Sydney FC and Newcastle Jets played out a hard fought encounter at Lambert Park, Leichhardt on Sunday, as the points were shared in Round 2 of the Foxtel National Youth League.
Jeremy Cox bagged the opening goal of the match in the first half to hand the Sky Blues the ascendancy, however a Kosta Petratos strike five minutes from time ensured it was honours even after 90 minutes.
In a lively, fast paced first half it was the Sky Blues who fashioned the first chance on goal, as Charles Lokolingoy saw an effort from an acute angle deflected out three minutes in.
The Jets immediately replied as Tom Heward-Belle pulled off an impressive stop to tip away a dangerous shot from distance, as neither side managed to settle on the ball for long in the early periods.
Anthony Kalik provided the spark for the Sky Blues on the wing and he fashioned one of the best chances of the game just beyond the half hour, as a switch ball from the Hajduk Split loanee found Cox inside the area who saw his powerful effort held by Esquilant in the Jets’ goal.
Thurgate spurred a great chance of his own for the Jets, chipping over the bar when slipped through one on one, before Jeremy Cox sent the Sky Blues in front as he flicked home a header from the near post following a Sydney FC corner.
The Jets rattled the cross bar as the halftime whistle approached, while Patrick Flottmann proved solid in defence with an inch perfect sliding challenge to steal the ball from Petratos and ensure Sydney FC went in one goal to the good at the break.
The second half started evenly as both sides exchanged spells on the ball, before Thurgate saw a goal ruled out for offside with the Jets’ threatening on the counter.
Tom Heward-Belle pulled off a save for the highlight reel to keep the Sky Blues in front on the hour, as the Sydney FC custodian dived full stretch to his right to palm away a goal bound Jets’ free kick, before a series of substitutions broke up play.
Chances to William Mutch and John Koutroumbis saw both sides go close late on, before Kosta Petratos restored parity with five minutes remaining as he ran onto a ball slipped behind the Sky Blues’ defence to slot low into the bottom corner at the near post.
A frantic finish to the game saw both sides throw number forward in search of a winner however none eventuated, as the Sky Blues were forced to settle for a point in their opening clash of the 2017/18 season.
Sydney FC: 1 Tom HEWARD-BELLE (gk), 2. Brendan CURTIS, 3. Patrick FLOTTMANN, 4. Liam MCGING, 5. Patrick SCIBILIO, 6. Andrea AGAMEMNONOS, 8. Sam MCILLHATTON (c), 12. Anthony KALIK (61’ 16. William MUTCH), 15. Jeremy COX (84’ 7. Joel KING), 18. Chris ZUVELA, 21. Charles LOKOLINGOY (67’ 9. Hassan JALLOH).
Subs not used: 20. Duro DRAGICEVIC.
Yellow cards: None.
Red cards: None.
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