Sydney FC were inches away from kicking off their Hyundai A-League campaign with a win, after a Terry Antonis thunderbolt from 25 yards crashed off the bar in the final seconds of the Sky Blues 1-1 draw with Melbourne City at Allianz Stadium.
Sydney FC 1 (Gameiro 54’) drew w. Melbourne City 1 (Villa 62’)
A crowd of 25,525 saw a stunning strike from Sydney FC forward Corey Gameiro cancelled out by a first Hyundai A-League goal from Spanish World Cup winner David Villa in the second half.
They Sky Blues were without six players who were away on international duty as Graham Arnold gave chances to Foxtel National Youth League youngsters George Blackwood, Max Burgess and Alex Gersbach.
What They Said
Graham Arnold: “I was very proud of the boys with the numbers down that we had. I thought first half we were a little bit nervous but second half we came into it much better. We moved the ball much better and at the end if Antonis’ shot doesn’t hit the cross bar then we could have won the game.
“I thought second half it was predominantly us. Young George did well, he did a great job upfront for us for 55 minutes. We’re a work in progress with the ball and I want us to play football and I want us to play out from the back and it’s going to take time. I thought Seb Ryall did a good job on Villa and was our man of the match tonight.
“When you’re playing against the richest club in the country and against a superstar like that with the numbers we were down then yes I’d take 1-1 at the start of the game. It took a world class player to deny us all three points.”
Sebastian Ryall: “I think there were some encouraging signs for us. It’s the coach’s first match in charge and we are a work in progress. We’ll keep moving forward and take the positives out of tonight.
“Corey deserved a goal and has had a really good pre-season. He has worked his socks off to get into the starting line-up. It was a good goal and hopefully there will be more from him.
“Wanderers is going to be an exciting match next Saturday and of course we are keen to beat them.”
Goals
54’ GAMEIRO GOAL – Nick Carle and Alex Brosque combined to win the ball back in the heart of the pitch and Carle drove into the Melbourne City half. The Sky Blues midfielder nudged the ball out wide left to Gameiro who did well to stay on side and he struck a brilliant first time, right footed shot beyond Redmayne and into the keeper’s top left hand corner.
62’ VILLA GOAL– Duff received the ball from Murdocca on the Melbourne City right. He crossed to the left edge of the Sydney FC penalty box where Villa picked up the ball, beat Ryall and slotted a right foot shot beyond Janjetovic.
Key Moments
4’ BROWN HITS THE BAR – Mooy beat the offside trap to get clear down the Melbourne City right hand side. He moved into the right hand side of the penalty box where he pulled the ball back to James Brown just outside the box. Brown took aim and crashed the ball off the crossbar and out.
19’ DUNGANDZIC CHANCE MISSED – Ognenovski mis-judged a clearance and took a swing at fresh air allowing Mate Dugandzic to run clear on goal. The Melbourne City striker pushed his shot well wide of the post as Janjetovic narrowed the angle.
21’ JANJETOVIC DIVING SAVE – Janjetovic dives to his left to punch clear a shot from Dungandzic from 25 yards.
32’ CARLE SHOOTS OVER – Great work from Brosque on the Sydney FC left hand side to get to the byline and pull the ball back to Carle who put a left foot shot high over the bar from just inside the box.
47’ DAVID VILLA MAKES HYUNDAI A-LEAGUE DEBUT – Spain’s World Cup winner and record goal-scorer makes his Hyundai A-League debut replacing James Brown.
64’ ANTONIS SHOT – Antonis won the ball inside the City half and moved towards goal. His shot from 20 yards was parried by Redmayne but the keeper picked up the loose ball before Gameiro could pounce.
89’ ANTONIS HITS THE BAR – A high ball forward dropped to Terry Antonis around 25 yards out and the midfielder hit a first time shot on the volley towards goal which crashed off the bar. Max Burgess picked up the loose ball but fired wide.
Team News
Sydney FC 1 (Gameiro 54’) drew w. Melbourne City 1 (Villa 62’)
Ground: Allianz Stadium
Referee: Peter Green
Attendance: 25,525
Without marquee striker Marc Janko, Socceroo Bernie Ibini, Iraqi International Ali Abbas and Young Socceroos Christopher Naumoff and Hagi Gligor, Sydney FC Head Coach Graham Arnold turned to some youth introducing 17 year old striker George Blackwood into the starting line-up for his Hyundai A-League debut. Alex Brosque led out the team while Nikola Petkovic and Sasa Ognenovski returned to the heart of the defence and youngster Max Burgess won a place on the bench.
For Melbourne City star forward David Villa began the game on the bench.
Sydney FC:, 20. Vedran JANJETOVIC, 2. Seb RYALL, 3. Sasa OGNENOVSKI, 5. Matt JURMAN (13. Alex GERSBACH 68’), 6. Nikola PETKOVIC, 7. Corey GAMEIRO (28. Max BURGESS 88’), 8. Milos DIMITRIJEVIC, 14. Alex BROSQUE ©, 17. Terry ANTONIS, 19. Nick CARLE, 29. George BLACKWOOD (18. Peter TRIANTIS 50’).
Subs Not Used: 1. Ivan NECEVSKI, 4. Pedj BOJIC.
Yellow cards: Antonis 25’, Carle 35’,
Red cards: None.
Melbourne City: 1. Andrew REDMAYNE, 3. Robbie WIELAERT, 5. Erik PAARTALU, 6. Aaron MOOY, 7. Iain RAMSAY, 8. Massimo MURDOCCA, 11. Damien DUFF, 14. James BROWN (9. David VILLA 47’), 23. Mate DUGANDZIC (26. Marc MARINO 72’), 24. Patrick KISNORBO ©, 27. Ross ARCHIBALD.
Subs Not Used: 20. Tando VELAPHI. 18. Paulo RETRE, 25. Jacob MELLING.
Yellow cards: Mooy 71’,
Red cards: None.
GET YOUR MEMBERSHIP NOW! – Get in quick and make sure you don’t miss a moment of Sky Blues action this 2014/15 Hyundai A-League season by purchasing your Sydney FC Membership now. Enjoy a seat at every home match and free public transport to the games. Sign up to our Newsletter now to keep up to date with all the clubs happenings.
