Sydney FC’s table-topping National Youth League team has been handed a wake-up call in the run towards the finals, falling to a two goal defeat in Sunday’s round-14 away clash with the last-placed Melbourne Victory.
Sydney FC-s table-topping National Youth League team has been handed a wake-up call in the run towards the finals, falling to a two goal defeat in Sunday-s round-14 away clash with the last-placed Melbourne Victory.
The Sky Blue youngsters had the chance to all-but secure the minor premiership with 8 rounds of the regular season remaining, but a second-half hat-trick from Melbourne-s Nathan Elasi sealed a hard-earned 3-1 win for the home side at Epping Stadium.
After Elasi opened the scoring in the 47th minute Robbie Mileski quickly responded for Sydney with his second goal in as many weeks, but two more finishes from the Victory striker before full-time ensured all three points would stay in the Southern capital.
On a positive note, the match marked the return from injury of senior stars, Simon Colosimo and Jacob Timpano, with Timpano playing the entire 90 minutes and Colosimo getting a valuable hour of match practice under his belt, in preparation for a likely return to the first team.
Despite the defeat Sydney still sits nine points clear at the top of the National Youth League ladder and Steve O-Connor-s young charges will look to bounce back when they face 3rd placed Adelaide United next Saturday morning at Hindmarsh Stadium.
Click here to visit the National Youth League page of the Hyundai A-League website and read a full match report.
Match Detail
Melbourne Victory 3 (Nathan ELASI 47-/80-, 90+3-)
Sydney FC 1 (Robbie MILESKI 48-)
Melbourne Victory: 1.Mitchell LANGERAK (gk), 2.Daniel VASILEVSKI (OA (8.Stephen HATZIKOSTAS 60-), 3.Steve PACE (OA), 4.Matthew FOSCHINI, 5.Fabio DI LIZIA, 9.Mathew THEODORE, 10.Nathan ELASI, 11.Dimitri HATZIMOURATIS, 12.Tedros YABIO (7.Aziz BEHICH 46-), 14.Mifit BOJKU (6.Robert WYNNE 55-), 15.Leigh BROXHAM.
Substitute not used: 20.Sebastian MATTEI (gk).
Yellow Cards: nil.
Red Cards: nil.
Goals: Nathan ELASI 47-/80-, 90+3-.
Sydney FC: 20.Vedran JANJETOVIC (gk), 3.Adam BIDDLE, 4.Simon COLOSIMO (OA) (8.Steve LUSTICA 60-), 5.Jacob TIMPANO (OA), 6.Chris PAYNE (10.Matthew HALL 58-), 7.Robbie MILESKI, 11.Kofi DANNING, 12.Ibrahim HAYDAR, 13.Sam MUNRO, 14.Luke AUSTIN (2.Ryan GRANT 60-), 16.Nikolas TSATTALIOS.
Substitutes not used: nil.
Yellow Cards: Sam MUNRO 35-, Ryan GRANT 71-.
Red Cards: nil.
Goals: Robbie MILESKI 48-.
Referee: Alex Azcurra.
