Stunning free-kick settles tie for Bulls against the Wanderers
A stunning Rhys Youlley curling free-kick secured the three precious points for the Bulls FC Academy against the Western Sydney Wanderers at Wanderers Football Park on a windy Sunday afternoon.
After a delay that could have played on the young midfielder’s mind, Youlley stepped up to guide the ball past the outstretched dive of Lawrence Caruso to net the only strike in a terrific afternoon of football between some of the best young talents in NSW.
It could have been so different when Jarrod Carluccio burst through the Bulls defence inside 30-seconds, but desperate defending saw the effort blocked as the Wanderers came out firing but were almost caught out at the other end forcing Caruso to save bravely from Bulls’ striker Mabior Garang in an explosive start to the match.
Frans Deli was the next to be thwarted by Alex Robinson, sharply down low to his right, to deny the home side from taking the lead before the 3rd minute mark was reached.
Garang missed a golden opportunity to open the scoring, from a cross on the right via Lachlan Macdonald, when scuffing his attempt, as the chances kept coming thick and fast in the early stages of this high tempo fixture.
The strong swirling breeze, favoured neither side, was making life difficult on both corners and clearances when not played on the deck, particularly for the keepers when coming out to claim crosses or the long ball over the top to turn a defence.
The match steadied with a Mason Wells effort blasted wide of the mark, midway through the half and a Youlley shot straight at Caruso the only attempts of note after the plethora of chances early on.
Wells pulled a quite magnificent save out of Caruso from a free-kick just outside the area, a curling shot the keeper majestically rose to meet and tip around the post by his fingertips. The Bulls midfielder was proving a handful with his late runs through the middle as another long range effort flew past the upright.
Carluccio was sent away but again Robinson was equal to the task and was then able to foil Zac Sapsford with a super reaction save from the follow up.
The wind abated but the chances didn’t with Carluccio squandering an opportunity before Robinson pulled off yet another stunning save off the head of Edmond Lupancu and Caspers warming the hands of Caruso at the other end. Breathtaking in execution but half-time arrived with neither defence being breached and both owing plenty to their goalkeepers.
Wanderers again started the second period brightly, Robinson, immense since kick-off, denying Carluccio again before George Antonis fired across the face with the opener remaining elusive.
The Wanderers, enjoying the better of the ball after the break, had a claim for a penalty turned down in the 62nd minute after Younis was upended inside the area leaving both Academy sides still searching for a way to open the scoring.
Isaac Hovar, venturing forward from left-back, approached the Wanderers area with no one coming out to him and tried his luck from distance that went horribly awry when the better option would have been to pass to Garang on his inside.
Bulls substitute Sunday Yona almost produced an immediate impact, but again the Wanderers had Caruso to thank for yet another fine save to keep it goalless.
The deadlock was finally broken by the visitors when Youlley fired home with a sumptuous curling free-kick around the wall and beyond the despairing grasp of Caruso.
The strike led to their own area being besieged by the home side, but the Bulls were proving a tough nut to crack, particularly with Robinson displaying the outstanding form of last season for Blacktown City.
It wasn’t to be the Wanderers day when their substitute Ariath Piol hit the outside of the post after terrific work from Younis down the right to get the cross in.
It was a jubilant Zeljko Kalac post match as he praised his team’s performance in what was a vital victory that lifted the Bulls off the foot of the ladder.
“There was two young teams playing an attacking brand of football and it’s strange it finished one-nil when it could’ve been 5-4,” he said.
“There were plenty of chances, plenty of enthusiasm from both and a good performance and willingness to work today.
“For us it was a great win after all the narrow misses we’ve had this season so to come away with a win and a clean sheet against another Academy team is fantastic.
“You’ve got to give our guys a lot of credit today as I felt they were outstanding.”
The Bulls now face Rockdale Ilinden on Wednesday in their Round 10 rescheduled fixture at Valentine Sports Park (7:30pm) in a match which they hope they can take more points to secure their safety in the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition.
Western Sydney Wanderers FC coach Andrew Christiansen was left pondering the loss as his side slipped to bottom of the ladder.
“I thought we were excellent today and I am happy with the overall performance and commitment we showed,” he commented.
“Obviously I’m disappointed with the result, we created so many chances to win the match and felt we dominated it in general but one attempt on goal in the second-half, a great free-kick, and we’ve lost the match.
“Throw in the Man of the Match performance from their keeper (Alex Robinson) and that was the difference and we need to be better and more clinical and start taking our chances.
“That’s where we’re at, at the moment but we’re improving each week and now we just need to be better in front of goal.”
The Wanderers are hoping for better results to avoid relegation as 2023 will see the bottom placed side automatically relegated with the team finishing 15th to play in a double header playoff match against the team the team that finishes second in the League One Men’s competition.
Match Stats
WSW FC Academy 0
Bulls FC Academy 1 (Rhys Youlley 79’)
Wanderers Football Park, Rooty Hill
Sunday, 16th April 2023
Referee: Craig Fisher
Assistants: Matthew Harris and Thomas Bury
Fourth Official: Charbel Geha
WSW FC Academy: 1. Lawrence Caruso, 6. Frans Deli, 7. Jarrod Carluccio (9. Nathaniel Blair 74’), 8. Alessandro Lopane (10. Alexander Badolato 61’), 11. Zac Sapsford (77. Ariath Piol 61’), 12. Edmond Lupancu, 13. Marcus Younis, 14. George Antonis, 19. Daniel Wilmering, 22. Jesse Cameron, 26. Yannis Frerck
Subs not used: 20. Jack Warshawsky, 2. Matthew O’Donoghue, 23. Mason Fernandez
Yellow Cards: Yannis Frerck 34’, Edmond Lupancu 76’
Red Cards:
Bulls FC Academy: 30. Alex Robinson, 2. Ante Krilic, 5. Jonathan Maras, 8. Mason Wells, 15. Mabior Garang (31. Daanish Awaz 74’), 19. Jesper Webber (14. Sunday Yona 74’), 20. Adrian Knez (18. Sebastian Hernandez 74’), 21. Lachlan Macdonald, 22. Eddie Caspers, 32. Isaac Hovar, 52. Rhys Youlley(13. Jordan Ivancic 90+4’)
Subs not used: 23. Flynn Madden, 40. Griffin Barry
Yellow Cards: Adrian Knez 56’, Anthony Krilic 77’, Eddie Caspers 78’
Red Cards:
Player Ratings
3 – Alex Robinson (BAFC G/K)
2 – Rhys Youlley (BAFC Mid)
1 – Mason Wells (BAFC Mid)
By NPL NSW Men’s Reporter Micky Brock
