A debut extra-time goal from James Donachie and a neat Harry Van der Saag finish has secured Sydney FC a 2-0 win over Macarthur FC and passage into the FFA Cup quarter finals where they will meet Brisbane Roar in two weeks (Details TBC).
Sydney FC 2 (Donachie 102’, Van der Saag 119’) def. Macarthur FC 0
Moments That Mattered:
RETRE SHOT SAVED – 65’ – A 35 yard low strike from Paulo Retre is tipped around the post by Kurto.
BURGESS DOUBLE SHOT – 74’ – Burgess produces a snapshot from just inside the box which is blocked and when the ball comes back to him he takes a touch inside and rifles a ball which Kurto punches away.
BUHAGIAR RUN & SHOT – 82’ – Buhagiar nips in to snatch a mis-placed pass and runs clear of the defence but his side foot shot is saved by Kurto.
LE FONDRE GOAL OFFSIDE – 83’ – Retre’s inswinging cross is volleyed home by Le Fondre but the flag is up straight away.
BUHAGIAR HEADER JUST WIDE – 90’ – Buhagiar heads wide at the near post from Caceres corner.
DONACHIE GOAL – 101’ – A short corner routine allows Caceres to dink a cross to Donachie at the back post and he loops a header home for a debut goal.
BUHAGIAR SHOT SAVED – 103’ – Ninkovic gets to the byline and crosses to Buhagiar who has a flicked shot saved at the near post by Kurto.
MARTIS RED CARD – 112’ – Martis is shown a red card for pulling back Le Fondre who would have been clear on goal.
DOUBLE CHANCE – 114’ – Nieuwenhof strikes from range but it’s saved by Kurto and then Ninkovic dummies a defender and shoots but it’s blocked by Susjar preventing an almost certain goal.
VAN DER SAAG GOAL – 119’ – Van der Saag feeds Buhagiar who slides a perfect pass back to the full back and he lifts the ball over Kurto into the corner.
What They Said: Steve Corica: “It’s nice to win the game and in the second half we dominated.
“We got the goals in extra-time and there were a lot of positives out of the game.
“We saw the game out and finished very strong which is a good sign that our fitness is really good.
“We’ve got a tough game against Central Coast on Sunday so that will be tough to back up but we’ve got three days in between.
“We will do recovery tomorrow and get set and go for it on Sunday.”
Sydney FC have a deserved place in the FFA Cup quarter finals defeating current Isuzu Ute A-League Men leaders Macarthur FC 2-0 after extra time.
In a game played largely in the Bulls half, the Sky Blues were kept out by a Macarthur side seemingly playing for penalties.
Sydney FC’s pressure eventually told in the first half of extra time when debutant James Donachie looped a header from a Caceres cross beyond Kurto.
Late in the game an inch perfect pass for Van der Saag from Buhagiar allowed the full back to go clear on goal and chip the ball beyond Kurto into the corner.
Sydney FC: 1. Andrew REDMAYNE, 2. James DONACHIE, 4. Alex WILKINSON, 8. Paulo RETRE (32. Patrick YAZBEK 110’), 12. Kosta BARBAROUSES (28. Calem NIEUWENHOF 76’), 14. Adam LE FONDRE, 16. Joel KING (25. Callum TALBOT 120’), 17. Anthony CACERES, 21. Harry VAN DER SAAG, 22. Max BURGESS (10. Milos NINKOVIC 76’), 33. Patrick WOOD (11. Trent BUHAGIAR 62’).
Unused Subs: 20. Tom HEWARD-BELLE (GK), 3. Ben WARLAND.
Yellow Cards: Corica 90’.
Red Cards: None.
Macarthur FC: 12. Filip KURTO, 2. Jake MCGING, 4. James MEREDITH, 7. Daniel DA SILVA (32. Lachlan SEPPING 45’), 11. Thomas OAR (24. Kokola M’MOMBWA 45’ (20. Tomislav USKOK 90’)), 14. Moudi NAJJAR, 15. Aleksandar SUSJAR, 19. Michael RUHS, 22. Liam ROSE (34. Diego BANILLA 105’), 28. Jack MCLOUGHLIN (31. Lachlan ROSE 58’), 29. Antonis MARTIS.
Subs: 1. Nicholas SUMAN, 36. Oliver JONES.
Yellow Cards: McGing 90’, Susjar 92’, Sepping 94’.
Red Cards: None.
Venue: Netstrata Jubilee Stadium.
Referee: Kurt Ams.
