Aquino shines as Redbacks lift cup
Report by Ben Somerford
Celebrations for Northern Redbacks after their penalty shootout triumph at Dorrien Gardens. Photo by Football West/FotoEnzo
Goalkeeper Morgan Aquino was the hero as the Northern Redbacks won the NPLWA Women’s Top Four Cup on penalties against Fremantle City.
Fremantle, who finished third in the league, had the better of the chances but were unable to convert as the game ended 0-0.
And that story carried in to the shootout at Dorrien Gardens. Player of the Match Aquino saved three spot-kicks while Gemma Craine’s first-up effort hit the post as the Redbacks triumphed 2-1 in the shootout.
Redbacks, who qualified for the cup on the final day of the regular season, knocked off league champions Murdoch University Melville on penalties in Thursday’s semi-final. It is a testament to their stamina that they played out another 120 minutes on Sunday before sealing their 10th cup in 13 years.
Aquino said: “I was feeling really good. I said to one of the girls, ‘take me to penalties’. I was feeling it.”
Fremantle bossed the opening stages but failed to capitalize, with Mikayla Lyons scuffing an early volley while a lively Craine headed wide in the 14th minute.
Redbacks’ best chance of the first half came in the 22nd minute when captain Shawn Billam dinked forward for Sarah Carroll, who was denied by Freo keeper Dayle Schroeder.
Redbacks suffered a blow late in the first half with young forward Larissa Walsh limping off injured.
Aquino smothered an early second-half Jamie-Lee Gale chance, before Schroeder saved well to deny Redbacks midfielder Lauren Continibali from Billam’s cross.
Substitute Matilda Boyle spurned the best chance of the game, when Freo had a three-on-one situation, electing to take it on herself with her near post effort saved by Aquino.
Aquino was crucial again in second-half stoppage-time when left-back Bronwyn Studman almost diverted a speculative free-kick into her own net.
Both sides visibly fatigued in extra-time with few genuine chances created until the 113th minute when Blyth played in Craine who beat the onrushing Aquino but put her shot marginally wide.
Freo survived a late scare when Schroeder was caught off her line but no Redbacks players were able to get on the end of Sarah Carroll’s delivery.
The match went to penalties, but goals continued to be hard to come by with Craine hitting the post, before Sarah Carroll’s spot-kick was saved by Schroeder with her legs.
Aquino saved to her left to next deny Lyons, with Matildas defender Kim Carroll coolly converting to give the Redbacks the advantage.
After Fremantle’s Laura Waltman and Redback Georgia Cawley both had spot-kicks saved, Annabelle Leek finally scored for City. Billam sent the keeper the wrong way with her penalty making it 2-1 with one spot-kick each remaining.
Aquino saved Redbacks any further drama by making another stop to deny Boyle to her left and clinch cup success for last year's beaten finalists.
In the NPLWA Women's 23s final, Fremantle City beat Northern Redbacks 2-1.
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