Heartbreak for Wolves as Sydney FC grab injury time winner
An injury time Clayton Taylor penalty has given Sydney FC a 2-1 victory over the Wollongong Wolves, giving David Carney and his men more late heartache in what was an entertaining encounter played in wild conditions at times at Valentine Sports Park on Good Friday.
Alen Harbas found the net again for the hosts soon after the second half resumption before Taylor gave the Sky Blues the win in injury time. This after a Lachlan Scott goal levelled things with less than 15 minutes left.
Wollongong Wolves had the first real chance of the game in the 14th minute. A long throw from the left wing made its way through to Banri Kanaizumi whose point-blank header drew a reaction stop.
Sydney FC then responded and if you guessed it was through Jaiden Kucharski, you would be correct. Kucharski interchanging passes with Kealey Adamson to his right before cutting onto his left and rolling a shot into the clutches of Nenad Vekic.
Both sides were exchanging chances in a free-flowing game of football and many thought Takumi Ofuka had opened the scoring for the visitors when he caught a ball sweetly from just outside the area, however Adam Pavlesic was up to the task saving down to his left after the half hour.
While Kucharski perhaps had the best chance of the first half, Taylor squaring the ball across to the striker from the right, his shot denied by a good save from Vekic.
It was all locked at 0-0 at the break, but all the action and excitement was set to hit overdrive in the second half as the players took to the field once more.
The game’s opener came in the 50th minute when Matthew Scarcella fired in a cross that hit the head of Alen Harbas who drifted in between defenders before finishing into the top left to put the Sky Blues ahead.
Wollongong’s Marcus Beattie almost made an instant impact at the other end but was unable to steer a Ethan Beaven cross home from the near post in the 55th minute.
Conditions were worsening as thunder and lightning started to rear its ugly head with the referee halting proceedings around the 70th minute mark.
After a twenty-five minute pause, it was the Wolves who would benefit from the small layoff as the ever reliable Lachlan Scott bagged an equaliser in the 78th minute. Scott took advantage of a set piece which wasn’t cleared, the ball sitting up nicely for Wolves striker inside the six yard box, finishing with ease.
Things had opened up at this point with both sides desperate for a winner with ten minutes remaining.
Sydney FC finished the strongest though and had another chance in the 87th minute. Adamson firing right across the face with Mitchell Glasson unable to steer home a deflection.
Just as the crowd thought that the points were set to be shared, came the winner for Sydney FC.
Taylor received a long ball which he controlled well and as he went to loop a ball over Harrison Buensel’s head, the Wolves defender handled the ball giving the referee no choice but to award the spot-kick.
The Wolves suffered heartbreak for the second successive week as Taylor converted in the 93rd minute to gift Sydney FC the three precious points.
Post match, Sydney FC coach Jimmy Van Weeren credited the win to his sides winning mentality.
“We had more than enough chances to win the game, the boys showed a lot of resilience at the death.
“Adam Pavlesic made some good saves, but we’ve got a winning mentality. Hayden Matthews made a real nice block at the end there and there was some real good desperation showed late in the game.”
Match Stats
Sydney FC 2 (Harbas 51’, Taylor 93’)
Wollongong Wolves FC 1 (Scott 78’)
Friday 7 April, 2023
Valentine Sports Park, Glenwood
Referee: Karl Davies
Assistant Referees: Matt Staples and Lindsay Edmonds
Fourth Official: Michael Weiner
Sydney FC: 30. Adam Pavlesic, 4. Nathan Paull, 8. Kealey Adamson, 10. Alen Harbas (17. Mitchell Glasson 65’), 11. Clayton Taylor, 13. Hayden Matthews, 18. Oscar Priestman, 25. Jaiden Kucharski (19. Alexander Parsons 61)’, 26. Zane Schreiber (2. Dylan Rose 87’), 34. Max Buratto (22. Jayden Trenkoski 46’), 37. Bailey Callaghan (6. Matthew Scarcella 46’).
Substitutes Not Used: 20. Max Vartuli, 2.
Yellow Cards: Priestman, Kucharski
Red Cards: Nil
Wollongong Wolves FC: 1. Nenad Vekic, 3. Harrison Buensel, 5. Banri Kanaizumi, 8. Samuel Riak (10. Mirza Muratovic 70’), 9. Takumi Ofuka, 14. Jake Trew 15. Ethan Beaven (25. Alex Masclovecchio 58’), 23. Walter Scott, 24. Lachlan Scott, 88. Christopher Mcstay, 99 Josh Macdonald (7. Marcus Beattie 53’).
Substitutes Not Used: 13. Thomas Butkovic, 6. Senna Stevenson, 11. Nav Darjani,
Yellow Cards: W Scott, Buensel, Masclovecchio, L Scott.
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings:
3 – Zane Schreiber (Syd)
2 – Hayden Matthews (Syd)
1 – Takumi Ofuka (WW)
By Justin Smith (@smiththejustin).
