Sydney FC has secured another season in the NPL NSW Men’s 1 division and heaped further woe on Sydney United 58 in the process by claiming a 2-0 win at Sydney United Sports Centre on Sunday.
It was the second upset win in as many weeks for the Young Sky Blues who defeated Rockdale City Suns 3-1 in their last outing.
Quick thinking from Benjamin Koop opened Sydney FC’s account midway through the second half when he tapped home after a fumble from Thomas Manos before Jordan Swibel wrapped up the win in the dying stages with a clinical finish.
United hold onto fourth place despite the result and six games without a win but now hold only a one point lead over Marconi.
Sydney FC started the best of the two sides with their early endeavour putting United 58 on the back foot.
The Sky Blues energy created a few early half chances but the clinical final pass or finish just wasn’t there.
Marco Tilio fired over the bar in the 25th minute after a slick buildup with Sydney FC yet again unable to make the most of their early pressure.
The young Sky Blues were unlucky to not score thirty minutes in when Benjamin Koop’s delivery into the box sailed across the face of goal as Scibilio failed to get a toe to it.
United 58 were below their best in the first half but were doing enough to stay in the contest. Matt Sim and Antelmi combining on a few occasions to challenge the opposition defence.
Heward-Belle came to the rescue five minutes from half time as he went low to save a shot from Simonoski.
It was a completely different United 58 after the interval with the Reds racing out of the blocks determined to find a breakthrough with a flurry of early chances from United.
However, despite that it was the Young Sky Blues who opened the scoring.
A stinging low free-kick from Tilio could only be parried away by Manos into the path of Koop to tap home at the near post.
The Young Sky Blues were happy to sit back and sting on the counter. It nearly paid dividends but Jordan Swibel dragged his shot narrowly wide.
However, it was Swibel who would put the final nail in United 58’s coffin after 84 minutes when he latched onto a long ball over the top before finishing one-on-one past Manos to clinch the 2-0 win.
Sydney FC coach Jim van Weeren expressed his pride for his players stating their efforts today were proof of their potential.
“The mental strength of the boys has come a long way over the course of the season and today was evidence of what they are capable of,” van Weeren said,
“First half we probably made a few too many errors with the ball but we got it together after the break and made the most of our chances.
“We had some young boys playing in key positions today who really stood up against much bigger and more experienced opposition. I’m very happy with the performance and it’s a great sign for the last few weeks off the season.”
It completed a successful weekend for the Sky Blues in the Club Championship with the club amassing 19 points – enough to keep them safe.
Sydney FC’s Under 20s also defeated United 58 by the same 2-0 scoreline while the Under 18s held their counterparts 1-1.
Match Stats
Sydney United 58 FC: 0
Sydney FC: 2 (Koop 68’, Swibel 84’)
Sunday, July 21 2019
Sydney United Sports Centre, Edensor Park
Referee: Ben Abraham
Assistant referees: N Backo, R Osborne
Fourth official: J Rose
Sydney United 58 FC: 21. Thomas Manos, 4. Adrian Vlastelica, 7. Peter Simonoski, 8. Matthew Sim, 9. Patrick Antelmi (19. Joshua McDonald 53’), 11. Yianni Perkatis, 12. Liam Rose (5. Anthony Tomelic 79’), 14. Tomislav Uskok, 15. Tariq Maia, 20. Christian Gonzalez (39. Michael Ruhs 65’), 22. Yianni Fragogiannis
Substitutes not used: 2.Luke Vlastelica, 61, Nicholas Bilokapic
Yellow cards: Uskok58’, Fragogiannis 67’, Tomelic 85′
Red cards: None
Sydney FC: 1. Thomas Heward-Belle, 3. Ben van Meurs, 5. Patrick Scibilio, 6. Harry van der Saag, 10 Marco Tilio (24. Jake Holman 74′), 13. Jordan Swibel, 15. Ryan Teague, 17. Callum Talbot (16. Paolo Bonanni 73’), 18. Benjamin Koop, 54. Anton Mlinaric, 57. Jayden Trenkoski (14. Thomas Fay 70’)
Substitutes not used: 40. Levi Kaye, 34. Calem Nieuwenhof
Yellow cards: Talbot 23’, Fay 90′
Red cards: None
