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Van Weeren to unleash fresh faced Sky Blues young guns in 2022

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Sydney FC’s National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s coach Jimmy Van Weeren is excited about the prospects of unearthing seven new faces as he commences preparations for the 2022 season.

With the baby Sky Blues saying farewell to a couple of quality young footballers in Scott Browning, Thomas Fay, Levi Kaye, Tom Main, Antonio Saracino, Luke Ivanovic and Jordi Swibel, Van Weeren has recruited some decent talent from fellow NPL NSW Men’s clubs.

The pick of the bunch is former Manly United youngster Ben Gibson and Hakoah Sydney City East whiz-kid Zachery Sapsford who will look towards further developing their skills with the Sky Blues.

Gibson asserted himself as one to watch out for in 2021 when he broke through Manly United’s senior squad while Sapsford was a regular “baller” in the NPL 2 NSW Men’s competition wowing crowds with Hakoah.

Also joining the two new recruits are Kealey Adamson from the Northern Tigers, 18-year-old Harry Aquilina from Manly United, 18-year-old Dejan Bakrdanikoski from APIA as well as 17-year-old Alen Harbas and 18-year-old Bailey Jacobs from Blacktown City.

“We had another good season in season 2021, seeing some of our young Academy graduates make their A-League debuts and represent our National Teams was a great achievement,” Van Weeren stated to Football NSW.

“We believe we have strengthened our squad for the 2022 NPL NSW Men’s season, and we look forward to seeing more youngsters make their professional debuts and also striving for better results in the competition.”

Ambitious Youngster Girdwood-Reich Making His Mark in the NPL

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At just 17, Sydney FC’s Jake Girdwood-Reich is making his mark on the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s Competition.

The young gun made the step up to the Men’s competition after impressing in Sydney FC’s premiership-winning Under 20s squad in 2020, and despite his youth, has seamlessly transitioned to the men’s competition in 2021.

While some results haven’t gone the way Sydney FC would have hoped for, there are plenty of positives for Girdwood-Reich to take away from his first season playing Men’s football.

“Obviously being near the bottom of the table is disappointing for the players and coaches, however, in some games we have shown that we can compete with the best teams in the competition and have shown that we have talented young players,” he explained.

“It is a great opportunity for young players to be playing in the men’s league against some ex-A-League and International players.

“Hopefully we can build on our performance of the last few games and show our quality in the final games of the season and gain as many points on the board as we can.”

After being named in the Joeys Under-15 squad in 2019, a group commencing the path towards the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2021, the Coronavirus pandemic has been disappointing for Girdwood-Reich, however, the opportunities he has been given by Sydney FC have helped soften the blow of missing out on representing Australia again.

“I feel like I have had a good breakout season in the NPL this year.

“Head Coach Jimmy Van Weeren and Assistant Coach Howie Forndyke and Technical Director Kelly Cross have given me confidence to perform in my first season of the NPL NSW Men’s competition.

“The quality of training in the Senior Academy and the way they play the same system as the A-League has helped me a lot in my game, and also made it easier when I’ve had some recent opportunities of training with the A-League team.

“These opportunities have helped to focus me away from the disappointment of the cancellation of Joeys Asian Cup last year and the possibility of going to the Under 17 FIFA World Cup this year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

While the current stay-at-home restrictions have stopped football completely, Girdwood-Reich is trying to make the most of his time off.

“Obviously we can’t train as a team at the moment, but our Strength and Conditioning Coach has sent us training sessions to keep up our fitness, such as running and ball work, and has had Zoom calls to see how we are going and to show us the strength routines for the gym work.

“It’s hard that gyms are closed but we have adapted, using these sessions.

“I really miss the regular training and games, but at least I have been doing these sessions regularly to keep up my fitness but can’t wait to get back on the field.”

The year 11 student is currently on school holidays and has been enjoying some time to relax, spend time with family and enjoy watching some high-calibre football in the Euros and Copa America tournaments.

“If it’s not football training, I have been jumping on Xbox with friends to play FIFA, catching up with movies on Netflix and of course watching the Euros and the Copa America.

“With school holidays it is a time to relax a bit and although we can’t catch up in person with friends, we can keep in touch on social media.

“In the Euros, unfortunately, my two nations, Scotland and Germany, have been knocked out but it has been so great to have the time to be able to watch all the games and so many of the best players in the world competing for their nation.

“Certainly, the team to watch for me has been Italy because of their passion and exciting football.

“It’s been good to spend more time with my family during lockdown, as usually I’m really busy with football and school.

“It’s been hard not seeing the boys from Sydney FC as I’m used to seeing them 4-5 days per week and although obviously not the same, at least we are keeping in touch through a group chat.”

The ambitious youngster is eager to get back on the pitch when the competition restarts and continue to show his potential to the football community.

“The main focus is to help the team turn losses and draws into much-needed wins to finish the NPL season as best we can.

“I will keep on training hard so I can give my best performances and keep working towards my goal of being a professional footballer.”

-By Madeline Riley

Sydney FC fall to late Manly United equaliser

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Manly United have kept its Finals Series hopes alive and kicking thanks to a 94th minute equaliser via experienced campaigner Scott Balderson as Adam Griffiths’ side secured a point in its dramatic 2-2 draw against a resilient Sydney FC outfit at the Ilinden Sports Centre to close off round 17 of the NPL NSW Men’s competition.

Manly United, a side flying high in third position on the ladder, were hoping for three wins in a row but were thwarted by Sydney FC in an exciting 2-2 draw.

The first real shot in anger arrived in the 26th minute after both sides knocked the ball around from side-to-side but without any real penetration. It was Finn Ashton who found Richie Cardozo in the box but he fluffed his lines and the ball went wide.

Sydney FC replied almost immediately when a poor clearance by goalkeeper Jacob Madden was intercepted by Jake Girdwood-Reich who beautifully fed the ball to Adrian Segecic, but his powerful shot was then well saved by goalkeeper Madden who atoned for his action. Madden made his first official start for Manly United after coming on for Sam Benton who went off injured last week.

In the 30th minute Luca Kmet shot powerfully for the visitors, but the ball was deflected, and a corner followed.

After surviving that close call at their own end, it was Sydney FC that took the lead a minute later.

The ball moved up field and a shot from the left by Clayton Taylor towards goal was deflected straight into the path of Corey Hollman who, from close range and unmarked, slotted the ball home.

The home side almost made two shortly afterwards in the 37th minute when a long drifting ball from the left reached Cameron Fong on the right, but he shot straight at the visiting ‘keeper when really he should have done a lot better with his chance.

Just prior to the break, Manly United almost equalised when Kmet showed some dazzling skill on the edge of the box before firing straight at keeper Levi Kaye.

The second half started at a lively pace with both teams playing some exciting attacking football and it was only a matter of time before a successful breakthrough would arrive.

And that breakthrough belonged to Sydney FC in the 54th minute when a true thunderbolt from over 25 metres by Girdwood-Reich was driven with such vigour that it was never going to miss the intended target of the back of the net from the moment it left his boot. A goal that will almost certainly enter the end of season highlights reel, Girdwood-Reich proved to be one tricky customers as Manly failed to handle the talented youngster.

Manly United struck back though with a goal to experienced marksman Dejan Pandurevic in the 61st minute. A corner seemed to avoid all and sundry except the captain of the visitors who met the ball with a diving header from close range to score.

In the 68th minute a volley from outside the box by Dom Ferguson for the visitors brought out a world-class save from Levi Kaye who somehow miraculously turned the ball around the post for a corner with an outstretched hand. It could have been 2-2 there and then.

In the 78th minute Ferguson was again dangerous for the visitors when he drilled a loose ball towards goal, only to see Kaye once again rise to the occasion and make a great save.

Well into stoppage time though Manly United did equalise. A Kieren Paull shot somehow was cleared off the line and deflected for a corner. From the ensuing corner a spectacular volley by Balderson equalised the ledger for the visitors.

After the game Sydney FC coach Jim Van Weeren was unhappy to have been thwarted two weeks in arrow well into stoppage time as his young Sky Blues failed to capitalise on the three points.

“It’s just not good enough to be honest.

“At 2-1 up we need to be able to see that game out.

“We can say it every week that it is learning moments but at some stage we do need to learn. It’s about the fifth or sixth time this year that we have thrown maximum points away.”

His counterpart Adam Griffiths was pleased that side fought back from a 0-2 deficit.

“Sydney FC are very good in transition, and we played into their hands initially,” he said. “We had a really strong week with the FFA Cup in the middle and the type of work rate that I expect from my team is quite high, so we made some changes at halftime to get some more energy back into the team.

“We kept pushing for a result.

“We were never defeated in that game because we kept the pressure up and we put our players in a position to score.”

Match Stats

Sydney FC 2 (Hollman 31’, Girdwood-Reich 54’)

Manly United 2 (Pandurevic 61’, Balderson 94’)

Sunday 20th June 2021

Illinden Sports Centre, Rockdale

Referee: Michael Weiner
Assistant Referees: A. Giev and M. Allum

Fourth Official: L. Jones

SYDNEY FC: 1.Levi Kaye, 2.Cameron Fong, 3.Aaron Gurd, 5.Thomas Fay, 11.Adrian Segecic (7.Aidan Simmons 84’), 12.Jake Girdwood-Reich, 13.Clayton Taylor (10.Jaiden Kucharski 62’), 17.Jayden Trenkoski (32.Kai Kamikura 46’), 18.Oscar Priestman (8.Patrick Yazbek 62’), 19.Joseph Calusic, 33.Corey Hollman.

Substitutes not used: 60.Max Vartuli.

Yellow Cards: Trenkoski 41’, Hollman 93’

Red Card: Nil

MANLY UNITED FC: 1.Jacob Madden, 2.Kieren Paull, 3.James Georgaklis (5.Sam Gallagher 46’), 10.Richie Cardozo (8.Dave Ferguson 61’), 12.Luca Kmet (13.Scott Balderson), 14.Dejan Pandurevic, 15.Jesse Piriz, 16.Seiya Kambayashi, 18.Lucas Rainbird, 24.Finn Ashton (9.Benjamin Koop), 31.Ben Gibson (7.Jack Fulton 84’).

Substitutes not used: 25.Harry Aquilina

Yellow Cards: Trenkoski 41’ Hollman 93’

Red Card: Nil

By National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s reporter Joe Russo

 

Hasegawa the hero as Olympic snatch it at the death

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A Yu Hasegawa goal deep into added time has helped Sydney Olympic snatch a dramatic 1-0 win against Sydney FC at Belmore Sports Ground on Saturday.

Hasegawa headed home from a Michael Glassock cross in the 93rd minute to give Olympic their second win on the trot and extend their unbeaten run to four.

It was a heartbreaking result for the Young Sky Blues, who had their chances to take the lead throughout the second half but paid the price for their poor finishing.

The result boosts Olympic’s finals hopes with another vital three competition points with only six games left to play in the regular season.

The game came alive in the 5th minute when Sydney FC ran through the middle and ended the move with a shot by Clayton Taylor  that was well saved by ‘keeper Nicholas Sorras who turned it away for a corner.

Shortly afterwards, the reply from Sydney Olympic came from Oliver Puflett, but his attempt was just over the crossbar.

In the 22nd minute, the home side should have taken the lead.

The ball bobbled around the penalty box before making its way over to Mohamed Adam on the right. Still, his drilled diagonal thunderbolt was cleared off the line by Cameron Fong in what was miraculous for the Young Sky Blues.

The remainder of the first half was a tightly controlled affair by each side, and there were no further chances from either side that were going to break the deadlock.

The opening chance of the second half belonged to Kai Kamakura, who came on during the interval for Sydney FC, but an alert Sorras in goal met his diagonal shot from the right.

In the space of a few minutes, there two golden chances for Sydney FC, and, on both occasions, they were thwarted by a brilliant Sorras in goal for the home side.

It was the 65th minute when a diving Sorras well saved Taylor’s shot from the left, and eventually, the ball was cleared away by the defence.

A few minutes later, there was an even better chance when a square ball reached Oscar Priestman, and he blasted his shot from close range, but Sorras again was able to block it, this time with his feet.

In the 85th minute, Jaiden Kucharski ran onto a corner and shot from close range, but the ball finished over the crossbar, and once again, Sydney FC went perilously close without actually scoring.

Sydney Olympic then literally stole the game in stoppage time when a brilliant Glassock cross from the right found Hasegawa in the box, and his header went in over the ‘keeper and off the underside of the crossbar to send his teammates into raptures.

It was his second of the season, and a goal that could prove huge come end of the season when round 22 concludes.

After the game, Sydney Olympic coach Ante Juric acknowledged that a draw perhaps would have been a fair result but was more than happy to celebrate the win.

“It’s nice to get two wins in a row now because it’s the business end of the season,” he said.

“In terms of football, it probably should have been a draw because they were very good, but that Nick’s [Sorras] job and that’s why he got brought back into the team.

“Sydney FC had some good chances, but they did miss them, and we were a bit lucky to get one at the end. The win is important because it’s the business end of the year, and we have a good spirit and are building slowly.”

His counterpart Jim Van Weeren was adamant that his young side needed to capitalise on their chances.

“I don’t really know what to say because we had more than enough chances to win, but credit to Sorras the goalkeeper because he made at least three really good saves to keep them in the game,” he said.

“Football is about converting chances and they showed us that tonight. The disappointing thing is that we should be able to deal with that sort of pressure there at the end and prevent that chance from going in.

“It’s a learning moment but still disappointing. Next week we are home against Manly and they are a top three or four team. It’s going to be a really tough game and we are going to have a find a way to try to turn it around from tonight.”

Match Stats

SYDNEY OLYMPIC:  1 (Hasegawa 90’ + 3)

SYDNEY FC: 0

Saturday 12th June 2021

Belmore Sports Ground

Referee: S.Kelly
Assistant Referees: A.McConachie, E.Kocbek

Fourth Official: H.Al-Nakeeb

SYDNEY OLYMPIC: 1.Nicholas Sorras, 2.Thomas Whiteside, 4.Benjamin Van Meurs, 5.Michael Glassock, 6.Nikola Kuleski, 8.Jason Madonis (19.Darcy Burgess 66’), 9.Oliver Puflett, 21.Fabian Monge, 22.Fabio Ferreira (17.Marley Peterson 81’), 23.Daniel Dias, 35.Mohamed Adam (18.Yu Hasegawa 68’).

Substitutes not used: 20.Luke Kairies, 27.Simon Milicevic, 29.Chan Deng

Yellow Cards: Nil

Red Card: Nil

SYDNEY FC: 1.Levi Kaye, 2.Cameron Fong, 3.Aaron Gurd, 5.Thomas Fay, 7.Aidan Simmons (18. Oscar Priestman46′), 11.Adrian Segecic (10.Jaiden Kucharski 68’), 12.Jake Girdwood-Reich, 13.Clayton Taylor, 17.Jayden Trenkoski (32.Kai Kamikura 46’), 19.Joseph Calusic, 33.Corey Hollman.

Substitutes not used: 16.Stevan Stanic-Floody, 60.Maz Vartuli.

Yellow Cards: Hollman 64’, Girdwood-Reich 80’

Red Card: Nil

By National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s reporter Joe Russo

Sydney FC’s second half blitz batters Rangers

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A second-half onslaught has helped Sydney FC stun Mt Druitt Town Rangers 5-2 at Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre on Sunday.

The Young Sky Blues scored five unanswered goals in the second stanza to come back from 2-0 down at the break and notch their first win since round three

A much-changed Sydney FC outfit, incorporating several U-18 players, fell behind to first-half strikes from Jason Perez strike and Mitch Smith.

However, a Clayton Taylor goal on the hour mark turned the momentum in the home side’s favour with Thomas Fay netting a hat-trick in just over ten minutes before Adrian Segecic wrapped up an incredible victory with a goal in the closing stages.

Sydney FC made a fast start to the contest with Segecic creating an early chance for Taylor.

Rangers response was a well-aimed shot from Jack Stewart, which the home defence did well to block, before Levi Kaye stopped a follow up effort from Mitch Smith.

Adrian Simmons came closest to breaking the deadlock when chipping over Carlos Saliadarre, but his lob landed on top of the netting.

The visitors finally found the breakthrough in the 37th minute as Perez scored with a follow up effort to give Mt Druitt a 1-0 lead.

Rangers doubled their lead only moments later as Smith found the back of the net to give Mt Druitt a two-goal buffer at the break.

Sydney were forced to take it to their opponents after the interval but it left them short at the back which Rangers set out to exploit.

However, it was the Rangers high-line which came undone after a ball over the top from Jake Girdwood-Reich fell to Taylor who scored Sydney’s opener after rounding the keeper. \

The goal began a barrage of Sky Blue chances and it didn’t take long for them to find an equaliser.

Fay was quickest to react to head the ball home after a flurry in the box as Sydney made it 2-2.

Simmons was adjudged to have been fouled inside the area resulting in a penalty awarded that Saliadarre twice saved before Fay was able to complete the turn around.

It got worse for the visitors when Segecic added a fifth in the 81’ minute to wrap up the points for Sydney and complete the rout.

Jim Van Weeren, Sydney FC coach, was delighted with his side’s performance.

“Tonight we showed what we are capable of when we are good,” he said.

“We had 4-lads out there tonight who are between 16-17 years old. When you have young players they can be hot or cold but in the second half they showed what they were capable of.

“Some of the stuff we played in the second-half was really, really good. We know we have lads who will go further in the game and this is a stepping stone for them but overall we’re very pleased with the result.”

A more than unhappy Rangers coach, Stewart Montgomery rued what could’ve been after his side’s second half capitulation.

“It was a game where we were in control, 2-nil up at the break, and then played into their hands in the second,” Montgomery said.

“We knew they would have to come at us but we overplayed it at the back and invited them to play the high press and it was our undoing.

“They took full advantage of our mistakes when we should have been looking to play it in behind them but too much over playing at the back has cost us and Sydney found their momentum and punished us.

“It was a poor performance from us at the end of the day, simple as that.”

Match Stats

Sydney FC 5 (Taylor 60’, Fay 67’, 72’, 79’, Segecic 81’)

Mount Druitt Town Rangers 2 (Perez 37’, Smith 44’)

Ilinden Sports Centre, Rockdale

Sunday, 6th June 2021

Referee: Michael Weiner

Assistant Referees: Cameron Wright & Logan Jones

Fourth Official: Amir Hosani

Sydney FC: 1 Levi KANE 2.Cameron FONG, 3 Aaron GURD, 5 Tom FAY, 7.Aidan SIMMONS, 11.Adrian SEGECIC, 12 Jake GIRDWOOD-REICH, 13.Clayton TAYLOR (22.Aleksander DURICIC 77’), 18.Oscar PRIESTMAN (16.Stevan STANIC-FLOODY 65’), 19.Joseph CALUSIC, 33.Corey HOLLMAN

Substitutes not used:  25.Andrew VLAMADAMIS, 36.Luke NEIUEHNHOF, 70.Max VARTULI

Yellow Cards: Priestman , Girdwood-Reich 73’

Red Cards: Nil

Mt Druitt Town Rangers: 1.Carlos SALIADARRE, 2.Solomon-Johnn MONOHAN-VAIIKA ( 88’), 3.Travis OUGHTRED, 4.Mitchell SMITH (6.Blake THOMPSON 80’), 7.Jack STEWART, 8.Jason PEREZ (10.Takumo TSUJIMONO 57’), 17.Cooper COSKERIE (9.Toufic ALAMEDDINE 80), 18.Jared MACEROLA (14.Fumoto KAMADA 80’), 21.Tarek ELRICH, 22.Jake MAMONE, 33.Marc WARREN

Substitutes not used:

Yellow Cards: Monohan-Vaiika 50’, Warren 69’

Red Cards: Nil

By National Premier Leagues NSW Reporter Micky Brock