Ufuk Talay’s Sky Blue squad defeated second placed Central Coast Mariners in an epic 2-0 masterclass with goals from Anthony Caceres and a maiden Sydney FC goal from defender Joel King.
Sydney FC 2 (Caceres 73’ & King 77’) def. Central Coast Mariners 0.
Moments That Mattered
20’ – LOLLEY MISS – A left wing pass finds Lolley in the centre of the box and in front of goal but he miscues and the shot goes wide.
26’ – KUCHARSKI ATTEMPT – Sydney FC forward Jaiden Kucharski executes a strike 20 metres from goal but it’s palmed away by Mariner’s goalkeeper Daniel Vukovic.
42’ – MAK CHANCE – The Sky Blue striker attempted a last minute right footed shot from the centre of the box but it is saved by Vukovic.
50’ – LOLLEY BLOCKED – Sydney FC’s honorary Englishman’s shot at goal was blocked.
73’ – CACERES GOAL – Anthony Caceres volleys home the opening goal after a stunning dribble and cross from Joe Lolley on right wing.
77’ – KING GOAL – Sydney FC left full back Joel King’s initial shot is cleared off the line by Kaltak but when the ball returns to him he volleys inside the near post.
What They Said: Ufuk Talay: “From start to finish we were very good with the ball and very good without the ball.
“I think that has been our best performance since I’ve been here. I’m in awe of all our players what they produced, and they did it for the full 90-95 minutes.
“I think we didn’t reward ourselves in the first half with the dominance of the ball. I think in the second half the boys didn’t stop, and we kept being on the front foot and got those momentums, capitalised on them, and scored two goals.
“We changed it tactically and how we were going to press. The boys adapted to that quite well and I thought they were excellent. We kept the Mariners in their half.
“It was a very good performance and I am happy the boys rewarded themselves with the two goals in the second half.”
Match Report: Sydney FC moved three points closer to the Isuzu UTE A-League summit with all three points against the Central Coast Mariners at Allianz Stadium after an outstanding 90 minutes of play.
The Sky Blues high press style kept the majority of play within their attacking half for the first 45 minutes, making it difficult for the visitors to get out of their own half.
Robert Mak and Joe Lolley both had chances to score from good positions but couldn’t find the clinical touch.
Jaiden Kucharski had a strike from 20 metres but Mariners goalkeeper Daniel Vukovic was able to dive and palm the ball away.
An assist from Anthony Caceres set up Mak once again and the striker took a right foot shot towards the bottom righthand corner, however his strike was blocked by Kaltak and it was 0-0 at half time.
Sydney FC left no time to waste at the beginning of the second half after forward Joe Lolley’s strike was blocked by the Mariners defence. Shortly after, Sky Blue goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne stopped the visitors from claiming the upper hand from a Storm Roux free kick down the left wing.
The hosts were first to draw blood in the 73rd minute after a dribble and cross from Joe Lolley down the right wing found Caceres, who volleyed home from the centre of the box.
Soon after, King doubled the lead notching his first ever Sydney FC goal. His initial left foot strike was blocked by Kaltak on the line, but his follow through successfully found the bottom left corner and Sydney FC were 2-0 up with 10 minutes remaining.
The Sky Blues could have had more in the final few minutes and never looked in any danger of conceding as the Mariners were shut out and head home empty handed.
Sydney FC remain in 5th spot five points from second place.
Sydney FC will next travel to Perth to face off their Western Australian counterparts on Wednesday.
Sydney FC: 1. Andrew REDMAYNE (GK), 4. Jordan COURTNEY-PERKINS (16. Joel KING 67’), 8. Jake GIRDWOOD-REICH, 10. Joseph LOLLEY (28. Nathan AMANATIDIS 88’), 11. Robert MAK (22. Max BURGESS 79’), 12. Corey HOLLMAN, 17. Anthony CACERES, 23. Rhyan GRANT, 25. Jaiden KUCHARSKI (9. Fabio GOMES 46’), 26. Luke BRATTAN, 27. Hayden MATTHEWS
Unused Subs: 15. Gabriel LACERDA, 19. Mitchell GLASSON, 20. Adam PAVLESIC (GK)
Yellow Cards: Kucharksi 33’, Lolley 36’, Brattan 43’.
Red Cards: None
Central Coast Mariners: 20. Daniel VUKOVIC (GK), 2. Mikael DOKA, 3. Brian KALTAK, 4. Joshua NISBET, 6. Maximilien BALARD, 7. Christian THEOHAROUS (22. Ronald BARCELLOS 46’), 11. Angel TORRES (17. Jing REEC 88’), 15. Storm ROUX (33. Nathan PAULL 64’), 23. Daniel HALL, 26. Bradley TAPP (16. Harrison STEELE 58’), 99. Ryan EDMONDSON (9. Alou KUOL 58’)
Unused Subs: 39. Miguel DI PIZIO, 30. Jack WARSHAWSKY (GK)
Yellow Cards: Theoharous 32’, Vukovic 78’
Red Cards: None
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Sydney, New South Wales
Referee: Shaun Evans
Attendance: 12,768
