Wolves woes continue as Olympic pounce
Two second-half goals secured Sydney Olympic FC a well earned 2-0 win over a hapless Wollongong Wolves on Saturday night at WIN Stadium.
Olympic failed to capitalise on a series of chances in the first half as they went into halftime level with Wollongong.
Cyrus Dehmie provided the necessary clinical touch soon after the break before Dylan Ruiz-Diaz doubled the advantage just after the hour mark.
Olympic started the first half brightly, finding space in midfield and driving forward.
Within the first couple of minutes, in-form striker Dehmie broke into the left of the box and rolled a shot narrowly wide of the right post.
In the fourth minute, Seth Clark lined up for Olympic from range, but Wollongong goalkeeper Daniel Solsky caught the ball.
The Wolves showed glimpses of knitting together opportunities in the first 30 minutes, but their closest effort came just after the half-hour mark. Nicholas Olsen’s free-kick from range required Olympic goalkeeper Jack Gibson to palm the ball over.
Olympic had an excellent chance of their own with five regular minutes to play. Solsky parried Zac Zoricich’s original effort from the left of the box into Dehmie’s path, but the goalkeeper smothered the rebound to make it a vital double save.
The scores remained locked as the teams went into the sheds.
However, just 30 seconds into the second half, the visitors struck with the opener. Jack Armson’s neat turn and shot on the edge of the area cannoned off the left post, falling to Dehmie who steered home the rebound. It was the ace marksman’s tenth goal of the NPL Men’s NSW campaign.
Dehmie almost grabbed a second 51 minutes in taking aim from range, but Solsky saved comfortably.
In the 63rd minute, Wollongong returned fire with Olsen whose effort from inside the box bounced just past the right post.
Moments later, Sydney Olympic scored their second. Dehmie snatched the ball and played a quick pass to Ruiz-Dias into the right channel, who snuck a finish under Solsky.
Dehmie threatened again in the 67th minute as he raced in one-on-one with Solsky, but the goalkeeper blocked his shot.
Six minutes later, Kanaizumi sought to pull a goal back for the Wolves with a header from a corner that dropped past the left post.
The Wolves pushed more numbers forward as the game dragged on, yet consistent chance creation continued to be a problem.
Key to Wollongong’s issues was Olympic midfielder Teng Kuol who regularly broke up the side’s moves through the middle of the field.
Wollongong substitute James Anagnostopoulos had a late chance for the hosts with his effort from the edge of the box bouncing off both posts before Gibson pounced on the ball.
The midfielder’s shot was the last major action of the game as Olympic earned victory at WIN Stadium over Wollongong.
Olympic coach Labinot Haliti said this was one of his team’s most complete performances in 2025.
“They’re [Wollongong] a good team, but I think we deserve that [the win],” Haliti said.
“Tonight we just put it together and we put it together for 90 minutes and you could tell the way we were playing, there were chances.
“The boys are good players it’s just we need the consistency; we need to keep going.”
Match Stats
Wollongong Wolves FC 0
Sydney Olympic FC 2 (Cyrus Dehmie 46’, Dylan Ruiz-Diaz 64’)
Saturday 7 June 2025
WIN Stadium, Wollongong
Referee: Matt Staples
Assistant Referees: Hayden Kaye and Ethan Zvargulis
Fourth Official: Harriet Gee
Wollongong Wolves FC: 13. Daniel Solsky, 2. Harrison Buesnel, 4. Dylan Ryan, 5. Banri Kanaizumi, 8. Sebastian Duarte (7. Woon Sub Sim 71), 9. Damon Gray (10. Liam Ball 71’), 17. Marcus Beattie, 21. Nicholas Olsen, 25. Alex Masciovecchio, 29. Ben Giason, 77. Raphael Le’ai (6. James Anagnostopoulos 78’)
Substitutes Not Used: 1. Oliver Yates, 11. Lucas Trajcevski, 15. Dax Kelly
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
Sydney Olympic FC: 1. Jack Gibson, 5. Ziggy Gordon, 9. Cyrus Dehmie, 10. Jack Armson, 11. Adam Parkhouse (16. Bailey Callaghan 73’), 12. Zac Zoricich, 14. Seth Clark, 17. Joshua Hong, 18. Teng Kuol, 22. Dylan Ruiz-Diaz (7. Michael Vakis 84’), 28. Doni Grdic
Substitutes Not Used: 6. Thomas Whiffen, 13. Monty Partington, 19. Gianni Di Pizio
Yellow Cards: Ziggy Gordon 33’, Cyrus Dehmie 61’
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings:
3 – Cyrus Dehmie (SO)
2 – Teng Kuol (SO)
1 – Jack Armson (SO)
Report by Tim Gibson
