Wolves snatch slender win over Sydney FC
Wollongong Wolves edged past Sydney FC 1-0 in a tight contest at WIN Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The heavy rain subsided for most of the match, with opportunities coming quickly in the first half.
Wolves defender Harrison Buesnel scored in the first half to give Wollongong a lead heading into the break.
Sydney FC took control in the second half, and despite Buesnel’s late red card, the home side took the points.
The game got off to an exhilarating start with a theme of end-to-end football and chances at both ends.
Wollongong started the match well and produced some slick football, particularly down the flanks.
In the 10th minute, Nicholas Olsen set off on a raid down the right, getting into the box before Sydney FC defender Caelan Marshall-Witte cleared his shot off the line.
Midway through the half, Wollongong put together their best move of the game. They neatly moved the ball up the pitch, finding Marcus Beattie in the left of the box who struck the left post.
Moments later, Sydney FC came forward through Marin France – the winger forcing Daniel Solsky into two quick saves.
Wollongong ramped up their pursuit of an opening goal after this as Alex Masciovecchio sent an effort flying narrowly wide of the right post.
In the 34th minute, the Wolves finally took the lead. Flynn Madden’s pinpoint cross from a left-sided corner met Buesnel’s head, who nodded home.
A couple of minutes later, Wollongong came close again, this time Olsen’s right-sided cross found Dylan Ryan, but the left-back headed wide.
Sydney FC responded positively to going behind and finished the half strongly.
In the 39th minute, Lachlan Middleton picked out France with a clever pass into the left of the area, but the winger shanked the ball away for a throw-in.
Two minutes after that, Solsky was called into action with an incredible double-save to deny Jordan Graoroski and Nicholas Zdrillic in quick succession.
Solsky pulled off another top save with a minute of regular time play, tipping Dylan Rose’s effort around the right post.
The hosts took their slender lead into halftime after a chance-dense first half.
It was a tamer second half as Sydney took greater control in the match and pursued an equaliser.
Sydney’s patient play produced an opportunity in the 61st minute as Jordan Graoroski fired wide of the left post.
Two minutes later, the Sky Blues came even closer through Macallister. The striker latched onto a pass into the right channel, going past Solsky before hitting the near post with a shot from a tight angle.
In the 70th minute, Wollongong nearly doubled their advantage through substitute Sebastian Hernandez who blasted a powerful shot from the edge of the area, but Alexander Zavedinos saved.
A few minutes later, the hosts threatened once more. Lachlan Scott had his initial effort from the left of the box saved, before his follow-up was cleared from the line by Sydney defender Kyle Shaw.
The match took an interesting twist soon after, when goalscorer Buesnel saw red for denial of a goalscoring opportunity, leaving Wollongong with 10 players for the last part of the match.
The visitors committed further numbers forward, eager to take advantage of their extra player.
Wollongong held firm and saw out the remainder of the game to secure another three points and keep their push for finals going.
Coach Julio Miranda said while he saw signs of good play in the first half, he wanted to see that more obviously reflected in the scoreline.
“It was a tough one today,” Miranda said.
“We rode our luck in the second half but I thought we played some good football in the first half.
“I felt in the first half there were definitely some signs of what we’ve been doing in training, but I’m a bit disappointed we didn’t have a greater lead going in halftime.
“They [Sydney FC] probably were the better side in the second half.”
Sydney FC coach Jimmy van Weeren said despite a strong start for the Wolves, his team were the better side.
“The first 15-20 minutes they [Wollongong] were probably on top,” he said.
“From then on it was all us. We had all the chances including hitting the post.
“Joe is a very good player in possession and we want him on the ball as often as possible.
“It changed the game. He was on the ball a lot and he was playing a lot of dangerous passes.”
Match Stats
Wollongong Wolves FC 1 (Harrison Buesnell 34’)
Sydney FC 0
Sunday 3 August 2025
WIN Stadium, Wollongong
Referee: Hayden Langholz
Assistant Referees: Amber Morris and Amirhossein Hosnani
Fourth Official: Oliver Udovicic
Wollongong Wolves FC: 13. Daniel Solsky, 2. Harrison Buesnel, 4. Dylan Ryan, 5. Banri Kanaizumi, 7. Woon Sub Sim, 17. Marcus Beattie, 21. Nicholas Olsen, 23. Flynn Madden, 24. Lachlan Scott (15. Dax Kelly 85’), 25. Alex Masciovecchio (11. Sebastian Hernandez 65’), 29. Ben Giason
Substitutes Not Used: 1. Oliver Yates 6. James Anagnostopoulos, 8. Sebastian Duarte, 77. Raphael Le’ai
Yellow Cards: Lachlan Scott 43’
Red Cards: Harrison Buesnel 78’
Sydney FC: 12. Alexander Zavedinos, 3. Kyle Shaw, 4. Joseph Calusic (21. Zachary De Jesus 51’), 9. Mathias Macallister, 16. Nicholas Zdrillic, 19. Jordan Graoroski, 27. Lachlan Middleton (15. Samuel Lancaster 65’), 29. Joe Lacey, 33. Marin France (20. Oscar Gultekin 65’), 39. Dylan Rose (10. Taye Hedley 46’), 47. Caelan Mashall-Witte
Substitutes Not Used: 1. Jacob Cremen-Cowan, 11. Reef Farias
Yellow Cards: Joe Lacey 90+2’
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings:
3 – Dylan Ryan (WW)
2 – Joe Lacey (SFC)
1 – Daniel Solsky (WW)
Report by Tim Gibson
