Youthful Sky Blues knock off out-of-sorts United 58
Sydney FC has heaped further woe on Sydney United 58 claiming a 2-0 win at Sydney United Sports Centre on Sunday.
It was the second upset win in as many weeks for the Young Sky Blues who secured their safety from relegation with the win.
Quick thinking from Benjamin Koop opened Sydney FC’s account midway through the second half when he tapped home after a fumble from Thomas Manos before Jordan Swibel wrapped up the win in the dying stages with a clinical finish.
It was yet another frustrating defeat for United 58 as they slumped to their fifth consecutive league match without a win and their third without scoring a goal – that along with the Waratah Cup Final loss has made it a very bad month for the Reds.
It could’ve easily gone the other way with the home side hitting the woodwork twice and creating numerous chances.
United hold onto fourth place despite the result but now hold only a one point lead over Marconi.
Sydney FC started the best of the two sides with their early endeavour putting United 58 on the back foot.
The visitor’s energy created a few early half chances but the clinical final pass or finish just wasn’t there.
Marco Tilio fired over the bar in the 25th minute after a slick buildup with Sydney yet again unable to make the most of their early pressure.
The young Sky Blues were unlucky to not score thirty minutes in when Benjamin Koop’s delivery into the box sailed across the face of goal as Scibilio failed to get a toe to it.
United 58 were below their best in the first half but were doing enough to stay in the contest. Matt Sim and Antelmi combining on a few occasions to challenge the opposition defence.
Heward-Belle came to the rescue five minutes from half time as he went low to save a shot from Simonoski after United 58 plucked possession after some sloppy Sydney FC passing out from defence.
The home side picked up their intensity in the closing stages of the half with Antelmi and Yianni Fragogiannis narrowly missing opportunities to take the lead.
It was a completely different United 58 after the interval with the Reds racing out of the blocks determined to find a breakthrough.
A flurry of early chances from United had FC on the back foot as Vlastelica heading over from close range before Sim fired wide only moments later.
A brilliant header from Simonoski was inches away from finding the back of the net, instead it clanged off the woodwork.
Tariq Maia delivered the next United effort on goal but his stinging shot was yet another shot which failed to hit the target.
Despite the waves of United 58 attacks, it was the Young Sky Blues who opened the scoring.
A stinging low free-kick from Tilio could only be parried away by Manos into the path of Koop to tap home at the near post.
It was pure desperation for United 58 after the goal but they
The Young Sky Blues were happy to sit back and sting on the counter. It nearly paid dividends and Jordan Swibel dragged his shot narrowly wide after a
However, it was Swibel who would put the final nail in United 58’s coffin after 84 minutes when he latched onto a long ball over the top before finishing one-on-one past Manos to clinch the 2-0 win.
Sydney FC coach Jim van Weeren expressed his pride for his players stating their efforts today were proof of their potential.
The mental strength of the boys has come a long way over the course of the season and today was evidence of what they are capable of,” van Weeren said,
“First half we probably made a few too many errors with the ball but we got it together after the break and made the most of our chances.
“We had some young boys playing in key positions today who really stood up against much bigger and more experienced opposition. I’m very happy with the performance and It’s a great sign for the last few weeks off the season.”
It was a completely different story in the United 58 sheds after the match with a frustrated Miro Vlastelica at a loss to find answers to his team’s goal scoring woes.
“The toughest thing is we are creating chances but we just can’t find the back of the net,” Vlastelica said.
“If the ball falls a different way we could’ve been up by three goals but it just wasn’t to be.
“We have to put this to bed and come back bigger and stronger next week. It’s important we keep fighting to the very end.”
Match Stats
Sydney United 58 FC: 0
Sydney FC: 2 (Koop 68’, Swibel 84’)
Sunday, July 21 2019
Sydney United Sports Centre, Edensor Park
Referee: B Abraham
Assistant referees: N Backo, R Osborne
Fourth official: J Rose
Sydney United 58 FC: 21. Thomas Manos, 4. Adrian Vlastelica, 7. Peter Simonoski, 8. Matthew Sim, 9. Patrick Antelmi (19. Joshua McDonald 53’), 11. Yianni Perkatis, 12. Liam Rose (5. Anthony Tomelic 79’), 14. Tomislav Uskok, 15. Tariq Maia, 20. Christian Gonzalez (39. Michael Ruhs 65’), 22. Yianni Fragogiannis
Substitutes not used: 2.Luke Vlastelica, 61, Nicholas Bilokapic
Yellow cards: Uskok58’, Fragogiannis 67’, Tomelic 85′
Red cards
Sydney FC: 1. Thomas Heward-Belle, 3. Ben van Meurs, 5. Patrick Scibilio, 6. Harry van der Saag, 10 Marco Tilio (24. Jake Holman 74′), 13. Jordan Swibel, 15. Ryan Teague, 17. Callum Talbot (16. Paolo Bonanni 73’), 18. Benjamin Koop, 54. Anton Mlinaric, 57. Jayden Trenkoski (14. Thomas Fay 70’)
Substitutes not used: 40. Levi Kaye, 34. Calem Nieuwenhof
Yellow cards: Talbot 23’, Fay 90′
Red cards
Player Ratings have now been hidden due to the second half of the season commencing.
