Sydney FC have turned on the style, sweeping aside Adelaide United in a five star performance in Ufuk Talay’s debut on the sidelines.
Joe Lolley, Jaiden Kucharski and Fabio Gomes were in and amongst the goals as they dominated the Reds and ran out 5-1 winners on Remembrance Day at Coopers Stadium.
Sydney FC 5 (Lolley 5’, 14′, Kucharski 32’, 45’, Gomes 47’) def. Adelaide United 1 (Clough (P) 67’)
Moments That Mattered
4’ – JOE LOLLEY ROCKETS IN HIS FIRST – The Sydney FC winger blasts home for the Sky Blues’ first of the Isuzu UTE A-League season.
14’ – LOLLEY MAKES IT A DOUBLE – An unmarked Joe Lolley gracefully tucks away the second goal from a corner.
25’ – REDMAYNE STUNNING BLOCK – Jonny Yull’s attempt at net is denied by Redmayne’s stunning reaction save.
32’ – GOOD THINGS COME IN THREES – Kucharksi takes Sydney FC to 3-0, scoring his first Isuzu UTE A-League goal.
45’ – KUCHARSKI ON FIRE – The youngster rattles Adelaide United defence and makes it four before the break after brilliant work from Joe Lolley.
47’ – GOMES RISES FOR FIVE – The Brazilian forward gets his first league goal after another Lolley assist.
67’ – ADELAIDE SCORE FROM THE SPOT – Zach Clough converts the spot kick.
What They Said: Ufuk Talay:
“Overall, I am very happy.”
“Was it perfect all the way through, no. I think there is a lot of room for improvement but for me the intent was there from the players. They worked hard. They pressed hard.
“I think the boys can give a lot more. I think they’ve got it in them and it’s my job to get the best out of these players.”
Match Report:
Sydney FC started the Ufuk Talay reign with a bang, dominating the Reds at Coopers Stadium and running out 5-1 winners in a brilliant performance from the very first whistle.
After failing to score in the opening three matches, the clock had barely hit three minutes before Joe Lolley opened the scoring in Adelaide. Cutting in from the left, Lolley fired his effort into the top corner and got the scoring started for the evening.
But he didn’t stop there, doubling his tally for the evening roughly ten minutes later. Left un-marked from a corner, the ball fell to the Englishman from a Joel King deflected shot and he turned the ball home for two.
With Sydney FC purring in the attacking third, Andrew Redmayne was also called into action at the other, getting down low to deny Jonny Yull from a tight angle as the first half ticked along.
With the dynamism of Jaiden Kucharski up front in his first Isuzu UTE A-League start, he was rewarded with his first league goal. Gomes did well to out muscle the United defence and play a well weighted ball through to the 21-year-old who composed a neat finish under Joe Gauci to score his first ever Isuzu UTE A-league goal.
With a Socceroos call-up coming for Gauci next week, he couldn’t have wanted that to come any quicker as Kucharski added another before the end of the first 45. Lolley dazzled his way through three in the Adelaide midfield and played a brilliant ball to Kucharski who dinked the ball effortlessly over Gauci for a four goal lead.
Into the second half, Sydney FC couldn’t have wished for a better start. Less than two minutes after the restart, Fabio Gomes netted his first league goal for Sydney FC after yet another beautiful assist from Joe Lolley. The Brazilian drifted between defenders and was found by the number ten, and Fabio nodded the ball into the bottom corner to blow the lead out to five.
As Sydney FC looked to turn the screw even more, Robert Mak was denied his first goal involvement of the evening with Gauci plunging low to his right to deny the Slovak in what was one of the best saves of the night.
With the Sky Blues relentlessly pressing throughout the game, they started to tire into the back half of the match and changes from both teams altered the tempo of the game. With the match over as a contest, Sydney FC’s levels dropped and concentration wained as Robert Mak gave away a penalty at the other end which was converted by Zach Clough.
A late change by Ufuk Talay brought Joe Lolley off to a standing ovation from the small pocket of travelling fans and replacing him was Matthew Scarcella, coming on for his Isuzu UTE A-League debut. Scarcella is yet another product of the Sydney FC Academy which continues to produce talent.
There would be no more chances for either side as the clock ticked down and with Sydney FC running out 5-1 winners, they will be very happy on their return to Sydney on the plane tomorrow.
Next up for the Sky Blues is the Sydney Derby at Allianz Stadium on the 25th of November, in which Ufuk Talay will want to impress in his first home match in charge.
Sydney FC: 1. Andrew REDMAYNE (GK), 8. Jake GIRDWOOD-REICH, 9. Fabio GOMES, 10. Joe LOLLEY (18. Matthew SCARCELLA 87’), 11. Robert MAK (19. Mitchell GLASSON 74’), 15. Gabriel LACERDA, 16. Joel KING (4. Jordan COURTNEY-PERKINS 73’), 17. Anthony CACERES, 21. Zachary DE JESUS, 25. Jaiden KUCHARSKI (13. Pat WOOD 69’), 26. Luke BRATTAN (C)
Unused Subs: 20. Adam PAVLESIC (GK), 3. Aaron GURD,12. Corey HOLLMAN
Yellow Cards: None
Red Cards: None
Adelaide United FC: 46. Joe GAUCI (GK), 4. Nicholas ANSELL, 7. Ryan KITTO (C), 9. Hiroshi IBUSUKI (17. Luka JOVANOVIC 46’), 10. Zach CLOUGH, 22. Ryan TUNNICLIFFE (23. Luke DUZEL 46’), 26. Benjamin HALLORAN (49. Musa TOURE 46’), 31. Bernando OLIVEIRA (36. Panashe MADANHA 68’), 37. Jonny YULL, 41. Alexander POPOVIC, 43. Giuseppe BOVALINA.
Unused Subs: 1. James DELIANOV (GK), 8. Isaias SANCHES CORTES, 13. Lachlan BARR
Yellow Cards: Yull (16’)
Red Cards: None
Venue: Coopers Stadium, Hindmarsh, South Australia
Referee: Adam Kersey
Attendance: 12,859
