Sydney FC have kicked off their 2022 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s season with a dramatic 3-2 win over Northbridge Bulls on a wet Sunday evening at Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre.
Jaiden Kucharski had the hosts ahead early with a quickfire double, as the Sky Blues capitalised on the back of some impressive counter attacks.
Rory Jordan had his side back in the game with his goal shortly before the break, before super-sub Stephan De Robillard got the Bulls level in the second.
Sydney FC found a deserved winner in the 80th minute after Clayton Taylor set up Zac Sapsford for the third.
Sydney FC began to aggressively press the Bulls’ defence and found their breakthrough in the 6th minute.
Kucharski caught the opposing defence off-guard as he found his way through on goal and hammered it past Nick Suman, giving the hosts an early lead in the 6th minute.
It was a quickfire double for Kucharski after a neat piece of teamwork from Sydney set him up for a close-range effort, where he made no mistakes getting his second in the 14th minute.
With the game flipped on its head, the Sky Blues looked dangerous as ever in attack and threatened on a few occasions to net a third.
With the momentum firmly in Sydney’s corner, Northbridge captain Rory Jordan stepped up for the Bulls, nailing an effort from just inside the box to get his side back in the game.
Jordan stepped past his man and neatly curled it past Adam Pavlesic as the skipper rallied his troops for a comeback.
As the rain started to get heavier, Sydney FC applied additional pressure when Clayton Taylor saw his shot narrowly miss the bar
Kucharski narrowly missed a chance at a first-half hat trick after he was put through one-on-one with Suman.
With a bouncing ball in his path, Suman came out to clear the ball but was beaten to it by Kucharski, his looping header sailed past the posts, much to the relief of the Northbridge side.
The first half ended as a back and forth encounter with both sides missing their chance to swing the game back in their favour with the Sky Blues going into the break up 2-1.
After an outpour of rain during the break, the weather began to settle as the sides continued in a free-flowing attacking game.
Sydney FC came the closest to finding their third and were denied twice by the resilient Northbridge defence.
After a spectacular close-range save from Suman, his defenders ensured a follow-up shot was deflected as the visitors dodged what could have easily been a game-ending third goal.
De Robillard made his impact felt off the bench, scoring within minutes of being brought on after an excellent one-two play with James Cakcovski.
With the game level, the sides tussled for the lead.
Zac Sapsford saw his close-range effort sensationally denied by Suman for the second time in the half.
With a hat trick still on the cards, Kucharski continued in his pursuit and found the back of the net for the third time in the 77th minute, before an offside flag was raised, denying Kucharski of a triple.
The Sky Blues found a late winner when Clayton Taylor sent Sapsford through on goal, Sapsford curled his shot in from the edge of the box, in what could be an early contender for goal of the season.
“We started really well, probably had a period in the middle of the game where they took control and they scored a really nice goal, I think we created more than enough chances to win that game” said Sydney FC coach Jim Van Weeren.
“We do want to see if we can convert more of those positions when we’re in a draw to a win, so we’re really pleased,” he said.
“I thought we played quite well, in certain parts of the game I thought we dominated, I’m just disappointed in the way we are conceding goals,” said Northbridge coach Mile Sterjovski.
“Everybody has to take their opportunity and he [De Robillard] did really well when he came on and changed the game for us”.
Match Stats
Sydney FC 3 (Kucharski 6’ 14’, Sapsford 80’)
Northbridge Bulls FC 2 (Jordan 29’, De Robillard 57’)
Sunday 6th March 2022
Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre, Rockdale
Referee: Hassan Jomaa
Assistant Referees: Harrison Fisher and Harriet Gee
Fourth Official: Melik Ibrahim
Sydney FC: 3. Aaron Gurd, 4. Nathan Grimaldi, 5. Kai Kamikura (19. Joseph Calusic), 6. Corey Hollman (9. Ben Gibson) 8.Kealey Adamson, 10. Jaiden Kucharski (26. Aleksandar Duricic) 12. Jake Girwood-Reich, 13. Clayton Taylor, 14. Zac Sapsford, 18. Oscar Preistman, 30. Adam Pavlesic
Substitutes not used: 20. Max Vartuli, 29. Alen Harbas
Yellow Cards: Caspers
Red Card: Nil
Northbridge Bulls FC: 1.Nick Suman, 2. Jack Mcoughlin (6. Charlie Ragg) 4. Anthony Spracino, 7. Mason Wells, 8. Brodie Clarkson, 10. Rory Jordan, 13. James Cakcovski (12. Marcus Sparacino), 17. Jed Drew (14. Sebastian Hernandez), 18. Michael Ruhs (11. Steven De Robillard) 19. Lachlan Sepping, 21. Jake Holman (15. Eddie Caspers)
Substitutes Not Used: 20. Levi Kaye
Yellow Cards: nil
Red Card: nil
Player Ratings
3 – Jaiden Kucharski (SFC)
2 – Clayton Taylor (SFC)
1 – Rory Jordan (NB)
By National Premier Leagues NSW Reporter Dom Criniti