Sydney FC has fallen short of an opening match victory, losing 2-1 away against Adelaide United in an entertaining season opener.
Ufuk Talay’s men will regroup and hope to get a result at home at Leichhardt Oval next week on Saturday, when they’ll take on Central Coast Mariners.
Sydney FC 1 (Lolley 90+1) def. by Adelaide United 2 (Kitto 56’, Alagich 65’)
Moments That Mattered:
7’ | DEVENISH-MEARES SAVE – Long ball in by Duzel finds the run of Pierias who beats his marker, playing the ball across goal to Goodwin, firing a shot of venom, Devenish-Meares gets down low for a vital save.
10’ | DEVENISH-MEARES SAVE – Ball played through to Dukuly, taking a touch and weaving the ball across to the far post, Kikanis meets it, but Devenish-Meares gets there for a heroic save, keeping the game level.
53’ | DEVENISH-MEARES SAVE– Goodwin weeds a deft ball through to Yull, who shoots, Devenish-Meares getting a hand to it and deflecting to Dukuly who Is unable to reach it.
56’ | KITTO GOAL – Goodwin whips a ball in from a corner kick, Kitto at the back post able to find the free space and get the headerto lead 1-0.
65’ | ALAGICH GOAL – Dukuly receives a pass on the left flank, wasting no time finding the run of Alagich, driving the ball beyond the path of the keeper, Adelaide lead 2-0
69’ | GRANT CHANCE – Lolley draws the Adelaide defenders towards him, leaving space for Grant, feeding the ball and rocketing a shot of power towards goal, hitting the woodwork and back into play.
90+1 | LOLLEY GOAL – Chaos in the box as Quintal receives the ball, laying it off to Lolley who touches and hits a shot of ferocity into the bottom left hand corner, Smits gets a hand to it but proves too powerful in the end, 2-1.
Match Report: Sydney FC open the Isuzu-UTE 2025/26 A-League season with sparks of promise from their attackers debuts and high pressure in the opening minutes of play.
They displayed hunger but Adelaide were able to respond in quick succession with two huge shots back-to-back which Devenish-Meares does well to deny the hosts.
Adelaide continued prying, sharing the bulk of the possession with Sydney FC able to stand firm, using their counter-attacking nature to create a chance in and behind the Adelaide defensive line, however they’re unable to get a shot off.
The combination play between Lolley and Grant showcases moments of brilliance between the two, yet they’re unable to find the right area for a shot.
In the closing minutes of the first half, Sydney FC dictate the ball in the final-third, missing a chance and opening a counterattack for the away side, Ufuk Talay’s men are able to keep the threat at bay, going into halftime level.
The Sky Blues open the second half with consistent pressure, keeping Adelaide United in their own half for the initial ten minutes of play.
Adelaide respond, Goodwin strings a pass into the penalty area, Yull runs to find the space, getting the shot off, Devenish-Meares deflects it away but moments later an in-swinging Goodwin corner finds the head of Kitto, guiding it past Devenish-Meares to lead 1-0
With 25 minutes remaining, Dukuly has space on the left-wing passing to Algaich who runs behind the Sydney FC defensive line, finishing the ball neatly into the top right corner for a two-nil advantage.
Talay’s men continue to push back into the game, pressuring and receiving chances in the opposing box, with a chance from Grant thanks to clever play by Lolley to draw the Adelaide defenders towards him and create space for the shot, but unfortunately Grant hits the woodwork.
In the first minute of stoppage time, Quintal receives the ball, taping it to Lolley who controls and fires past Smits to gain a goal back, but it proves too late.
The Sky Blues lose 2-1 away at Adelaide in frustrating fashion of the opening match of the 2025/26 Isuzu-UTE A-League season.
Lolley gains a goal back in the final minutes of the game but it’s not enough in the end, and the Sky Blues face Central Coast Mariners on the 25th of October for their first home game of the season at Leichardt Oval.
Post-Match Coach’s Interview: Ufuk Talay (Sydney FC Head Coach)
Post-Match Interview: Rhyan Grant (Sydney FC Captain)
Sydney FC (Away) | Formation: 4-4-2: 12. Harrison DEVENISH-MEARES (GK), 5. Alex GRANT, 32. Marcel TISSERAND (41. Alexander POPOVIC 88’), 16. Joel KING (4. Jordan COURTNEY-PERKINS 88’), 23. Rhyan GRANT (C), 24. Paul OKON-ENGSTLER, 36. Rhys YOULLEY (20. Tiago QUINTAL 87’), 35. Al Hassan TOURE (11. Abel WALATEE 60’), 10. Joesph LOLLEY, 7. Piero Quispe CORDOVA (13. Patrick WOOD 80’), 9. Victor CAMPUZANO
Head Coach: Ufuk TALAY
Unused Substitutions: 1. Gus HOESFLOOT (GK), 8. Wataru KAMIJO
Yellow Cards: 35. Al Hassan TOURE16’, 5. Alex GRANT 41’
Red Cards: None
Adelaide United (Home) | Formation: 4-4-2: 22. Joshua SMITS (GK), 4. Pangiotis KIKIANIS, 3. Bart VRIENDS, 7. Ryan KITTO, 20. Dylan PIERIAS, 55. Ethan ALAGICH, 23. Luke DUZEL, 19. Yaya DUKULY (36. Panashe MADANHA 71’), 12. Jonny YULL (58. Harry CRAWFORD 76’), 11. Craig GOODWIN (C) (62. Fabian TALLADIRA 89’), 9. Luka JOVANOVIC (10. Juan MUNIZ 76’)
Head Coach: Airton ANDRIOLI
Unused Substitutions: 40. Ethan COX (GK), 79. Feyzo KASUMOVIC, 54. Bailey O’NEIL
Yellow Cards: None
Red Cards: None
Venue: Coopers Stadium, Adelaide, SA
Referee: Alireza FAGHANI
