A late Mathias Macallister goal sealed another impressive pre-season performance from Sydney FC as they saw off Wellington Phoenix at Leichhardt Oval.
Yet another clean sheet in hot conditions have allowed the Sky Blues to continue their good pre-season form ahead of the opening match of the season against Adelaide United on the 17th of October.
Talay named a strong side for the encounter despite new signings Piero Quispe, Victor Campuzano, Marcel Tisserand & Ben Garuccio missing out as they work up to full fitness however Abel Walatee in number 11 started his first match in Sky Blue.
After an intense opening of the game, the bulk of chances fell the way of the hosts as Corey Hollman curled one wide from the edge of the box and Pat Wood was denied from point blank range by a block on the line from the Phoenix defence.
Alex Grant was unmarked round the back following a re-worked corner however his header went into the ground and bounced wide of the target in the best chance of the opening moments.
Wellington keeper Josh Oluwayemi raced outside the box to attempt to clear and instead clattered into Abel Walatee with only a free-kick given midway through the first interval.
From the resulting free-kick, Joe Lolley fired over the top and moments later, Pat Wood’s header also just missed the target.
Akol Akon was next to bring up a chance when he was released in behind with a ball over the top however the lob over the keeper bounced inches wide of the upright.
Into the second half with a few changes, Gus Hoefsloot made a controlled save from a bouncing strike from the edge and allowed the Sky Blues to go up the other end of the park where Joe Lolley volleyed a powerful strike toward target that was pushed over the top from Oluwayemi.
Pat Wood had another chance moments after that when he met Lolley’s cut back under pressure from the Phoenix keeper but couldn’t keep his effort down.
As the changes continued to flow from both sides, it appeared that the game would end scoreless until Mathias Macallister had other ideas.
He timed his run perfectly and found himself one-on-one with Oluwayemi near the corner of the box and with the angle narrowing as the keeper raced out, he delightfully dinked the ball over the top and into the back of the net for the lone goal of the game.
Sydney FC have now continued their unbeaten run in pre-season to 10 matches claiming another clean sheet in the process.
Starting XI: 1. Gus HOEFSLOOT, 4. Jordan COURTNEY-PERKINS, 5. Alex GRANT, 6. Corey HOLLMAN, 10. Joe LOLLEY, 11. Abel WALATEE, 13. Patrick WOOD, 23. Rhyan GRANT (C), 29. Joe LACEY, 41. Alex POPOVIC, 44. Akol AKON
Subs: 30. Sandy ZANERDINOS (GK), 8. Wataru KAMIJO, 16. Joel KING, 21. Zac DE JESUS, 22. Mathias MACALLISTER, 27. Lachlan MIDDLETON, 33. Marin FRANCE, 34. Tyler WILLIAMS, 38. Taye HEDLEY, 42. Oscar GULTEKIN.
Pics: Jaime Castaneda – @jamcas50
