Masciovecchio magic lifts Wolves as Olympic hit rock bottom
A goal of the season contender from Wollongong Wolves winger Alex Masciovecchio helped the Wolves to secure a hard fought 2-1 win against now bottom of the table Sydney Olympic FC in hot and steamy conditions on Sunday afternoon at Macedonia Park.
The Wollongong Wolves came into the match with strong form and unbeaten in three games, and they made a fast start to the match against Sydney Olympic.
The Wolves started the match strong and dominated the opening exchanges, however Wollongong was dealt an early blow in the fifth minute when defender Ryan Lowe was forced off with what looked like a serious knee injury.
The home side went close to taking the lead with young gun Liam Ball firing just wide in the 10th minute.
Wollongong continued to look dangerous and were controlling the midfield with Olympic sitting deep and trying to hit the Wolves on the counter. Olympic’s best chance of the early part of the match fell to captain Ziggy Gordon when he headed wide from a corner in the 16th minute.
Despite the early dominance, the Wolves were stunned when Olympic took the lead in the 29th minute after a brilliant through ball from former Wollongong player Ben Giason. The defence-splitting pass found an unmarked Yuto Fujita who took the ball past an onrushing Wolves goalkeeper Daniel Solsky and slotted home into an empty net.
Olympic started to grow into the game and created a few half chances as the first half came to an end.
The Wolves made a fast start to the second half and scored an equalising goal in the 46th minute when winger Alex Masciovecchio struck a perfect half volley into the top corner from well outside the box after Olympic cleared a Wollongong corner. The brilliant strike can be considered an early contender for goal of the season and was matched by an impressive goal celebration featuring numerous back flips.
Wollongong continued to have the better of the early exchanges of the second half with Kazuya Yamamura coming close with a free kick and captain Lachlan Scott looking dangerous.
The Wolves dominance was rewarded when second half substitute Sebastian Hernandez gave Wollongong the lead in the 54th minute. The winger received the ball out wide on the right and drove into the Olympic box and fired off a low shot which took a deflection off Olympic defender Samuel Bosnjak, the ball sailing over the head of goalkeeper Josip Orlovic.
Wollongong continued to create a few half chances with the Olympic defence looking strong as they tried to hit the Wolves on the counter.
Olympic went all out for the win with a triple substitution in the 82nd minute as they chased the game, however the Wolves held on for a hard fought 2-1 victory as they continued their strong form and extended their unbeaten run to four matches.
It’s been a poor start to the year for the Blues as the iconic former NSL giant club currently sits at the bottom of the NPL Men’s NSW ladder, a position they’ve not been accustomed to with the next couple of matches crucial in the hope of getting the club back up the ladder.
Wolves coach Luke Wilkshire was impressed with the resilience shown by his side as they fought back from a half time deficit.
“It was a good reaction. Players know themselves when it is not good enough and we spoke at half time and said we must improve,” Wilkshire said.
“We got the right response from the players and we know they have the ability to come back into the game and we saw that in the second half.”
Sydney Olympic captain Ziggy Gordon was approached for comment but declined an interview.
The Wolves travel to Ernie Smith Reserve in Round 9 to take on SD Raiders FC, while Sydney Olympic host Sutherland Sharks FC on Saturday night.
Match Stats
Wollongong Wolves FC: 2 (Alex Masciovecchio 46’, Sebastian Hernandez 54’)
Sydney Olympic FC: 1 (Yuto Fujita 29’)
Sunday 29 March, 2026
Macedonia Park
Referee: Matthew Harris
Assistant Referees: Cameron Wright and Benjamin Eisikovich
Fourth Official: Reece Edwards
Wollongong Wolves FC: 1. Daniel Solsky, 5. Banri Kanaizumi, 8. Sebastian Duarte, 9. Ryan Lowe (17. Marcus Beattie 5’), 10. Flynn Madden, 13. Tate Russell, 16. Lucas Trajcevski (7. Felipe D’Agostini 71’), 18. Kazuya Yamamura, 21. Liam Ball (11. Sebastian Hernandez 45’), 24. Lachlan Scott (C) (77. Dylan King 90+3’), 25. Alex Masciovecchio
Substitutes not used: 2. Kristian Butkovic, 19. Max Cunial, 44. Taj Demito
Yellow Cards: Tate Russell 59’
Red Cards: Nil
Sydney Olympic FC: 1. Josip Orlovic, 3. Samuel Bosnjak, 4. Joshua Hong (18. Kim Jun-Yong 82’), 5. Ziggy Gordon (C), 9. Marco Arambasic (11. Giorgos Louca 82’), 16. Bailey Callaghan, 21. Yuta Komura (33. Maxamillion Luburic 63’), 24. Ben Giason, 30. Joshua Da Silva, 31. Yuto Fujita (13. Liam Saba 82’), 34. Marcus Fernandez
Substitutes not used: 14. Jacob Tresoglavic, 23. Brooklyn Mallia, 40. Anthony Carreras
Yellow Cards: Joshua Da Silva 48’
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings
3 – Alex Masciovecchio (Wollongong Wolves)
2 – Lachlan Scott (Wollongong Wolves)
1 – Yuto Fujita (Sydney Olympic)
Report by Joel Martelli
