LIONS WOMEN TAKE GLORY IN STOPPAGE TIME AFTER A REMARKABLE COMEBACK AT WAKERLEY PARK
Mackenzie Nielsen’s stoppage-time penalty saw our Lions Women complete an incredible second-half comeback to win 5-4.
Spoiler alert: there were seven goals in the first half.
Our Lions Women appeared to have secured the perfect start, with Tiarna Karambasis opening the scoring inside the third minute. Positioned at the back post, she deflected a powerful half-volley from Meaghan McElligott into the roof of the net off her thigh.
Four minutes later, a miscommunication from a Souths United set-piece allowed the hosts to poke home the equaliser at the back post. Samantha DeBien was forced off early in the second half through injury before the hosts flipped the scoreline and took the lead a minute later. It was an audacious effort from Lila Utatao, who caught Bella Shuttleworth off her line from the edge of the box.
Brilliance from Alyssa Cox saw us equalise. Alyssa burst into space down the right, tearing diagonally towards the goal before rolling a measured finish between the keeper’s legs at the front post.
2-2 before the twentieth minute.
A great diagonal switch from Meaghan McElligott released Alyssa Cox on the right, but her cutback to Kaho Nakadate was met with a block at the near post. Minutes later, Kylie Vecchio recaptured the lead for Souths, rounding Bella Shuttleworth after a penetrating run down the centre.
Tonia-Marie Rantucci picked up the ball on the tip of the box and dribbled down the left and along the byline. From a slender angle, she opened her body and curled a piercing low effort across the keeper and into the far inside netting. A brilliant individual effort.
With five minutes remaining in the first half, Abbey Lloyd smashed a close-range effort in off the crossbar to make it 4-3 to Souths United. The half-time whistle sounded, concluding a remarkable, end-to-end, blockbuster first half.
The second half resumed with the same energy, but the goals weren’t easy to come by. Bella Shuttleworth repeatedly put her body on the line to prevent Souths United from increasing their advantage.
Scarlett Premerl made her mark on the game two minutes after stepping into action from the bench. Arriving in the right place at the right time, Scarlett smashed home the equaliser with just over ten minutes remaining.
Bella Shuttleworth made another fine save to prevent Abbey Lloyd from scoring a screamer. Scarlett Premerl rose at the near post but saw her effort blocked at the front post. Minutes into stoppage time, Tonia-Marie Rantucci was dragged down inside the box after a brilliant run into space.
Mackenzie Nielsen stepped up to take the spot-kick and made no mistake. With a short run-up, Mackenzie blasted a proper centre-back strike into the roof of the net to make it 5-4 in the 92nd minute.
The final whistle blew and sounded our relief.
What a remarkable game of football. An incredible show of the heart, pride and passion that represent us as a club. This game provided end-to-end entertainment, twists, turns, highs, lows, and the epic chaos of high-attacking football.
This is why we love football.
MATCH DETAILS
NPL Women 2024 Round #24
Lions FC 5 – 4 Souths United
Wakerley Park, Runcorn
NEXT MATCH
NPL Women 2024 Round #25
Lions FC vs. Olympic FC
Luxury Paints Stadium, Richlands
