The Sydney FC Academy suffered a 2-1 loss to Manly United at Cromer Park but despite the result, there were several positive aspects to take away from the game, particularly in terms of promoting youth talent, a consistent goal of the Sydney FC Academy.
Several players were unavailable for the National Premier League (NPL) due to Young Socceroos/ALM fixture clashes. Additionally, Matt Scarcella was away with the ALM squad in Melbourne as he made the bench in the AAMI Park clash. This provided an opportunity for some of the younger players to step up and make their mark.
One such player was 2005 Zane Schreiber, who made his first NPL start for 2023. Zane showed excellent potential in midfield, demonstrating great passing range and comfort on the ball. He will undoubtedly continue to improve with more game time.
Another promising youngster who made his first NPL start for 2023 was 2005 Louis Agosti. Previously coming off the bench, Louis displayed excellent moments of combination play in midfield that led to good attacking opportunities for the team.
The bench also saw some impressive performances, with 2005 Will Kennedy showcasing his ball-winning abilities as a midfielder. 2005 Bailey Callaghan also made his NPL debut for Sydney FC, having been called up from the U20 squad due to his impressive goal-scoring form. Finally, 2006 Tiago Quintal, despite his young age, made a noticeable impact as a creative playmaker and goal-scorer.
Overall, while the result may not have been what was hoped for, the Sydney FC Academy can take pride in the performances of their younger players. These promising talents are sure to be exciting to watch as they continue to develop and contribute to the team’s success in the future.
