Sydney FC fans got a glimpse of the future as a teenage young gun made his professional debut in the 3-1 victory over Kaya FC in the AFC Champions League Two.
With Sydney’s progress to the knockout phase already secured as runners-up to Japan’s Sanfrecce Hiroshima, Ufuk Talay named a youthful starting XI for the club’s sixth and final Group E fixture against the Filipino visitors on Thursday night.
Wearing the captain’s armband was 20-year-old sensation and Socceroo Hayden Matthews, while there was a debut for highly-rated 18-year-old Wataru Kamijo as 17 of the 21-player matchday squad were academy graduates.
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Labelled “one of the best rated young midfielders in the country” when he signed a three-year deal with Sydney at the start of 2023-24, the talented midfielder did not look overawed in his debut, providing an assist for Patrick Wood in first-half stoppage time after Adrian Segecic had broken the deadlock in the 38th minute, while Jaiden Kucharski completed the scoring 15 minutes from the end.
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After Kaya almost caught Sydney goalkeeper Harrison Devenish-Meares out of position, Jaiden Kucharski then wasted a great chance for the home side in the 19th minute in the absence of the likes of Joe Lolley, Leo Sena, Anas Ouahim, Patryk Klimala, Douglas Costa and Jordan Courtney-Perkins.
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Two minutes later, the Sky Blues – who meet two-time reigning champions Central Coast Mariners in the Isuzu UTE A-League on Sunday – felt they should have had a penalty after the ball struck the hand of a Kaya player but with no VAR in ACL Two, there was no spot-kick.
Sydney – 4-1 victors in the reverse fixture – hit the front seven minutes before half-time when Segecic fired his half-volley into the back of the net off the post.
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Wood doubled the lead in the second minute of first-half stoppage time thanks to Kamijo, whose tenacity and defence-splitting pass released the former to put Sydney in a commanding position.
There was another debutant at the start of the second half after Talay introduced 16-year-old defender Tyler Williams.
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Tiago Quintal, meanwhile, should have made it 3-0 three minutes into the second half but the talented attacker could only fire his shot over the crossbar with the goal at his mercy.
Philippines Football League leaders Kaya came close to pulling a goal back with 17 minutes remaining but a powerful low strike flashed just wide of the post.
Kucharski got in on the action 15 minutes from the end – after Kaya coughed up possession, the 22-year-old found the back of the net in emphatic fashion.
Sydney’s clean sheet disappeared during the closing stages after Kaya substitute Robert Lopez Mendy breached their defence.
