A pair of braces to strikers Mitch Mallia and Joel Chianese helped Sydney FC register its first victory of the Italian tour with a 5-3 win over a Udinese Prima Vera squad at Stadio Comunale Picchi in Jesolo this afternoon.
A pair of braces to strikers Mitch Mallia and Joel Chianese helped Sydney FC register its first victory of the Italian tour with a 5-3 win over a Udinese Prima Vera squad at Stadio Comunale Picchi in Jesolo this afternoon.
Coach Frank Farina used the match to completely rotate the squad with the players who did not start last night-s match against Padova given an opportunity to gain much-needed match fitness in hot and steamy conditions in front of 3,502 fans.
Pascal Bosschaart put his nine-month injury nightmare to rest to play 60 minutes in a comfortable performance at the centre of defence while Terry McFlynn, Mallia, Chianese, Ali Abbas, Ivan Necevski, Peter Triantis, Tiago Calvano, Daniel Petkovski and Jacob Tratt all started the match, as did trialist Manuel Marschel.
Sydney FC overcame an early goal from Udinese in the 2nd minute but struck back almost immediately and within 10 minutes had taken a 2-1 lead with goals from Mallia and Marschel getting the ball rolling.
When Chianese scored his first goal in the 40th minute the Sky Blues were in control of possession and the match but a late slip up in the shadows of half time saw the team go to the break with Sydney FC leading 3-2.
The scores were level at 3-3 immediately after the break but second half goals to Mallia and Chianese saw Sydney FC register a well deserved 5-3 win.
The crowd of 3,502 at the Stadio Comunale Picchi in Jesolo also saw the appearance of Alessandro Del Piero for the final 10 minutes of the match and they weren-t disappointed with some silky touches in his short cameo.
The Sydney FC squad will have a rest day tomorrow before a return of the double sessions leading into back-to-back matches against Vicenza (13 August) and A.S. Cittadella (14 August) where Farina will again give all players substantial game time.
Sydney FC 5 (Mallia 2, Chianese 2, Marschel) d Udinese 3
Stadio Comunale Picchi, Jesolo
Crowd: 3,502
Sydney FC team: Ivan NECEVSKI, Jacob TRATT, Tiago CALVANO, Pascal BOSSCHAART (Josh MACDONALD 60), Daniel PETKOVSKI, Terry McFLYNN (Alessandro DEL PIERO 80), Ali ABBAS, Peter TRIANTIS, Joel CHIANESE, Manuel MARSCHEL, Mitch MALLIA.
Sub not used: Vedran Janjetovic
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