Young Sky Blues teach Blacktown City a lesson
Sydney FC have stunned Blacktown City FC with a massive 5-0 win at a gloomy Landen Stadium.
It’s been a number of years since Mark Crittenden’s troops were humbled by five at at their fortress as the Sky Blues showcased how lethal they can be.
Sydney FC skipper Alen Harbas was in the middle of it all from kick off, with a nice cross from Zach De Jesus providing the first chance of the game three minutes in.
Blacktown City responded straight away but the attempt from Martin Fernandez went nowhere.
The first card of the game was shown after less than 20 minutes as Nick O’Brien brought down Sydney FC’s Marin France to grant the visitors a free kick in a decent area, but the resulting strike was disappointing.
Sydney FC picked up their own yellow less than a minute later as Wataru Kamijo brought down Blacktown City’s Jack O’Brien.
Blacktown City had a great opportunity to open the scoring after 33 minutes but Martin Fernandez couldn’t angle the cross from Travis Major into the back of the net.
It was instead Sydney FC who got the advantage as skipper Harbas had a solid run down the field off a Blacktown City mistake to beat out keeper Cayden Henderson and score.
Sydney FC doubled their lead within minutes with an incredible strike from Lachlan Middleton blasting past Henderson for a 2-0 lead heading into the break.
Blacktown City have been known for their impressive comebacks this season and it would have been foolish to count them out at a 2-0 deficit.
However Sydney FC found the best defence was attack as Harbas added another to his tally just five minutes after the restart for a 3-0 Sydney FC lead.
Harbas completed the hat-trick 10 minutes later with a fantastic run past a trailing Blacktown City defence, who seemed to pause for a potential offside call that never came.
4-0 up and Sydney FC didn’t take their foot off the pedal with playmaker Tiago Quintal slipping the ball past Henderson to cement the stunning 5-0 victory.
Blacktown City tried to lessen the blow and get a goal back, with Major in his 300th game leading the charge, but keeper Gus Hoefsloot was in his element all game.
Sydney FC coach Jim van Weeren said having the team at full strength was a major boost for the squad.
“It really makes a difference in this league,” van Weeren said.
“Blacktown are a top club and at full strength we can compete, it’s the nature of the beast that we don’t have everyone week on week but it was great to see them together and put in a top performance.
“We came in with a fair degree of confidence, and there’s a huge belief from the club in this group, so we’re not overly surprised (at the scoreline) but happy for the players.”
Match Stats
Blacktown City FC 0
Sydney FC 5 (Alen Harbas 34’, 50’, 60’, Lachlan Middleton 41’, Tiago Quintal 64’)
Sunday 11th May 2025
Landen Stadium, Seven Hills
Referee: Logan Jones
Assistant Referees: Cameron Wright and Blake Sanchez-Cruz
Fourth Official: Hayden Langholz
Blacktown City FC: 1. Cayden Henderson (GK), 4. Lachlan Campbell, 5. Grant Lynch, 7. Travis Major (c), 8. Jak O’Brien, 11. Danny Choi, 14. Mitchell Mallia (10. Maksim Jez 62’), 17. Martin Fernandez (9. Keanu Moore 62’), 18. Nicholas O’Brien (3. Jarred McKinley 59’), 19. Sebastian Hayward (16. Benjamin Berry 59’), 23. Jakob Cresnar (24. Jackson Bandiera 45’)
Substitutes Not Used: 20. Zac Bowling (GK)
Yellow Cards: Nicholas O’Brien 18’
Red Cards: Nil
Sydney FC: 3. Kyle Shaw (4. Joseph Calusic 74’), 14. Jared Middleton, 18. Alen Harbas (c) (9. Matthias Macallister 62’), 20. Tiago Quintal, 21. Zachary De Jesus , 24. Wataru Kamijo (39. Dylan Rose 62’), 27. Lachlan Middleton, 29. Joe Lacey, 30. Gus Hoefsloot, 33. Marin France (10. Taye Hedley 45’), 37. Will Kennedy (6. Tyler Williams 68’)
Substitutes Not Used: 12. Alexander Zaverdinos
Yellow Cards: Wataru Kamijo 19’
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings
3 – Alen Harbas (Sydney FC)
2 – Gus Hoefsloot (Sydney FC)
1 – Tiago Quintal (Sydney FC)
By Katrina May (katrinaa_mayy)
