Sydney FC have toughed out a 1-1 draw with league leaders Western United in a rain swept home clash which was almost decided by a last minute penalty for the visitors, before referee Shaun Evans overturned his original decision.
Sydney FC 1 (Burgess 64’) drew w. Western United 1 (Lustica 55’)
Moments That Mattered:
KAMSOBA CHANCE – 10’ – Buhagiar pulls the ball back to Kamsoba inside the box who shoots towards the bottom corner but a defender is in the way to block.
LE FONDRE EFFORT WIDE – 20’ – Burgess sets Buhagiar free and he cuts it back to Le Fondre who puts a cheeky back-heel just wide.
BURGESS SHOT BLOCKED – 28’ – Le Fondre wins the ball wide left and bears down on goal to find Burgess who’s shot is blocked.
NINKOVIC HITS THE POST – 29’ – Buhagiar crosses to Ninkovic at the back post who shoots and Young gets a hand to push it onto the post.
LUSTICA GOAL – 55’ – The ball is played back to Lustica on the edge of the box and he side-foots it from range beyond Heward-Belle.
BURGESS GOAL – 64’ – Grant’s cross is headed down by Bobô to Ninkovic who finds Burgess, and the forward finds a little bit of room to drill the ball home from close.
HEWARD-BELLE SAVE – 74’ – A right wing corner finds the head of Risdon who pushes Grant out of the way to head goalward but Heward-Belle tips it over.
NINKOVIC SHOT SAVED – 85’ – Ninkovic receives the ball on the edge of the box and curls a right foot shot to the far post which Young pushes wide.
PENALTY AWARD OVERTURNED – 90’ + 3’ – A right wing cross from Risdon is headed into Grant’s shoulder by Wenzel-Halls. Shaun Evans awards a penalty but overturns his decision after the VAR intervenes.
What They Said: Steve Corica: “I was a bit worried but they made the right decision [to overturn the penalty].
“It was a pretty even game. I think we had some good chances, not clear cut but some good stuff.
“We had quite a few out tonight with Caceres and Harry Van der Saag picking up gastro overnight.
“I’d have liked to have picked up the three points, it’s important to win the home games but a draw is probably fair I think.”
Match Report
Sydney FC have secured a hard fought 1-1 draw against Isuzu Ute A-League leaders Western United at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium tonight.
The Sky Blues came from behind after falling to a Steven Lustica goal early in the second half when the midfielder shot from the edge of the box.
Sydney FC hit back quickly nine minutes later when Ninkovic found Burgess in the box and the midfielder cut inside to strike a low left foot shot beyond the keeper.
Both teams had opportunities to win it and Western United were awarded a penalty in injury time after a Wenzel-Halls header hit Rhyan Grant’s shoulder in the box.
However after being asked to look at it again by the VAR, referee Shaun Evans correctly overturned the decision and the game finished level.
Sydney FC: 20. Tom HEWARD-BELLE (GK), 2. James DONACHIE, 4. Alex WILKINSON, 5. Connor O’TOOLE, 8. Paulo RETRE, 10. Milos NINKOVIC, 12. Trent BUHAGIAR (25. Callum TALBOT 83’), 14. Adam LE FONDRE (9. BOBÔ 62’), 22. Max BURGESS, 23. Rhyan GRANT, 27. Elvis KAMSOBA.
Unused Subs: 1. Andrew REDMAYNE, 3. Ben WARLAND, 24. Corey HOLLMAN, 31. Adrian SEGECIC, 33. Pat WOOD.
Yellow Cards: Retre 58’.
Red Cards: None.
Western United: 1. Jamie YOUNG, 4. Leo LACROIX, 6. Tomoki IMAI, 8. Lachlan WALES (5. Dylan PIERIAS 70’), 10. Steven LUSTICA (16. ReNe KRHIN 90’), 11. Connor PAIN, 17. Ben GARUCCIO, 19. Josh RISDON, 23. Alessandro DIAMANTI (26. Nicolas MILANOVIC 89’), 88. Neil KILKENNY, 99. Aleksandar PRIJOVIC (9. Dylan WENZEL-HALLS 83’).
Subs: 37. Ryan SCOTT (GK), 34. Christian THEOHAROUS, 44. Nikolai TOPOR-STANLEY.
Yellow Cards: Diamanti 37’, Wenzel-Halls 96’.
Red Cards: None.
Venue: Netstrata Jubilee Stadium.
Referee: Shaun Evans.
