Sydney FC have secured an epic 2-1 comeback win over Adelaide United at Allianz Stadium thanks to maiden A-League goals from Rhys Youlley and Oriola Sunday.
Sydney FC 2 (Youlley 64′, Sunday 73′) def. Adelaide United 1 (Burkitt 16′)
The Sky Blues were 1-0 down at half time thanks to a 16th minute Brody Burkitt strike but returned to the winners podium with two second half goals, including a trademark ‘pelican’ celebration for the winner from Sunday!
It leaves the Sky Blues unbeaten and on four points after two games of the A-League Men’s campaign.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
11’ | GRANT TO GARUCCIO – Rhyan Grant makes a short pass to Ben Garuccio in front of the goal, Garuccio attempting an early goal with a strike into the net that was ultimately deflected by Adelaide’s defence.
14’ | OFFSIDE ADELAIDE GOAL – Adelaide’s Juan Muniz lands a header into the centre of the net, but a call of offside leaves the score levelled.
15’| ADELAIDE CLAIM THE LEAD – Barely a minute after landing a header into the net, Adelaide claim the lead with Brody Burkitt intercepting a pass by Harrison Devenish-Meares to strike into the corner of the net, making the score 1-0 to Adelaide.
20’ | TOURE SHOT JUST OVER – Ben Garuccio shows off his footwork by skillfully controlling the ball on the out of bounds line amid two Adelaide defenders to bring the ball back into play, making a swift pass across to Al Hassan Toure who sends the ball sailing just over the net.
27’ | TOURE HITS THE BAR – A clean left foot pass from Sekine to Toure sees the ball sailing past Adelaide’s sea of defenders, with Toure making a strike that rebounds off the bar.
46’| YOULLEY STRIKE – Rhys Youlley makes a skillful strike from in front of the net that sees the ball flying over the net, giving Sydney FC another missed opportunity to equalize.
50’ | SUNDAY’S HEADER ATTEMPT – Rhyan Grant crosses to Oriola Sunday, who tries for a header but just misses contact with the ball.
56’ | TOURE’S CHANCE – After skillfully making his way around Adelaide’s defence, Tiago Quintal makes a pin-perfect pass to Al Hassan Toure who shoots into the left corner of the net but Adelaide’s keeper makes a close save by tipping the ball past the post.
64’ | YOULLEY GOAL – In perfect position, Rhys Youlley lines himself up with the centre of the goal to make a powerful strike into the left corner of the net from outside the box, levelling the score at 1-1.
73′ | ORIOLA GOAL – A well timed ball from Akon is placed ahead of Toure who takes the space in front of him before cutting the ball back to a waiting Oriola Sunday to find the back of the net from six yards out. A possible offside from Toure sends the play to VAR but the goal stands and Sydney FC lead 2 to 1 in front of their own fans.
MATCH REPORT
Heading back to Allianz Stadium for the second game of the 2026/27 A-League season, the Sky Blues had a point to prove after a disappointing end to the Sydney Derby season opener.
Wataru Kamijo playing his first game in the starting eleven and strong lineups on both sides, Sydney FC v Adelaide United was set to be a fierce and competitive match.
The first half opened with an equal fight and effort from both sides for possession of the ball, Ben Garuccio making a close strike in the 11th minute following a perfect pin pass from Sky Blues Captain Rhyan Grant that was swiftly deflected by Adelaide’s defence.
Adelaide’s Juan Muniz landed a header from directly in front of the goal in the 14th minute that was deemed offside, and Sydney FC’s desire to gain the first goal of the match slipped away with Adelaide’s Brody Burkitt scoring less than a minute after the previous attempt, striking into the back of the net off an intercepted pass from Sydney FC’s own Harrison Devenish-Meares.
The rest of the first half saw more attempts at goal from both sides, including two strikes from Al Hassan Toure that both skimmed to top of the net in the 20th and 27th minutes, half time coming at a 1-0 score to Adelaide United.
The second half opened with a fierce attack from the Sky Blues, an opportunity opening for Rhys Youlley in the 46th minute with a strike from right in front of the net, but it flew just over the bar, seeing the score remaining at 1-0. After controlling the ball around Adelaide defenders, a skillful pass from Tiago Quintal to Al Hassan Toure sees a chance of scoring within reach of the Sky Blues, but Adelaide’s goalkeeper deflects to keep them in front.
Redemption comes for Rhys Youlley in the 64th minute, with a powerful strike from outside the box into the bottom left corner of the net equalising the score 1-1, before Al Hassan Toure cutting the ball back to Oriola Sunday where he scored in the 73rd minute, giving Sydney FC the lead with a score of 2-1.
A possible offside from Toure sent the play into VAR, but the Sky Blues came away with the point, and after 4 minutes of injury time, Sydney FC finished victorious with a final score of 2-1.
WHAT THEY SAID: PATRICK KISNORBO
“There was a lot of outside noise leading up to the match that for us, we didn’t pay attention to. It was a normal week and our main focus was the game today.
“I loved the character.
“We go a goal behind and everyone makes mistakes. That’s part and parcel of football.
“We got over that and had to re-adjust something tactically.
“There were some great half-chances where the final pass or final touch could have been better.
“But the main thing is the players were there at the right time.
“Our defence is looking good, and it feels good. We have a young midfield and for those young players it’s a big opportunity for them when they come onto the field.
“There was great ball, great timing of running from the players, and a great finish.”
LINEUPS SYDNEY FC | 12. Harrison DEVENISH-MEARES (GK), 4. Jordan COURTNEY-PERKINS, 8. Wataru KAMIJO, (29. Joseph LACEY (61’)), 9. Oriola SUNDAY, 14. Takahiro SEKINE, 17. Ben GARUCCIO, 20. Tiago QUINTAL, (7. Akol AKON (65’)), 23. Rhyan GRANT (Captain), 35. Al HASSAN TOURE, (2. James OVERY (75’)), 36. Rhys YOULLEY, 41. Alexandar POPOVIC
Unused Substitutions | 16. Gabriel POPOVIC, 22. Mathias MACALLISTER, 28. Ethan DYER, 30. Alexander ZAVERDINOS (GK)
Yellow Cards | 14. Takahiro SEKINE (38’), 17. Ben GARUCCIO (45+1’), 8. Wataru KAMIJO
Red Cards | N/A
Manager | Patrick KISNORBO
LINEUPS ADELAIDE UNITED | 22. Joshua SMITS (GK), 4. Panagiotis KIKIANIS, 7. Ryan KITTO, (12. Jonny YULL (62’)), 10. Juan MUNIZ, 11. Craig GOODWIN (Captain), (19. Amlani TATU (83’)), 35. Brody BURKITT, (99. Ajak RIAK (76’)), 52. Sotirios PHILLIS, (79. Feyzo KASUMOVIC (76’)), 55. Ethan ALAGICH, 58. Harry CRAWFORD, 62. Fabian TALLADIRA, 87. Anselmo DE MORAES
Unused Substitutions | 15. Israel MBULA-MONGA, 65. Joey GARUCCIO, 40. Ethan COX (GK)
Yellow Cards | N/A
Red Cards | N/A
Manager | Airton ANDRIOLI
Referee | Tim DANASKOS
Venue | Allianz Stadium
Attendance | 10,733
