Sydney FC have stunned global football sensations Wrexham AFC with a fantastic 20-yard strike from an 18-year-old Academy graduate with Welsh heritage whose aunt used to work at Wrexham games.
Youngster Joe Lacey scored the match winner helping to defeat the millionaire Hollywood owned Championship club 2-1 at Allianz Stadium in front of over 40,000 fans.
The Sky Blues went behind early due to an own-goal from a left wing James McLean free-kick, before Alexandar Popovic equalised just before half time.
Lacey sealed the deal late in the second half after Head Coach Ufuk Talay brought on nine teenagers to defeat the newly promoted Welsh outfit.
Sydney FC 2 (Popovic 45’, Lacey 74’) def. (Hollman (og) 19’) Wrexham AFC 1
Moments That Mattered:
19’ | HOLLMAN OWN GOAL – A free kick just outside the box from James McClean spills into crowded space and winds up past Hoefsloot in the chaos of the moment.
45’ | POPOVIC GOAL – Wrexham AFC concede the first goal of their Australia tour as a rebounded save off a Courtney-Perkins header from a corner, is buried in the top of the net by Alex Popovic.
67’ | DEVENISH-MEARES SAVE – With Wrexham bounding down on goal, the ball is squared into the box where a powerful effort by Marriot is unleashed on target, Devenish-Meares stretches out his left hand to deny the opportunity under immense pressure.
74’ | LACEY GOAL – A clean touch and shot from the 18-year-old midfielder as he slots one in the bottom right corner from outside the box. A heroic effort to give Sydney FC the lead and it turns out to be the match winner.
Match Report: Sydney FC have downed the Red Dragons Wrexham AFC 2-1 at Allianz Stadium with a youthful second half team, and a match winner from 18-year-old Joe Lacey whose family are Welsh and are currently on holiday there.
The Academy graduate finished a lovely move from the Sky Blues with composure from the edge of the box after good work from Akon and Scarcella.
Lacey was one of eleven second half changes from Head Coach Ufuk Talay, nine of whom were teenagers.
The match was played in front of a record attendance for a football match at the new Allianz Stadium with over 40-thousand fans in attendance.
Wrexham took the lead initially as a routine free kick goes awry with the ball lost in the crowd and it winds up past Gus Hoefsloot and into the back of the net inside 20 minutes.
Sydney FC claw back a goal at the end of the first half with a header from a corner which rebounds leaving Alex Popovic free to slot one home for the Sky Blues to draw level at the break.
Then enter Joe Lacey who caps off a brilliant move from the Sky Blues with a brilliant touch and shot routine from outside the box.
It finds the bottom right corner to give Sydney FC the lead and seal the win.
What They Said: Phil Parkinson: “The pace, quality, and athleticism of the Aussie teams is good… they could match our tempo really well.
“It’s a fantastic atmosphere… the Sydney fans have been great.
(On Sydney) “We’ve loved it, it’s an amazing city, what a welcome we’ve had.”
What They Said: Ufuk Talay: “Very fortunate to play against a very good opposition in pre-season… it was good to see our youngsters get some minutes.
“It’s great that the young boys entertained. That’s what football is.
“We should support our game.
“Obviously our competition is good enough to get boys international call-ups comparing it with other competitions isn’t the right thing to do.”
What They Said: Joe Lacey: “I’m really excited… I had a lot of my mates alongside me… buzzing.”
Sydney FC (Home) | 1. Gus HOEFSLOOT (12. Harrison DEVENISH-MEARES 46’), 4. Jordan COURTNEY-PERKINS (18. Matthew SCARCELLA 63’), 6. Corey HOLLMAN (27. Lachie MIDDLETON 63’), 8. Wataru KAMIJO (29. Joe LACEY 63’), 10. Joe LOLLEY (31. Jared MIDDLETON 63’), 13. Patrick WOOD (33. Marin FRANCE 63’), 16. Joel KING (34. Tyler WILLIAMS 63’), 20. Tiago QUINTAL (35. Nicolas ZDRILIC 63’), 23. Rhyan GRANT © (37. Will KENNEDY 63’), 36. Rhys YOULLEY (22. Mathias MACALLISTER 63’), 41. Alex POPOVIC (44. Akol AKON 63’)
Unused Subs: 32. Nic ALFARO
Head Coach: Ufuk TALAY
Yellow Cards: None
Red Cards: None
Wrexham AFC (Away) | 21. Danny WARD (13. Callum BURTON 63’), 3. Lewis BRUNT (4. Max CLEWORTH 63’), 5. Eoghan O’CONNELL (19. Jacob MENDY 63’), 7. James MCCLEAN (38. Elliot LEE 63’), 9. Ollie PALMER (16. Jay RODRIGUEZ 63’), 12. George EVANS (47. Ryan LONGMAN 63’), 15. George DOBSON (6. Tom O’CONNOR 63’), 20. Oliver RATHBONE (23. Sebastian REVAN 44’), 29. Ryan BARNETT (11. Jack MARRIOTT 63’), 34. Aaron JAMES (37. Matty JAMES 63’), 45. Harry ASHFIELD (24. Dan SCARR 63’)
Unused Subs: 40. Alex MOORE, 42. Callum EDWARDS, 44. Max PURVIS
Head Coach: Phil PARKINSON
Yellow Cards: None
Red Cards: None
Venue: Allianz Stadium
Referee: Adam Kersey.
Attendance: 40,242
