With at least one Pride player on each team during the 2018-19 Westfield W-League semifinal round, Orlando fans would be satisfied with any outcome but got much more after a pair of matches that featured lots of goals, some extra time and plenty of viral moments.
In the end, it will be Rachel Hill and Perth Glory facing Alanna Kennedy and her hometown club Sydney FC for the W-League title next weekend.
Let’s take a look at the W-League weekend that was:
No. 4 Perth Glory 4, No. 1 Melbourne Victory 2 [e.t.] (recap / highlights)
It didn’t take long for the Premiers to get on top, as Christine Nairn powered home a long-distance shot in just the second minute of play to put top-seeded Melbourne Victory up 1-0. That lead held until the 72nd minute when Sam Kerr scored her first of three goals on the night, this time with a skillful, mid-air deflection. It looked like Perth would go out on top in the 86th minute when Rachel Hill scored Glory’s go-ahead goal but six minutes of stoppage time paved the way for Melbourne to level things late.
Then Kerr took over in extra time, adding the game-winning goal in the 97th minute and finished her hat trick in the 107th minute for the 4-2 final.
The win not only bumped Nairn, Dani Weatherholt and Victory out of the championship but marked the third time in five seasons Glory will play in the Grand Final.
No. 3 Sydney FC 2, No. 2 Brisbane Roar 1 (recap / highlights)
Sydney FC continued its stretch of positive results, taking down 2017-18 regular season champion Brisbane Roar on the road on Sunday. Caitlin Foord opened the game in the 33rd minute, finding a seam in the Roar defense before beating Mackenzie Arnold. Alanna Kennedy then setup what would prove to be the game-winning goal, collecting a long corner kick and using some nifty footwork to find Sofia Huerta trailing into the box. Yuki Nagasato pulled one back late in second half stoppage time, but the Sky Blues were able to hold off Chioma Ubogagu, Carson Pickett and the Roar for the final two minutes.
Sydney has now reached its second-consecutive Grand Finals and its third appearance in four years.
2018-19 W-League Grand Final Details
Match: Sydney FC vs. Perth Glory
Date: Saturday, February 16, 2019
Location: Netstrata Jubilee Stadium
Time: 12:30 a.m. ET
Watch: ESPN+
