Sydney FC have marched into their fourth Australia Cup Final with a 2-1 semi-final win over Melbourne City at AAMI Park, thanks to goals from Patrick Wood and Joe Lolley in each half.
Sydney FC 2 (Wood 38’, Lolley 73’) def. Melbourne City 1 (MacLaren 89’)
Moments That Mattered
9’ – LOLLEY HITS BAR – Caceres lays the ball off to Lolley who shoots and hits the bar via a deflection.
13’ – REDMAYNE BIG SAVE – Jakolis breaks free on the left hand side with only Redmayne to beat but the keeper is big and blocks with his body.
29’ – WOOD HITS POST – Mak releases Wood who outpaces the defence and from a tight angle is denied by the keeper, Young who deflects Wood’s shot onto the post.
38’ – WOOD GOAL – Mak releases Wood again who uses pace and power to drill the ball into the roof of the net for his fourth goal in four games.
70’ – REDMAYNE SAVE – Sahki hits one from the edge of the box and Redmayne is across to push clear.
73’ – LOLLEY GOAL – Brattan releases Lolley who drives towards goal, comes inside and curls one into the far corner.
77’ – CAPUTO HITS POST – Talbot reverse pass to Caputo who cuts inside and shoots against the post.
78’ – LOLLEY SHOT SAVED – Lolley cuts inside again and forces Young into another save.
89’ – MACLAREN GOAL – Maclaren capitalises late on to give a few nervous moments to the Sky Blues.
What They Said: Luke Brattan: “It wasn’t our greatest performance but it was professional and it’s never easy to come here as they are a great team so I’m very happy.
“Training is good at the minute and the boys are fit and there’s a lot of energy and enthusiasm in the team which is great.”
Pat Wood: “There is a lot of focus on the youth which is good for me, and we’ve got Fabio coming on board so there’s competition for places and I just love scoring goals.”
Joe Lolley: “I thought we were very good, we probably struggled until the goal and we changed the way we played after that but we always looked a threat when we had the ball.
“I think we are being more aggressive without the ball this season and winning the ball back in good areas. There’s a good energy around the place at the moment so it’s good.”
Steve Corica: “I was very pleased with Pat Wood and his work-rate tonight, and his goal so he’s got his hand up for the place up front right now.
“There’s definitely a lot of competition for places, if you saw our bench tonight there’s a lot of experience and the young boys have really stepped it up this season. They are getting opportunities to show what they can do.”
Match Report: Sydney FC are one win away from a second Australia Cup lift after a 2-1 semi-final victory over Melbourne City at AAMI Park.
Pat Wood opened the scoring for the Sky Blues just before half time after hitting the post earlier in the half.
Joe Lolley made it two with just under 20 minutes to go with a fantastic solo effort.
Jamie MacLaren pulled one back for the home side late on but it’s the Sky Blues who march into the final on either 7th or 8th of October.
Venue will be decided by Football Australia next week.
Sydney FC: 1. Andrew REDMAYNE (GK), 6. Jack RODWELL (15. Gabriel LACERDA 69’), 8. Jake GIRDWOOD-REICH, 10. Joe LOLLEY, 11. Robert MAK (9. Fabio GOMES 83’), 12. Corey HOLLMAN (22. Max BURGESS 45’), 13. Pat WOOD, 16. Joel KING (4. Jordan COURTNEY-PERKINS 64’), 17. Anthony CACERES, 26. Luke BRATTAN ©, 27. Kealey ADAMSON (23. Rhyan GRANT 45’).
Unused Subs: 30. Adam PAVLESIC (GK), 25. Jaiden KUCHARSKI.
Yellow Cards: Caceres 16’.
Red Cards: None
Melbourne City: 1. Jamie YOUNG, 4. Nuno REIS, 6. Steven UGARKOVIC (35. Zane SCHREIBER 86’), 8. Hamza SAKHI, 9. Jamie MACLAREN ©, 10. Tolgay ARSLAN (17. Terry ANTONIS 65’), 16.Aziz BEHICH (38. Harry POLITIDIS 78’), 21. Alessandro LOPANE (37. Max CAPUTO 65’), 25. Callum TALBOT (2. Scott GALLOWAY 78’), 26. Sam SOUPRAYEN, 44. Marin JAKOLIS.
Unused Subs: 40. J. NIEUWENHUIZEN (GK), 18. Jordon HALL.
Yellow Cards: None
Red Cards: None
Venue: AAMI Park
Referee: Jack Morgan
