Sydney FC have kick started their 2024/25 pre-season campaign with a confident victory over Newcastle Jets in Maitland.
An early goal from the boot of Jaiden Kucharski followed by three second half finishes ensured that Sydney FC walked away with the victory, with four different players getting on the scoresheet.
Sydney FC 4 (Kucharski 13′, Courtney-Perkins 48′, Ouahim 53‘ pen, Amanatidis 75′ pen) def. Newcastle Jets 0
Moments That Mattered:
13′ | KUCHARSKI OPENER – The Sydney FC press wins the ball in the Jets half and a swift ball into Segecic gives him time to control and backheel into the path of Jaiden Kucharski who curls into the bottom corner.
44′ | SEGECIC GOAL DISALLOWED – Anas flicks the ball over the Jets defence and Segecic finishes into the bottom corner but the flag is raised for offside.
47′ | CACERES DENIED – From the short corner, Caceres finds space on the edge and drives a strike goalward at the Jets keeper who has to fly to his right to deny him.
48′ | COURTNEY-PERKINS RISES HIGHEST – The defender gets up from Anas Ouahim’s delivery and nods it into the back of the net.
53′ | OUAHIM DEBUT GOAL – Marin France is upended inside the box and new signing Anas Ouahim steps up to slot the penalty away.
75′ | AMANATIDIS FROM THE SPOT – Nathan Amanatidis tucks home the penalty for a four goal lead.
What They Said – Ufuk Talay
“That was a good first hit out with some good elements in the game of how we want to do things and how we want to play.”
“It was good to see the new boys understanding the role, what’s required and how we want to do things and it is also positive to score some goals also.”
Match Report
Sydney FC have opened their pre-season with a confidence boosting victory over Newcastle Jets in Maitland on Thursday afternoon with goals from four different scorers across the 90 minutes.
The sun was shining on Maitland Sports Ground but that didn’t stop Sydney FC from picking up where they left off at the end of the 2023/24 season with their relentless press.
The Jets struggled to get beyond that press and half chances came the way to Marin France and Adrian Segecic but their efforts were wayward under defensive pressure.
They didn’t have to wait long for the opener though, with Jaiden Kucharski netting the first goal of the 2024 pre-season.
Anthony Caceres nicked the ball in the midfield and played it into Adrian Segecic who with his back to goal held off the defender. He then played a cute backheel into the path of Jaiden Kucharski who with a first time strike, curled one into the bottom corner.
With more attacking pressure, the second goal was bound to come. Segecic went close on a tight angle when he struck the side netting and he thought he did have the second when a brilliant flick over the top from Anas Ouahim was dispatched into the corner, however his joy was short-lived as the linesman’s flag was raised.
Into the second 45 both teams went and the Sky Blues started with intensity once more. Anthony Caceres was found unmarked on the edge of the box from a short corner routine and he brought the best out of the Jets shot-stopper who was required to fly across his net and palm the ball out from the corner.
From that resulting corner, Ouahim’s in-swinger was met in the air by a leaping Jordan Courtney-Perkins and the visitors had their second of the afternoon.
The Sky Blues continued to drive forward and young Marin France on starting debut weaved his way into the area and was up-ended with the referee pointing to the spot.
New boy Anas Ouahim was keen to impress and grabbed the ball and he confidently dispatched the ball into the bottom corner to give Ufuk Talay’s side a three goal lead.
With the three keepers rotating every 30 minutes, Harrison Devenish-Meares was called into action near the end of his stint in nets when he was required to scurry across his line and deny the hosts from a free-kick on the edge.
At the 60 minute mark, Ufuk Talay made ten changes and Gus Hoefsloot who is returning from a knee injury was forced into a strong save low to his left early on.
Jets’ pressure didn’t last long though and it would soon be a fourth when trialist Thomas Dunn whipped in a low cross into the box with the ball striking the arm of a Jets defender and the match official once again pointing to the spot.
Nathan Amanatidis stepped up and tucked it home into the bottom corner to give Sydney FC a four goal lead and with neither team able to create a meaningful chance from the remaining 15 minutes the full time whistle blew with a 4-0 scoreline.
The Sky Blues will now look to build on this result with their clash against Oakleigh Cannons coming up on the 30th of July in the Australia Cup Round of 32.
SYDNEY FC: 1. Andrew REDMAYNE (GK) (12. Harrison DEVENISH-MEARES 30′ (30. Gus HOEFSLOOT 60′)), 4. Jordan COURTNEY-PERKINS (3. Aaron GURD 60′), 5. Hayden MATTHEWS (22. Joseph CALUSIC 60′), 7. Adrian SEGECIC (19. Mitch GLASSON 60′), 8. Anas OUAHIM (13. Sam LANCASTER 60′), 16. Joel KING (20. Will KENNEDY 60′), 17. Anthony CACERES (24. Wataru KAMIJO 60′), 23. Rhyan GRANT (29. Blake BOLWELL 60′), 25. Jaiden KUCHARSKI (28. Nathan AMANTIDIS 46′), 27. Lachlan MIDDLETON (6. Dylan ROSE 60′), 33. Marin FRANCE (21. Thomas DUNN (trialist) 60′).
Unused Subs: None
