Sydney FC 0 def. by Auckland FC 1 (Cosgrove 20’)
Sydney FC have gone down 1-0 to Auckland FC across the ditch thanks to a first half goal from Sam Cosgrove in an entertaining game which saw chances missed at both ends.
Moments That Mattered:
14’ | GRANT SHOT – A Quispe ball across the 18-yard line finds Rhyan Grant who drills it just over – close.
20’ | COSGROVE GOAL – Cosgrove taps home inside the six yard box from a left wing cross.
22’ | DEVENISH SAVE – Verstrate heads the ball goalwards but Devenish-Meares tips over.
24’ CAMPUZANO SHOT SAVED | Quintal lays the ball off to Campuzano who shoots inside the box but Woud gets a hand to it and forces a corner.
26’ | OKON OFF THE LINE – Okon intervenes as Cosgrove is about to tap the ball home from a long throw.
54’ | POST HIT TWICE – Quintal takes a shot inside the box which cannons off the post and Auckland break through Cosgrove and May with May striking the upright.
60’ | SAVE OF THE SEASON – A right wing cross comes in to Cosgrove who heads from eight yards but Devenish-Meares flys across his goal and makes a wonder save with his left arm.
85’ | MAY HITS THE POST – The ball ricochets to May in the box who shoots off the post.
Match Report: The Sky Blues have been defeated by reigning Premiers Auckland FC 1-0 in New Zealand.
Sydney FC kept the same starting line up which defeated the Wanderers 4-1 last weekend and after an evenly matched opening 20 minutes the home side took the lead.
Englishman Cosgrove got on the end of a loose ball inside the six yard box to poke the ball home.
Two minutes later Devenish-Meares tipped the ball over from a Verstrate header before Campuzano had a good shot saved by Woud in the 24th minute.
It was all suddenly happening and Okon Jr got a block in from Cosgrove two minutes later as he was about to put the ball over the line and Auckland went into the break one goal to the good.
Auckland started the stronger in the second half with a number of chances but within nine minutes the post was hit at either end. First Quintal latched onto a ball from Garuccio to hit a left foot shot off the bottom of the post and then on the break May struck the upright curling the ball beyond Devenish-Meares.
The keeper then made one of the saves of the season when Cosgrove headed goalwards from eight yards and Devenish-Meares flew across the goal to save left handed.
The match remained in the balance into the final minutes before May hit the post with a shot from a loose ball but no further goals were scored.
What They Said: Rhyan Grant:- “We’re disappointed with the result. In that second half we were really knocking on the door but just couldn’t find the goal in the end. All in all, it was a pretty good clash, but we’re not happy with the outcome — definitely disappointed.
“We know they’re a great team — they fight for everything and always bring a lot of energy. We knew it was going to be tough and we tried to match that. I thought in the second half we really did.
“We could have nicked one or two there, but unfortunately it didn’t happen. Still, it was another great game and a great atmosphere.”
Sydney FC | 12. Harrison DEVENISH-MEARES, 23. Rhyan GRANT (c), 32. Marcel TISSERAND, 5. Alex GRANT, 17. Ben GARUCCIO, 24. Paul OKON-ENGSTLER, 6. Corey HOLLMAN (22. Mathias MACALLISTER 82’), 44. Akol AKON (10. Joe LOLLEY 46’), 20. Tiago QUINTAL (41. Alexandar POPOVIC 89’), 7. Piero QUISPE, 9. Victor CAMPUZANO.
Unused Subs | 30. Alexander ZAVERDINOS, 13. Patrick WOOD, 16. Joel KING, 36. Rhys YOULLEY.
Head Coach | Ufuk TALAY
Yellow Cards | Campuzano 45’+2’, Grant 65’.
Red Cards | N/A
Auckland FC | 1. Michael WOUD, 2. Hiroki SAKAI, 3. Jake GIRDWOOD-REICH, 6. Louis VERSTRAETE, 8. Felipe GALLEGOS (17. Callan ELLIOT 89’), 9. Sam COSGROVE, 11. Marlee FRANÇOIS (27. Logan ROGERSON 69’), 15. Francis DE VRIES, 21. Jesse RANDALL (7. Cameron HOWIESON 89’), 23. Dan HALL, 77. LACHLAN Brook (10. Guillermo MAY 42’)
Unused Subs | 12. James HILTON (GK), 22. Jake BRIMMER, 35. Jonty BIDOIS.
Head Coach | Steve CORICA
Yellow Cards | Verstraete 75’, Howieson 90’+3′.
Red Cards | N/A
Venue | Go Media Stadium
Referee | Alex KING
