SUMMARY
Sydney FC 5 (Gallegos 11’, Brosque 20’, Ninkovic 42’, Brillante 45’, Buhagiar 49’) def. Dunbar Rovers 0
Steve Corica has started his reign as Sydney FC’s Head Coach in style with a convincing 5-0 win over Dunbar Rovers at North Sydney Oval.
The Sky Blues dominated the first half with a weight of possession and a plethora of scoring opportunities created, and took advantage of the majority of them taking a 4-0 lead into the half-time break.
The right-hand side for Sydney caused trouble all half, leading to goals for Gallegos, Brosque and Ninkovic, before a long-range shot from Brillante on the stroke of half time put an exclamation point on a dominant first 45 minutes.
A goal just following the break from Trent Buhagiar took it to 5-0 as the Sky Blues went into cruise control for the rest of the contest and after making their substitutions, continued to create chances and defend well when called upon.
Sydney FC couldn’t add to their goal tally but a strong showing in the first half was more than enough to secure a victory in their first contest of the pre-season.
WHAT THEY SAID
Head Coach Steve Corica: “The boys played really well, its great – we’ve been practicing for two weeks now and the combinations and style of play we’ve been working on worked for us today. It was very nice, most of the boys got 60 minutes under their legs which is good in the lead-up to the FFA Cup game in a couple of weeks”.
“I enjoyed watching them play – the ball speed, the high tempo, the pressing – we’ve got a lot to improve on but I was pleased after two weeks what came out of it tonight”.
GOALS
11’ GALLEGOS – Persistence paid off after plenty of early attacks down the right hand side, as Ninkovic neatly cuts through to Retre, who delivers a pin-point cross for Gallegos, who heads home to open proceedings.
20’ BROSQUE GOAL – Another corner provided no luck before going back to Zullo on the right who whipped it into the six-yard box for the skipper to header into the top-left corner, as more attacking football paid dividends for Sydney FC.
42’ NINKOVIC GOAL – The right-hand side continued to provide chances for Sydney FC and they were able to get it into space far more smoothly this time around, as Ninkovic calmly slotted it home just before the half-time break.
45’ BRILLANTE GOAL – Just as the half-time whistle was about to be blown, Brillante took a chance from outside the box and floated it over the keeper’s head, hitting the crossbar and crossing the line to give the Sky Blues a four-goal buffer after the first half.
49’ BUHAGIAR GOAL – Quick thinking by the skipper from a free kick outside the box produced a simple chance, as Brosque composed himself well inside the penalty are and passed to Buhagiar, who nailed it home to take the lead to five goals.
KEY MOMENTS
5’ BRILLANTE SHOT – After a promising piece of attack down the right hand side, Brillante’s shot just outside the six-yard box was cleared on the goal-line by a Dunbar defender.
18’ BUHAGIAR CHANCE – Some sloppy defence on the left from Dunbar created half an opportunity for Buhagiar, but a quick recovery meant it was only a corner for the Sky Blues.
25’ GARCES CHANCE – A lapse in concentration in Sydney FC’s half almost opened up a scoring opportunity for Christian Garces, who rushed his shot and made it light work for Redmayne at the back.
33’ BROSQUE SHOT – A nice run in behind from Brosque on the counter was met by an equally good save from the Rovers keeper, as the Sydney skipper tried to take it to a three goal lead.
40’ GALLEGOS CHANCE – Retre made a dart down the right and cut in beautifully, delivering a ball into the penalty area for Gallegos who couldn’t control it as another chance went begging for the Sky Blues.
82’ GOAL DISALLOWED – A set piece just outside the box from Devlin looked destined to find the back of the net, but a finger-tip save from the Rovers keeper and some assistance from the woodwork denied the Sky Blues their sixth goal, as Lokoli-Ngoy was called offside when tapping it in.
TEAM NEWS
Sydney FC 5 (Gallegos 11’, Brosque 20’, Ninkovic 42’, Brillante 45’, Buhagiar 49’) def. Dunbar Rovers 0
Ground: North Sydney Oval
Referee: Steve Lucas
Attendance: 1200
Sydney FC: 1. Andrew Redmayne (GK) 3. Benjamin Warland (Calver 45’) 4. Alex Wilkinson 6. Joshua Brillante 7. Michael Zullo 8. Paulo Retre 10. Milos Ninkovic (Devlin 45’) 12. Trent Buhagiar 13. Brandon O’Neill 14. Alex Brosque © 26. Sebastian Gallegos
ALL SUBS 60’: 19. Chris Zuvela 21. Charles Lokoli-Ngoy 18. Patrick Flottmann 23. Jerry Skotadis 5. Joel King 22. Sam Mcillhatton 16. Jeremy Cox 32. William Mutch 30. Tom Howard-Belle (GK)
SUBS NOT USED: 9. Luke Ivanovic 17. Jordan Swibel 33. Liam McGing
Dunbar Rovers: 1. Stephen Deasy (GK) 2. Michael Kara 3. Joel Hampson 6. Mic Te Rata 7. Michael Sealy 8. Andrew Addy © 10. Ryan Shaughnessy 14. Alex Crane 15. Lawrence Neville 20. Christian Garces 23. Paul Orgad
SUBS: 4. Gilad Swartz 5. Jake Lees 9. Mandela Opoku 11. Henry Kamlietner 12. Liam Parsten 13. Charles Welham 16. Ruben Mendez 17. Kieran Young 18. Tom Cook 19. Christian Botros 21. Roberto Marsello 22. Keeghan Burke 24. Luke Del Vecchio (GK)
