the box.
In the 59th minute, Popovic completed her second-half double, but it was all thanks to Wehmeyer, who drove the ball from the edge of the third into the box. Before the defenders around her could make a challenge, she slipped a ball to the open space of Popovic, the centre forward slotted it past the keeper from close range.
15 minutes left in the game, Popovic returned the favour and passed the ball to Wehmeyer just outside the edge of the box. She dribbled past her player and used her pace to get away from the other, then rolled it into the bottom right with composure. Hatrick for the attacking midfielder who has been the key player in creating and scoring Shellharbours chances in this final.
Kiama had its chances but was kept out all game by Shellharbour’s defensive display.
In the 81st minute, however, Alyce Quod’s determination nearly got the Quarriers first of the game.
She crossed a dangerous ball from out wide past the face of the goal, but her attack wasn’t quick enough to get a firm touch on it.
Kristina Janeska’s assist added the finishing touch as she swung her corner into Kiama’s box and onto the head of Kari Gonzalez, who headed it over the keeper’s grasp. That goal in the 85th minute rounded out a 9-0 win.
Shellharbour were crowned the champions of the Julie Porter Cup; their quality was the difference maker between the two sides.
Whilst Shellharbour were ruthless, credit to Kiama Quarriers who, despite the one-sided scoreline, never stopped trying in the game. They reached the final, having beaten three other Women’s Premier League teams.
Report: Thomas Panayiotou
Photos: Gragrapix
