Manly United 1-2 APIA Leichhardt
Manly United took the lead but ended up losing 2-1 to league leaders APIA Leichhardt in an entertaining matchup at Cromer Park.
Heading into this fixture was an in-form Manly team facing up against an APIA side looking to maintain their momentum at the top of the ladder after a few hiccups and a win last week against NWS Spirit.
A frenetic 20-minute opening period well and truly set the fans at Cromer Park up for an exciting ninety minutes, which was accentuated by Manly taking the lead with an awe-inspiring long-range strike by Kahli Johnson after cutting in from the left wing.
Unfortunately for Manly, the football gods seemed intent on fulfilling the age-old prophecy of teams being most vulnerable after scoring a goal as they gave a penalty away soon after their opener when Natasha Prior was brought down by goalkeeper Nicole Simonsen. Taking on the responsibility of bringing her side an equaliser, Ashlie Crofts showed no fear in planting the ball into the bottom right-hand corner. 1-1.
APIA would instantly add a second goal and gain the ascendancy in the 16th minute as Claudia Cicco raced onto a wonderful Holly McNamara pass and squared the ball to Crofts for a strong finish beyond Simonsen.
Both Manly and APIA continued to showcase their attacking flair throughout the match, with neither set of players showing any signs of wanting to go home empty-handed. However, the result would ultimately finish 2-1 in favour of the away side, who remain on top of the ladder at the end of Round 18.
