SUMMARY
Sydney FC: 3 def (Buhagiar 44’, Lokoli-Ngoy 78’, O’Neill 86’) Sutherland Sharks: 0
Sydney FC have eased to another win in new Head Coach Steve Corica’s second game in charge of the Sky Blues, as Sutherland Sharks were dispatched 3-0 at Jubilee Stadium in Kogarah.
The Sky Blues were the dominant team during the first half with the majority of the possession and opened the scoring in the 44th minute through Trent Buhagiar.
Corica’s men continued to dominate and saw off the Sharks late in the game with goals from Lokoli-ngoy and O’Neill from the spot to round off another convincing night.
New signing Daniel De Silva got through 70 minutes on debut and will be in contention for the Sky Blues’ FFA Cup defence starting at Rockdale next Wednesday night.
WHAT THEY SAID: Head Coach Steve Corica:
“I think with the ball we were very good, we played well going forward and good combination play. It was good to see Charlie and Trent scoring, as well as Brandon from the penalty spot.”
“They’re getting fitter, it’s only our second game and we need to be ready next for week. I’m very pleased that we got no injuries, which is very positive leading into next weeks game.”
GOALS
45’ BUHAGIAR GOAL: Persistence paid off when Michael Zullo’s deflected cross finds Buhagiar who hits it first time past the keepers gloves into the bottom right corner giving the Sky Blues the lead at the end of the first half.
78’ LOKOLI-NGOY GOAL – After breaking clear of a defender and sprinting into the box, substitute Lokoli-Ngoy slots the ball home making it 2-0 for his first goal of the pre-season..
86’ O’NEILL PENALTY – After Buhagiar gets slide-tackled in the box the referee gives a penalty which is fired into the net by Brandon O’Neill.
KEY MOMENTS
14’ BRILLANTE BRILLIANTLY SAVED – Scramble in the box from a Zullo corner, Brillante shoots but it’s brilliantly saved by Norval.
15’ BROSQUE SHOT SAVED – Sydney FC Captain Alex Brosque finds the ball at his feet in the middle of the box but his turning shot is tipped over the bar by Norval.
TEAM NEWS: New signing Danny De Silva makes his starting debut for the Sky Blues having only completed his loan deal first thing this morning.
He took the place of Sebastian Gallegos in the number ten role while Alex Cisak came in for Andrew Redmayne in goal.
Ground: Jubilee Stadium
Referee: Tim Danaskos
Sydney FC: 1. Alex CISAK (GK), (30. HEWARD-BELLE 45′), 3. Ben WARLAND, 4. Alex WILKINSON (2. Aaron CALVER 76′), 6. Josh BRILLANTE, 7. Michael ZULLO (5. Joel KING 86′), 8. Paulo RETRE, 10. Milos NINKOVIC (35. Cameron DELVIN 70′), 11. Danny DE SILVA (26. Seb GALLEGOS 70′), 12. Trent BUHAGIAR, 13. Brandon O’NEILL, 14. Alex BROSQUE (C) (21. Charles LOKOLI-NGOY 76′).
Substitution Not Used: 16. Jerry SKOTADIS, 17. Jordan SWIBEL, 18. Patrick FLOTTMANN.
Sutherland Sharks: 1. Ryan NORVAL (GK) 5. Brad BARTELS 2. Jacob TRATT (C) 15. Nick LITTLER 20. Keisuke HAYASHI 6. Lachlan EVERITT 8. Evan PATRAMANIS 9. Adrian VRANIC 16. Ryoga SUYAMA 22. Nicholas OLSEN 17. Leroy JENNINGS
ALL SUBS: 11. Hristijan TONOSKI 7. Stephen KAYES 10. Josh DA SILVA 13. Robbie WATSON 12. Blair BROWN 27. Harrison QUIRK 33. Thomas PAPPA 25. Blake CURREY 3. Richard STEWART 53. Kuot MALLIOT 21. Nicki LOE (GK) 42. Mario ALEKSIC (GK) 23. Deren O’BRIEN 26. Harry SUTHERLAND
