Foxtel National Youth League frontrunners Sydney FC have continued their strong form with a 4-1 win over rivals Western Sydney Wanderers at Marconi Stadium.
Foxtel National Youth League frontrunners Sydney FC have continued their strong form with a 4-1 win over rivals Western Sydney Wanderers at Marconi Stadium.
Goals from Corey Gameiro, Anthony Tomelic, Daniel Petkovski and Joshua McDonald saw Steve Corica’s side secure their seventh win from eight starts.
Though holding a 1-0 half-time advantage, the Sky Blues took a while to stamp their authority on proceedings before ending the Wanderers’ three-match winning run with an emphatic victory.
The Wanderers fielded Jason Trifiro as their only overage player, while Mitch Mallia lined up in the Sky Blues’ forward line.
Sydney FC came close to breaking the deadlock in the early stages with Themba Muata-Marlow’s diving header forcing Blake Tuxford to tip over the crossbar.
Sydney FC eventually opened the scoring before the half-hour mark through Gameiro. The Young Socceroo forward, having nabbed a hat-trick last week, continued his goalscoring form with a sharp close-range header as the Wanderers failed to defend a corner.
The home side threatened to draw level almost immediately but a series of last-ditch tackles prevented an equaliser as the ball pin-balled around the penalty area.
Gameiro thought he had his second just before the break when he turned home from close range, but the whistle was blown momentarily beforehand for an infringement.
There was still time before the break for the lively Wanderers forward Lawrence Hanna to shoot over with only the goalkeeper to beat.
The Wanderers seemed set to equalise a few minutes after the interval with a free-kick heading inside the far post after eluding defenders and attackers alike, only for Aaron Calver to make a last-ditch interception.
The Sky Blues, however, doubled their lead with Tomelic converting a low, hard shot from the edge of the penalty area after profiting from Mallia’s strong running.
Petkovski scored the goal of the match with a driving run into the penalty area topped by a sweet shot from an acute angle.
The Wanderers pulled a goal back with just under a quarter of an hour remaining through a fierce close-range volley from Hanna after Sydney failed to clear a corner.
Western Sydney Wanderers 1 (Lawrence Hanna 77′)
Sydney FC 4 (Corey Gameiro 28′, Anthony Tomelic 64′, Daniel Petkovski 71′, Joshua McDonald 86′)
Western Sydney Wanderers: 20. Blake TUXFORD, 2. Shayne D-CUNHA, 3. Daniel ALESSI (6. Brendan HOOPER 57-), 4. James BALDACCHINO, 6. Brendan HOOPER, 7. Nicholas OLSEN (8. Joshua BARRESI 57′), 9. Mark CINDRIC, 11. Lawrence HANNA, 12. Alusine FOFANAH, 14. Jason TRIFIRO, 15. Michael TRAJKOVSKI (10. Jake McGING 45-), 17. Yianni PERKATIS
Substitutes: 1. Thomas MANOS
Cautions: Perkatis 35-
Sydney FC: 1. Tristan Prendergast (20. Luke Babic 87′), 3. Aaron Calver, 4. Jacob Tratt (c), 5. Daniel Petkovski, 6. Dylan Caton (19 Joshua Symons 58′), 9. Mitchell Mallia, 10. Hagi Gligor, 11. Alec Urosevski (7. Nikola Taneski 53′), 12. Corey Gameiro (14. Joshua McDonald 58′), 15. Themba Muata-Marlow, 18 Anthony Tomelic
Substitutes:
Cautions: None
