Superb Sydney FC end APIA’s unbeaten run with massive victory

Sydney FC recorded a spectacular 4-0 battering of APIA Leichhardt and ended their unbeaten start to the season in style on Friday night at Valentine Sports Park.
The Premiership hotshots who prior to this match were coming in as firm favourites were simply outclassed by their younger opponents as FC proved to be too hot to handle in a result that stunned many.
Not only did Jimmy Van Weeren’s men score four but they also kept a clean sheet against one of the fiercest attacks in the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition which is by no means an easy feat that rival clubs have had difficulty to do this year.
Alen Harbas gave the hosts the lead within ten minutes before Ben Gibson’s brace rounded out a phenomenal first half for Sydney FC.
Clayton Taylor picked up the fourth just after halftime to add further gloss to the home side’s performance.
It was a blistering opening to the match from the young Sky Blues and they nearly made an impact on the scoreboard within 30 seconds.
Harbas pinched the ball in the front third and got into the box, seeing his original effort repelled by APIA goalkeeper Ivan Necevski before his follow-up was also saved.
The visitors went forward a couple of minutes later as Jack Stewart played the ball to Aedon Kyra in space centrally inside the box, however, the forward shovelled his shot wide.
Early momentum remained with Sydney FC though, and they made good on it by snatching the lead seven minutes in.
Taylor drove into the box from the right and made it to the by-line before cutting it back to Harbas who confidently steered it home from close range to push his tally for 7 goals for the 2023 season.
The right-hand side was proving profitable for Sydney in the opening exchanges, Gibson drilling in a cross in the 14th minute, that rolled agonisingly across the face of goal.
Only three minutes later, the home side doubled their lead to further shellshock the league leaders.
A well-worked move on the left found Gibson inside the middle of the box who passed an accurate volley into the top right corner.
The home side could not have dreamt of a better start with an incisive first quarter of the game propelling them to a commanding position.
Sydney FC remained persistent in their pursuit of goals as Harbas got on the end of a left-sided cross in the 25th minute, but Necevski stayed big and made an important save.
With five minutes to play in the first period, the side added a third goal.
Gibson received a clever pass over the top into the right channel from Taylor.
The attacker showed great composure to lob a finish over Necevski as the ball bounced in the left side of the net.
Sydney could have had a fourth goal in stoppage time as Harbas saw his effort batted away by Necevski but only as far as Taylor who skewed his consequent shot wide.
A sensational first-half display from the Sky Blues left APIA with it all to do in the second period to keep their unbeaten record intact.
It only got worse for the away side after halftime conceding a fourth goal only two minutes after the restart.
Taylor capitalised on a turnover before cutting inside from the right and sliding a neat left-footed shot under Necevski.
After this early second-half blow for APIA, the match adopted a slower tempo with Sydney FC intent on seeing out a superb victory for the academy team.
Chances continued to trickle through for the hosts and they almost had a fifth with seven minutes to go.
Substitute Mitchell Glasson’s shot took a wicked deflection that wrong-footed Necevski, however, the ball bounced just past the left post.
APIA had a great opportunity to score a consolation in the final minute of regular time as Diego Celis’ volley was expertly palmed over by Adam Pavlesic in the Sydney goal.
Sydney FC saw out the remaining minutes to secure a statement 4-0 victory against APIA Leichhardt as the phrase rang out at Valentine Sports Park that the boys taught the men a lesson that could well spark the Sky Blues’ season to bigger heights.
For APIA, this unexpected loss will no doubt hurt the proud club who took pride in not only scoring goals but keeping clean sheets but this result has blown the Premiership race wide open once again.
Match Stats
Sydney FC 4 (Alen Harbas 7’, Ben Gibson 17’ 40, Clayton Taylor 47’)
APIA Leichhardt FC 0
Friday 28 April 2023
Lambert Park, Leichhardt
Referee: Kurt Ams
Assistant Referees: Alessandro Llana and Matthew Riedy
Fourth Official: Carbel Geha
Sydney FC: 30. Adam Pavlesic (GK), 4. Nathan Paull, 6. Matthew Scarcella (38. Zachary De Jesus 75’), 7. Ben Gibson (22. Dylan Rose 62’), 8. Kealey Adamson, 10. Alen Harbas (9. Luka Smyth 62’), 11. Clayton Taylor, 13. Hayden Matthews, 18. Oscar Priestman (C), 19. Alexander Parsons (17. Mitchell Glasson 62’), 34. Max Buratto (2. Cameron Fong 83’)
Substitutes Not Used: 20. Gus Hoefsloot (GK)
Yellow Cards: Luka Smyth 85’
Red Cards: Nil
APIA Leichhardt FC: 1. Ivan Necevski (GK), 4. Joshua Symons (6. Anthony Sparacino 46’), 7. Jack Stewart, 14. Jack Armson, 15. Themba Muata-Marlow, 18. Adrian Ucchino (C) (98. Franco Farinella 46’), 19. Fabian Monge, 21. Michael Kouta (30. Alex Denmead 61’), 23. Dakota Askew, 25. Aedon Kyra (8. Diego Celis 68’), 38. Yianni Nicolaou
Substitutes Not Used: 3. Paul Galimi, 12. Anthony Bouzanis (GK)
Yellow Cards: Fabian Monge 27’, Dakota Askew 73’, Yianni Nicolaou 75’
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings:
3 – Clayton Taylor (SFC)
2 – Ben Gibson (SFC)
1 – Nathan Paull (SFC)
Report by Timothy Gibson, on Twitter @Timg123_