Bulls and Sky Blues play out eventful draw
The Bulls FC Academy earned a much-needed point in the fight for survival after a dramatic 1-1 draw with Sydney FC at the Sydney United Sports Centre on Saturday afternoon.
After a rather uneventful start to the game, it was the Sky Blues who drew first blood after a costly mistake from Alex Robinson gave Oscar Fryer the opener.
The Bulls wasted no time in striking back when Jordan Ivancic played Sunday Yona through, with the striker calmly slotting his chance past Adam Pavlesic.
It was a frustrating second half for both teams, with late-game fatigue playing a significant factor that left the final result in a deadlock.
Both sides took their time to pick up the intensity and intent in their attacks with the first real chance of the game coming in the 10th minute.
After a solid solo run into the box, Fryer opened up the angel for a curling effort that lacked power but ultimately slipped through the hands of Alex Robinson and in for the Sky Blues first.
It was a tough blow to the Bulls who had begun to look dangerous going forward in the minutes leading up to the opening goal.
The Bulls only had to wait a minute before clawing their way back into the game after a brilliantly placed ball from Ivancic played Yona through on goal, who neatly lobbed an oncoming Adam Pavlesic.
Sydney pushed hard in hopes of restoring their one-goal advantage and came close on two occasions through Ben Gibson who was denied by Robinson on the first before his looping header just missed the target.
The middle sector of the first half was controlled by the Bulls after managing to trap their opponents in their own half.
Eddie Caspers came the closest with a long-range effort that clipped the crossbar before Ivancic linked up with Yona deep in the Sky Blues’ box, forcing a desperate save from Pavlesic.
After defending multiple chances from the hosts, Sydney evened out the game as the remainder of the first half was played with a more conservative approach from both teams.
The final chance of the half fell to Gibson, who after receiving treatment on his knee, made Robinson work hard to tip his curling effort away.
After a thrilling opening 45 minutes were left in a deadlock leaving everything to play for in the final half of play.
The Bulls applied the pressure in the second half’s early stages and came agonisingly close to finding themselves in the lead.
Yona fumbled his lines in front of the goal, whilst Stephan De Robillard saw two dangerous efforts defused by Pavlesic.
Turning defence into attack, the Sky Blues quickly hit the counterattack and with Oscar Priestman through on goal Michael Marcevski heroically slide in to rule out the chance of a second for Sydney.
With 20 minutes left, the Bulls were dealt a massive blow when Jesper Webber was forced with a calf injury but with no substitutes left to come on.
Webber received treatment for the next couple of minutes, leaving the Bulls down to ten men before returning to the field gingerly and bravely seeing out the remainder of the game.
The Sky Blues dictated the final period of play and were left stunned after miraculously not scoring in the midst of a goal mouth scrap that left Robinson as the hero with multiple close-range saves.
With one last roll of the dice, Ayman Gulasi came within inches of securing a victory for the Bulls after his low-driven effort bounced away off the post and out.
In what was a frustrating outing for both sides in front of goals forcing them to share the points.
Bulls coach Zeljko Kalac admitted the outcome is a sight all too familiar for his side but saw the positives of the defensive effort.
“It was a great performance, I thought our attitude was very good, but it’s the final third that’s killing us once again, I’ve said this many times, they’re young boys, they’re going to make mistakes and miss chances,” he said.
“I thought (Michael) Marcevski and (Joel) Bertolisso were fantastic, really, really good, (Jordan) Ivancic for the 60 minutes did a great, defensively we did a great job.
“We’re going to bring some players in for the backend of the season, there’s some players that are going to be on eggshells but that’s football.”
Whilst being down a few starters, Sydney FC coach Jimmy Van Weeren saw the draw as a fair result for both sides.
“The result was probably fair, more for us it was probably a little bit of a disappointing performance, quality with the ball we weren’t great, I think that’s more the key takeaway,” he said.
“I think the goal we gave away, there was a few poor errors in the lead up but it’s good learning we’ve got players that have left the academy… so there’s some good opportunities for young players coming through.”
Match Stats
Bulls FC Academy 1 (Yona 11’)
Sydney FC 1 (Fryer 10’)
Saturday 17th June 2023
Sydney United Sports Centre, Edensor Park
Referee: Kurt Ams
Assistant Referees: Amber Morris and Patrick Teleki
Fourth Official: Charbel Geha
Bulls FC Academy: 30. Alexander Robinson, 8. Mason Wells, 11. Stephan De Robillard (10. Ayman Gulasi 62’), 13. Jordan Ivancic (31. Daanish Awaz 65’), 14. Sunday Yona (24. Dean Bosnjak), 19. Jesper Webber, 21. Lachlan McDonald, 22. Edward Caspers, 29. Michael Marcevski, 52. Rhys Youlley (23. Flynn Madden 65’), 53. Joel Bertolissio
Unused subs: 40. Griffin Barry
Yellow cards: Caspers 56’
Red cards: nil
Sydney FC: 30. Adam Pavlesic, 6. Matthew Scarcella, 7. Ben Gibson (9. Luka Smyth 53’), 8. Kealey Adamson, 10. Alen Harbas, 13. Hayden Matthews, 16. Joseph Calusic, 18. Oscar Priestman, 21. Louis Agosti (14. Ayouk Mow 68’), 32. Oscar Fryer (26. Zane Schreiber 53’), 34. Max Buratto (2. Cameron Fong 64’)
Substitutes not used: 20. Max Vartuli, 24. Jared Middleton
Yellow cards: Schreiber 71’
Red cards: nil
Player Ratings:
3: Joel Bertolisso (BAFC)
2: Matthew Scarcella (SFC)
1: Michael Marcevski (BAFC)
By NPL NSW Men’s Reporter Dominic Criniti @DominicCriniti
