Sydney FC have fallen 4-3 in a thrilling PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s clash at Seymour Shaw against Sutherland Sharks on Saturday.
Defensive lapses cost the Sky Blues however Rob Stanton’s men notched three on the scoreboard through Juan Zapata’s double and a John Iredale goal.
The game started at a high tempo. The visitors were first to create a chance when Zapata found space outside the penalty area only to fire his shot at goal wide.
Sydney were looking far from composed at the back during and Sharks striker Elasi did his best to test them further but his effort was narrowly wide and hit the side netting.
An opening goal seemed inevitable, but it was still a shock when Sydney FC took the lead against the run of thanks to a sublime finish from Zapata to cap off a silky passing move from the visitors
The lead didn’t last long for Sydney FC and Cox was on hand for the home side to fire home the rebound after Young Sky Blues keeper Mitchell Evans had denied Elasi.
The hosts created several half chances from then on in, and were unlucky when Kajiyama couldn’t quite reach a Fitzpatrick cross which surely would’ve seen them going ahead.
However, it was at the other end of the pitch where the scoring would continue, John Iredale turned his defender before finishing expertly from a narrow angle to give Sydney FC a 2-1 lead at halftime.
The game continued at a ridiculous pace after the break and it didn’t take the Sharks long to level the scores.
Da Silva floated in an audacious free-kick from 40 yards out which will surely be featured in the round’s goals of the week.
However, Sutherland threatened to implode after tying the scores with some shaky defensive play giving Zapata his second goal of the match and returning the lead to Sydney FC.
That was never going to be the last goal of the game and Sydney FC paid the price for being a little over-aggressive as they conceded a penalty of which Elasi fired home to level the scores.
The final blow came from one of the league’s top scorers. Kajiyama finally found some space to get a shot off and under some intense pressure managed to finish. Giving the hosts what turned out to be a decisive lead.
Sutherland coach Grant Lee was all smiles after the win.
“It’’s a great win for the players and fans. However, we conceded some silly goals making the same mistakes, we should’ve controlled it better,” he said.
“Da Silva a sneaky guy, probably meant it (his free-kick goal), if so he did it well”.
Sydney coach Rob Stanton rued his teams mistakes.
“We showed our inexperience and let them into the game on several occasions,” he said.
“During the second half the players weren’t as effective and the youthfulness showed.”
Match Stats
Sutherland Sharks FC: 4 (Cox 27’, Da Silva 53’, Elasi 68’, Kajiyama 74’)
Sydney FC: 3 (Zapata 19’61’, Iredale 37’)
Saturday 29th July, 2017
Seymour Shaw Park, Miranda
Referee: R. Mattei
Assistant Referees: R. Osborne & J. Bell
Fourth Official: N. McOrist
Sutherland Sharks FC: 21. Nikolas Loe, 4. Stephen Kayes, 6. Matthew Gordon, 9. Tomohiro Kajiyama, 10. Joshua Da Silva (14. Patrick O’Shea 65’), 11. Nathan Elasi, 12. Blair Brown, 13. Jeremy Cox (7. Jack Press 90’),19. Callum Fitzpatrick, 25. Wade Oostendorp, 32. Brad Bartels.
Substitues Not Used: 1. Nathan Denham, 3. Takuya Murayama, 15 Kevin Lopes.
Yellow Cards: Kayes
Red Cards: None
Sydney FC: 1. Mitchell Evans, 2. Brendan Curtis, 3. Patrick Flottman, 5. Matthew Green, 6. Nicola Kuleski, 8. Juan Zapata (18. Jerry Skotadis 70’), 14. Leonardo Malfara, 16. Sam Mcillhatton, 19. John Iredale (4. Perry Thomas 79’), 21. Andreas Agamemnonos, 39. Liam McGing.
Substitues Not Used: 20. Thomas Heward-Belle, 18. Jerry Skotadis, 22. Finn Ballard Mcbride, 23. Paolo Bonanni.
Yellow Cards: McGing
Red Cards: None
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