Sydney FC 2 ( Garuccio 55’, Popovic 85’ ) drew. Auckland FC 2 (May 67’ 89’)
A late equaliser from Auckland FC has spoiled Sydney FC’s night as the Sky Blues looked set for all three points and a potential 3rd placed finish to the season.
In a tense and hard-fought encounter, both sides traded momentum, with goals from Garuccio and Popovic putting Sydney FC ahead before Guillermo May pulled them back both times.
Despite the draw, the Sky Blues remain in Finals football and will now take their elimination clash on the road.
Moments That Mattered:
9’| QUINTAL CHANCE – Toure plays a skilful pass to Quintal, who drives into the opposition box, only to be struck down by Auckland FC’s defence.
19’| ARSLAN HITS IT WIDE – Garuccio whips a delicate cross into the box, meeting Arslan, whose first timed shot goes wide.
35’| SYDNEY ATTACK AUCKLAND – Garuccio slips into the opposition box and lashes a powerful strike at goal, only to meet the crossbar. Quintal receives the ricocheting ball and shoots from distance, Woud denies it.
38’| WOUD DENIES OKON JR – Paul Okon Jr beats his man and drifts into the Auckland box, however, his precise shot is stopped by Woud.
53’| QUISPE SHOOTS FROM DISTANCE – Quispe fancies his chances and unleashes a powerful strike from outside the box, yet it is saved by Woud.
55’| GARUCCIO MAKES IT 1-0 – Garuccio receives the ball on the edge of the box, sends the Auckland defenders the opposite direction, and slots it into the bottom left corner, making it 1-0 Sydney in this Trans-Tasman clash.
67’ | AUCKLAND EQUALISE – A long throw from Auckland meets the head of Cosgrove, who flicks it onto May, as he heads it in to make it 1-1.
85‘ | POPOVIC SLOTS IT FOR SYDNEY – Sydney FC’s beautiful corner is flicked on, to Popovic waiting far post, as he slots it into Auckland’s net, making it 2-1 for the Sky Blues.
89‘ AUCKLAND MAKE IT 2-2 – Auckland get the better of Sydney FC as May heads it in to the Sydney goal to even the score.
Match Report:
Sydney FC closed out their regular season in a dramatic 2–2 draw in a tense trans-Tasman, ANZAC Tribute clash, with goals from Garuccio and Popovic.
The Sky Blues now turn their focus to finals football.
Patrick Kisnorbo welcomed back Victor Campuzano, who made his return to the squad after missing out last weekend.
The trans-Tasman clash ignited instantly with intensity, as Sydney FC surged forward in a decisive battle with finals implications.
Sydney FC carved through Auckland’s shape with confidence as Toure slipped a clever pass into Quintal, who surged into the box before being halted by a desperate defensive move from Auckland. The pressure continued to build as Garuccio delivered a teasing ball into the box that found Arslan in stride, his first-time effort flashed wide as Sydney FC edged closer to a breakthrough.
Sydney FC continued to threaten with real intent, as Garuccio burst into the box and unleashed a powerful strike that rattled the crossbar, the rebound falling kindly to Quintal, whose follow-up from distance was denied by Woud.
The Sky Blues showed no signs of slowing, as Paul Okon Jr glided past his marker and into the Auckland box, his precise effort on goal well met by Woud, who stood firm to deny the breakthrough.
Kisnorbos men looked to lead, as Quispe took aim from distance and unleashed a powerful strike from outside the box, but Woud was equal to it, diving to make the save.
Sydney FC’s pressure finally told, as Garuccio picked up the ball on the edge of the box, shifted the Auckland defence the wrong way with a sharp touch, and calmly slotted into the bottom left corner to make it 1–0 in this trans-Tasman clash.
However it wasn’t long before Auckland struck, as a long throw into Sydney FC’s box was flicked on to May, who headed it in to make it all even in the clash.
Sydney FC delivered when it mattered most, as a teasing corner into a crowded box was flicked on under pressure, falling perfectly to Popovic at the far post, who reacted instantly to slot it home and send the Sky Blues into raptures.
Auckland struck back in the dying stages, as May slotted it into the net, bringing the match level at 2–2 and setting up a tense finish to the battle.
The 2–2 draw brought the curtain down on Sydney FC’s regular season in a dramatic finish, as the Sky Blues now turn their focus to finals football.
What They Said:
Patrick Kisnorbo:-
“I thought we dominated the whole 90 minutes, but for those two key moments we let ourselves down.”
“I don’t think they had a shot all game apart from maybe one save late.”
“We’ve got to be better in those moments.”
“I thought today we did that—Benny hits the post or crossbar early, and there were a few other chances.”
“I never brought it up once ( on placing second ). There’s always talk, but the focus is what we do and how we go about it.”
“We might be down now, but they should be proud of that performance—it was very good.”
Sydney FC | 12. Harrison Devenish-Meares (Gk), 4. Jordan Courtney-Perkins, 7. Piero Quispe, 8. Wataru Kamijo, 17. Ben Garuccio, 20. Tiago Quintal ( 13. PAT Wood 65’) , 23. Rhyan Grant (captain), 24. Paul Okon Jnr, 35. Al Hassan Toure ( 44. Akol Akon 73’) , 41. Alexandar Popovic, 70. Ahmet Arslan ( 9. Victor Campuzano 73’)
Unused Subs | 1. Gus Hoefsloot (GK), 6. Corey Hollman, 16. Joel King, 29. Joe Lacey
Head Coach | Patrick KISNORBO
Yellow Cards | 4. Jordan Courtney-Perkins 76’
Red Cards | N/A
Auckland FC | 1. Michael Woud, 2. Hiroki Sakai, 3. Jake Girdwood-Reich, 6. Louis Verstraete,8. Felipe Gallegos ( 7. Cameron Howieson 21’), 9. Sam Cosgrove, 17. Callan Elliot, 21. Jesse Randall ( 10. Guillermo May 46’) , 23. Dan Hall, 27. Logan Rogerson, 77. Lachlan Brook ( 14. Liam Gillion 82’).
Unused Subs | 12. James Hilton (GK), 35. Jonty Bidois, 52. Luka Vicelich, 57. Van Fitzharris
Head Coach | Steve CORICA
Yellow Cards | 7. Cameron Howieson 81’
Red Cards | N/A
Venue | Allianz Stadium
Referee | Ben Abraham
Attendance | 16,661
