W-League Recap: Semifinals

CHICAGO – The Grand Final in the Westfield W-League is set, with plenty of Chicago Red Stars looking to claim the Grand Champion crown.

After their victories over the weekend, Sam Kerr, Alyssa Mautz, Katie Naughton, and Nikki Stanton will lead Perth Glory against Danielle Colaprico and Sydney FC.

It was Perth Glory who punched their ticket into the Final first, defeating Melbourne Victory in a 4-2 extra time thriller.

Perth fell behind early in the game, heading into the half down 1-0. In the 72nd minute, it was Kerr who equalized for the visitors, scoring from a cross after missing her initial first attempt. Kerr would then assist Rachel Hill’s goal in the 86th minute to give Perth the 2-1 lead.

SAM!!!!!!!!!!!!! THE GRAND FINAL DREAM IS STILL ALIVE!

(1-1) #MVCvPER #OneGlory pic.twitter.com/eT0O6C3rPH

— Perth Glory FC (@PerthGloryFC) February 10, 2019

However, the Premier winners would not bow out of the competition easily. Four minutes into stoppage time, Melbourne would equalize the game and take it into extra time.

It was there that the matchup became the Sam Kerr show. The Red Stars forward would score seven minutes into extra time, lobbing the ball over the goalkeeper to regain the lead for Perth. She would make history 10 minutes later, scoring a goal that would give her the first ever hat-trick in a W-League Finals Series. Perth would win 4-2, earning them a spot in the Grand Finals.

🚨 SAM KERR HAT-TRICK 🚨 pic.twitter.com/DLCzVnEzSS

— Chicago Red Stars (@chicagoredstars) February 10, 2019

Kerr finished with three goals and one assist. Stanton, Mautz, and Naughton played the full 120 minutes in the contest.

The second semifinal pitted two Red Stars against each other. Colaprico’s Sydney FC visited Yuki Nagasato’s Brisbane Roar. Nagasato’s stoppage-time rocket was not enough for Brisbane, as Sydney FC would go on to win 2-1. Both Nagasato and Colaprico would start the game.

Congrats on an amazing first W-League season with Brisbane, @Yuki_Ogimi.

We can't wait to have you back in Chicago. pic.twitter.com/yLMJA3Voga

— Chicago Red Stars (@chicagoredstars) February 10, 2019

Sydney FC will host Perth Glory on Friday, February 15 at 11:00 pm C.T. The teams faced off in the regular season once, with Kerr scoring a brace in a 2-1 win in Round 8. Fans in the U.S. with an ESPN+ account will have access to the stream of the game.

CONFIRMED | We'll be hosting the 2019 @WLeague Grand Final at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium THIS SATURDAY, 4:30pm AEDT!

📰 – https://t.co/KEOtoJj4QW#SydneyIsSkyBlue #ComeWithUs #WLeagueGF pic.twitter.com/5ZLxuyuOq7

— Sydney FC (@SydneyFC) February 11, 2019