By Arlo Smithies
Sydney FC 2 (Le Fondre 30, Wood 63) def. Newcastle Jets 0
Sydney FC ran out two nil winners at Allianz Stadium on Saturday night as goals from Adam Le Fondre and Patrick Wood helped the Sky Blues secure their third win in a row.
Moments That Mattered:
LE FONDRE OPENS THE SCORING- 30’- Adrian Segecic finds space on the left wing and swings a dipping ball into the path of Adam Le Fondre who flicks the ball through the legs of Jack Duncan, giving Sydney a 1-0 lead.
SEGECIC GOAL RULED OUT FOR OFFSIDE- 54’- Adam Le Fondre is played through over the top and holds off two defenders before squaring the ball into the path of Adrian Segecic who slots it home into the bottom left-hand corner, however the goal is chalked off by the Assistant Referee as Le Fondre was offside.
LE FONDRE DENIED BY WOODWORK- 58’- During a swift counterattack Max Burgess picks up the ball and cuts inside from the right and slides the ball through to Adam Le Fondre, who hits his shot off the left upright, and comes inches away from extending the Sky-Blue lead.
WOOD PUTS THE SKY BLUES TWO TO THE GOOD- 63’- After a strong tackle on the halfway line, Joe Lolley bursts forward and draws in the last defender, before slipping the ball through to Patrick Wood, who finishes gracefully into the bottom left corner, putting the Sky Blues up by two.
SYDNEY PENALTY- 76’- Patrick Wood is tripped in the box and Sydney FC win a penalty, however Max Burgess’ effort to the keeper’s right is saved by Jack Duncan
What They Said: Steve Corica
“I think we’re doing well, 2 wins in a row, unbeaten in 5.
“We’re coming good at the right time, the derby next week is a special game, and to have it in the finals for the first time makes it really exciting.
“It’ll be tough away from home, they’re a good team, but we’re good away from home
“Robert Mak will be ok for next week, so will Jack [Rodwell].”
Match Report:
Sydney FC looked to continue a two-game winning streak coming into their final match of the regular season against Newcastle Jets on Saturday night, and the match began in a cagey manner as Sydney looked to counter the Jets as they pressed for one of many goals they required for the top six.
The Jets’ luck would run out however as half an hour into the tie, Adrian Segecic found himself away down the left flank, and picked out Adam Le Fondre in the middle. The Englishman would finish through the legs of Jack Duncan with ease, taking his goal tally up to 10 for the season and four in the last four matches.
The Sky Blues would pick up their game after taking the lead and had 3 more shots before the half’s end. Adrian Segecic’s shot from just outside the box would glance just past the right post, and Max Burgess’ strike from the edge of the D rifled off the crossbar. The Sky Blues would not find another before half time however, sending them into the break leading 1-0.
Sydney FC would come out for the second half on a mission, and immediately started to pile the pressure on, with early chances proving to be common, but to no avail. The Sky-Blue fans thought their side had doubled the lead 5 minutes prior to the hour mark when Adam Le Fondre latched onto a through ball and found Adrian Segecic, however his strike into the bottom corner was ruled out for an offside in the build-up.
Four minutes later Le Fondre came close to a brace after his shot hit the left post, but the moment of joy for Sky Blue fans would come when Joe Lolley broke forward down the right, giving Sydney a three on one opportunity to get their second. Lolley confidently found Patrick Wood, who slotted the ball home into the bottom left corner and joined The Cove in the celebrations.
Sydney would have the chance to add a third in the 76th minute as Patrick Wood was brought down in the box by Matt Jurman, but Max Burgess’ effort was saved by Jack Duncan from the resulting spot kick.
Sydney FC would go down to 9 men in the dying moments, as Jaiden Kucharski received a second yellow card for an elbow to the face of Callum Timmins, and Joe Lolley limped off the field with a hamstring injury.
Despite the late setbacks, goals from Adam Le Fondre and Patrick Wood would be enough to get the Sky Blues over the line and set up a Sydney Derby Elimination Final next weekend.
Sydney FC: 1. ANDREW REDMAYNE (GK), 2. JAMES DONACHIE, 3. JOEL KING, 4. ALEX WILKINSON (C), 9. ADAM LE FONDRE (12. PATRICK WOOD-58’), 10. JOE LOLLEY, 17. ANTHONY CACERES (28. JAKE GIRDWOOD-REICH- 59’), 19. ADRIAN SEGECIC (18. DIEGO CABALLO- 77’), 22. MAX BURGESS (JAIDEN KUCHARSKI- 83’), 23. RHYAN GRANT, 26. LUKE BRATTAN (8. PAULO RETRE- 59’)
Unused Subs: 20. TOM HEWARD-BELLE (GK), 29. AARON GURD.
Yellow Cards: Donachie 74’, Wood 78’, Kucharski 83’, 90′
Red Cards: Kucharski 90’
Newcastle Jets: 1. JACK DUNCAN (GK), 2. DANE INGHAM, 5. MATTHEW JURMAN (CO-CAPTAIN), 11. JAUSHUA SOTIRIO (7. TRENT BUHAGIAR- 58’), 14. MOHAMED AL-TAAY (32. ANGUS THURGATE- 45’), 17. KOSTA GROOS, 19. CALLUM TIMMINS (10. RENO PISCOPO- 58’), 22. PHILIP CANCAR, 26. ARCHIE GOODWIN (9. BEKA MIKELTADZE- 58’), 33. MARK NATTA (3. JASON HOFFMAN- 69’). 39. THOMAS AQUILINA
Unused Subs: 18. DANIEL STYNES, 30. NOAH JAMES,
Yellow Cards:
Red Cards:
Venue: ALLIANZ STADIUM
Referee: Alex King
