The Olympia Warriors gave up a two goal advantage as Hobart Zebras fought back from 2-0 down to earn a 2-2 draw in today's WSL clash at Warrior Park.
The early stages of the game presented plenty of attacking opportunities for both sides as Olivia Bomford, Maddie Chambers and Zoe Nichols all found themselves one on one with a chance to open the scoring within the first fifteen minutes. All three missed the target however as Bomford shot wide right, Chambers to the left and Nichols put her effort over the advancing Farrow but also over the bar as the opening twenty minutes came and went without a goal.
It was in the 28th minute when Olympia got the breakthrough goal that seemed inevitable. Chambers and Williams linked up with a tidy one-two and as Chambers fired across goal, Bomford's touch took it into the path of Marino who made no mistake poking home at the back post. Fagan should have made it 1-1 shortly after as she was presented with an open goal following some good work from Nichols who robbed Farrow of the ball but Fagan could only watch as she missed the golden chance, her shot whistling past the wrong side of the post.
Both sides had good chances to score just before the break but Chambers' shot was well saved by Cook in the Zebras goal. Kannegiesser was then unable to capitalise on a one on one with Farrow just minutes later after Farrow's desperation save was enough to deny the Zebras winger.
Olympia started the second half in much the same way with Bomford forcing Mason to head narrowly wide of her own goal after Bomford's dangerous cross looked to be finding a team mate in the middle. The Zebras centre back had no choice but to head behind for a corner with Cook scrambling between the sticks to ensure it went wide. Just minutes later the Warriors had another chance as Chambers broke into the six yard box only to square to Bomford who couldn't muster a shot. The ball eventually fell to Russell who was denied by the sliding block from Steventon for the Zebras and after the ball seemed destined to find the net, the score remained 1-0.
Mason may have narrowly missed the own goal early in the second half but in the 58th minute she wouldn't be so lucky as it was Chambers who crossed this time and as Mason once again rose to head away she was only able to steer the ball past Cook and into her own net to double the home side's lead.
Just when Olympia seemed likely to run away with the game, Zebras found a way to pull one back as it was left back Delaney who refused to give up on her driving run down the left flank which eventually resulted in a cross that found substitute Lily Hulton in the middle who scored the Zebras first. It was in the 73rd minute, just seven minutes after their first that Zebras struck again. Zoe Nichols found Allie Berry in the middle and after a calm first touch, she slid the ball to the right of Farrow and found the net to level the tie and give Zebras momentum leading into the final fifteen minutes.
The clash seemed destined for a winning goal as memories of the Round 1 thriller at North Hobart Oval earlier this year came to mind but neither side could break the deadlock as fatigue set in. Hulton had an opportunity for her second but her shot was comfortably held by Farrow and in the final minute of the game it was Chambers who was presented with the volley to win the take the points but her effort was a foot too high as Zebras players and fan alike were grateful to see it float over the bar.
The final whistle brought and end to the entertaining clash between the top two WSL sides, Olympia still six points ahead of the second placed Zebras despite Zebras having a game in hand. The draw brings an end to Olympia's perfect record after going on a five game win-streak to begin the 2019 season. They now sit on 16 points and await next week's match against Ulverstone as Zebras look to hold onto second spot with a win over third placed Kingborough.