Sydney FC Go Back Top After Win In Perth

Sydney FC seal three crucial points against an energetic Perth Glory side to return to the top of the table following an early goal to Abel Walatee on starting debut.

Perth Glory FC 0 Sydney FC 1 (Walatee 5’)

Moments That Mattered:

5′ | WALATEE GOAL – After a brilliant ball to Al Hassan Toure is sent into the box a Quintal shot is deflected for the grateful Walatee to smash home his first Sydney FC goal in his first start.

7’ | KUCHARSKI HITS BAR – A deflected shot loops onto the bar and away for safety for the Sky Blues

18’ | KUCHARSKI GOAL DISALLOWED – Former Sky Blue Kucharski fouls Garuccio when chasing a through ball and scores the goal but is pulled back.

23’ | KALTAK HEADER – Kaltak gets free at the far post but can’t direct his header towards goal.

82′ | PENNINGTON CHANCE – A shot grazes the far post, preventing an equaliser and nearly going in after repeated shots fired against the Sydney FC goal.

90’+7’ | WOOD CHANCE – Wood goes clean through and takes his shot early but the Perth keeper Sutton is equal to it.

Sydney FC’s Pat Wood and Scott Wootton of the Glory contest a header

Match Report: Sydney FC have moved back into top spot on the A-League ladder thanks to a hard fought 1-0 win away to Perth Glory.

They emerged at HBF Park coming off a victory on the Central Coast and raring to build on their excellent form this season.

The Sky Blues dominated immediately with overwhelming attacking play. It culminated in a brilliant run from Al-Hassan Toure in the 5^th minute who puts the ball into a crowded box where Tiago Quintal takes a shot. It’s deflected right to the feet of a grateful Walatee who shot home for his first goal on his first start.

The first half raged on in a close and cagey affair as Sydney FC remained in the lead with incredible defending.

Former Sky Blue Jaiden Kucharski hit the bar in the 8^th minute with a deflected shot and had the ball in the back of the net in the 19^th as he went clear but it was disallowed for a foul on Garuccio.

Kaltak should have done better with a header from close range for Perth towards the end of the half while Quintal and Toure had good efforts on goal for Sydney FC.

Perth Glory looked refreshed in the second half and came close straight after a the break with a long range shot from Kucharski who hit the side netting.

The former Sky Blue also had a spell near the end of the game with three consecutive shots all blocked and the final shot going just wide to prevent a late equaliser.

Pennington also had two late chances to equalise but could not find the finish.

The Sky Blues looked to close out the game late on and Pat Wood had a good chance in the final seconds to extend the lead but Matt Sutton saved his shot.

It was a defensive masterclass from Sydney FC. The final whistle closed the curtains close on this brilliant fixture with a mammoth effort from the Sydney FC back line who ended Perth Glory’s 3-game winning streak.

What They Said: Abel Walatee

“It was an opportunity and I had to take it. I was glad to contribute to the three points today.” noted Walatee when asked on his performance and goal.

Walatee also added his joy of his learning experiences under a player with the calibre of Joe Lolley, admitting “Getting this opportunity is good, I can compile that watching him (Joe Lolley) week in and week out… Having him in my position is honestly good for me because I can learn so much from him.”

What They Said: Ufuk Talay

“The boys worked very hard under extreme heat, we didn’t end up playing the way we wanted to play in the second half… so we played a little more compact and we took the three points.” Ufuk commented after being asked on how he thought Sydney FC performed.

“Joe I think is the best player in the competition and is a massive miss for us, he is an outlet going forward.” admitted Talay after being questioned on the magnitude of losing a player like Joe Lolley through injury.

Sydney FC | 12. Harrison DEVENISH-MEARES, 23. Rhyan GRANT (c), 32. Marcel TISSERAND, 5. Alex GRANT, 17. Ben GARRUCIO, 36. Rhys YOULLEY, 11. Abel WALATEE (16. Joel KING 82’), 20. Tiago QUINTAL (13. Patrick WOOD 65’), 7. Piero QUISPE (41. Alexandar POPOVIC 83’), 35. Al-Hassan TOURE, 9. Victor CAMPUZANO (8. Wataru KAMIJO 71’)

Unused Subs | 1. Gus HOEFSLOOT, 26. Nickolas ALFARO, 22. Mathias MACALLISTER

Head Coach | Ufuk TALAY

Yellow Cards | 23. Rhyan GRANT 84’, 12. Harrison DEVENISH-MEARES 89’

Red Cards | None

Perth Glory FC | 29. Matthew SUTTON, 19. Joshua RISDON (51’ 3. Sam SUTTON), 45. Brian KALTACK, 4. Scott WOOTTON, 2. Charbel SHAMOON, 9. Jaiden KUCHARSKI (51’ 26. Khoa NGO), 18. Rhys BOZINOVSKI (90’+6 5. Riley FOXE), 27. William FRENEY, 7. Nicholas PENNINGTON, 22. Adam TAGGART (c) (41’ 17. Arion SULEMANI), 34. Tom LAWRENCE