Sydney FC has qualified for the knockout stage of the AFC Champions League 2 competition with a 4-1 win over Eastern SC in Hong Kong last night.
A hat-trick from German midfield maestro Anas Ouahim and a 5th goal in nine games from striker Patryk Klimala sent the Sky Blues through to the last 16.
Sydney FC 4 (Ouahim 5’, 45’, 62’ pen, Klimala 17’) def. Eastern SC 1 (Noah 49’)
Moments That Mattered
3’ | DEVENISH-MEARES GOOD SAVE – Yu Hei gets clear beyond the Sky Blues back four but Devenish-Meares makes an instinctive save down to his left hand side.
5’ | OUAHIM GOAL – Ouahim takes a touch inside the box from Rhyan Grant’s pass and shoots across the keeper right-footed into the far corner.
17’ | KLIMALA GOAL – Ouahim turns provider as he slides the ball into the unmarked Polish striker who takes a touch and lashes the ball hard into the back of the net.
45’ | OUAHIM GOAL – Ouahim dominates again, with Klimala laying on an assist to allow the former Moroccan under 21 midfielder to side foot home from inside the box.
49’ | NOAH GOAL – An in-swinging free-kick from the left is headed home by Noah at the near post for the hosts.
62’ | OUAHIM HAT-TRICK – The midfielder rolls home the penalty in the opposite corner from Saturday against Wanderers, after Klimala had been felled in the box.
90’+3’ | NOAH MISSES PENALTY – Gurd commits a foul in the box and Eastern are awarded a penalty but Noah smashes it over the bar.
What They Said – Ufuk Talay: “The first half performance was very good and the game was done with the goals that we scored and second half we made life difficult for ourselves.
“It’s a game that we needed to win and I think the boys did quite well.
“It’s harder to be the one to break down the opponent who sits deep but I think Eastern made it difficult for us and it was very important that we came here and got the three point.
“We want to try and go all the way. We love being in these competitions and it is very important we try push all the way and in our local competition too.”
Anas Ouahim: “It was important for us to come here and win this game to show we take every game very seriously and don’t stop even when we are leading.
“I’m very happy, as a player you always want to score goals and if you score a hat-trick it’s even nicer.
“But I’m more happy with the performance of the team, job done.”
Match Report: Sydney FC has cruised through to the last 16 of the AFC Champions League 2 with a comfortable win over Eastern SC in Hong Kong.
The Sky Blues 4-1 win coupled with Kaya Iloilo FC’s failure to beat Sanfrecce Hiroshima ensured qualification to the knockout stage.
It was a fast start from Ufuk Talay’s men but they were thankful to goalkeeper Harrison Devenish-Meares who made a crucial save in the 3rd minute from Yu Hei when one on one, before they could get going.
Ouahim opened the scoring in the 5th minute after being fed by Rhyan Grant and dribbling into the box.
Ouahim turned provider 12 minutes later when he played a ball into Polish striker Patryk Klimala who turned and lashed a shot beyond the keeper to make it 2-0.
It was the German midfielder who was back on the scoresheet just before half time when he received a pass from Klimala and calmly slotted home from the edge of the box.
Eastern SC pulled one back just after the break when Noah slipped a header beyond Devenish-Meares after latching onto a left wing in-swinging free kick.
However Ouahim put the game beyond doubt in the 62nd minute by completing his hat-trick with a penalty.
Noah missed a late penalty for the hosts but it wouldn’t have made a difference to the result.
The Sky Blues face Kaya Iloilo FC next week in a final group match before heading into the last 16 in February 2025.
Sydney FC: 12. Harrison DEVENISH-MEARES (GK), 3. Aaron GURD, 4. Jordan COURTNEY-PERKINS, 5. Hayden MATTHEWS (37. Will KENNEDY 46’), 7. Adrian SEGECIC, 8. Anas OUAHIM, 9. Patryk KLIMALA (28. Nathan AMANTIDIS 81’), 10. Joe LOLLEY (20. Tiago QUINTAL 74’), 15. Leo SENA (6. Corey HOLLMAN 74’), 17. Anthony CACERES, 23. Rhyan GRANT (C).
Unused Subs: 30. Gus HOEFSLOOT (GK), 25. Jaiden KUCHARSKI.
Yellow Cards: Matthews 20’, Ouahim 75’, Klimala 80’.
Red Cards: None
Eastern SC: 1. Yapp HUNG FAI (GK), 2. Calun HALL, 3. Tamirlan KOZUBAEV, 9. Victor BERTOMEU (7. Noah BAFFOE 46’), 14. Jesse JOY YIN (32. Lam HIN TING 71’), 17. Ng YU HEI, 19. Jojo ALEXANDER (30. Wong TSZ HO 71’), 21. Daniel ALMAZAN (16. Leung CHUN PONG 71’), 22. Leung KWUN CHUNG ©, 23. Ma HEI WAI, 27. Marcos GONDRA (11. Wong HO CHUN 26’).
Unused Subs: 10. Felipe SA, 26. Liu FU YUEN (GK), 35. Lam CHIN YU, 42. YEUNG TUNG KI, 44. Prabhat GURUNG, 88. Cheung MAN HO.
Yellow Cards: Gondra 11’.
Red Cards: None
Venue: Mong Kok Stadium
Referee: Abdullah Al-Mani (Qatar)
Attendance: 1,702
