A sublime second-half strike from substitute Joe Lacey has fired a youthful Sydney FC side to a 2-1 victory over Wrexham AFC at Allianz Stadium.
It took the Welsh visitors just 18 minutes to find the back of the net as captain James McLean’s whipped free-kick was inadvertently turned into his own net by defender Alexandar Popovic.
CLICK HERE TO HEAD TO THE ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE TRANSFER CENTRE
The Sydney centre back atoned for his mishap though, converting from close range on the stroke of half-time to make it 1-1 after Wrexham goalkeeper Danny Ward could only parry Jordan Courtney-Perkins’ powerful header.
With both sides changing their entire starting elevens at the 60-minute mark Sydney then made it 2-1 in the 74th minute as the impressive Joe Lacey bent a sublime effort into the bottom corner of the net to seal the victory.
“Well as much as we’re here to win games and win trophies, we’re here to entertain as well,” said Sydney FC head coach Ufuk Talay when speaking to reporters after the game.
“It’s great that the young boys came on and entertained and we scored a goal to win the game. So that’s what football is, and that’s the brand that we’ve always tried to play.
“That’s the brand that we want to play at Sydney FC, where we are getting in goalscoring opportunities. Sometimes we are defending our box with desperation, and we want to score goals to win games.
“So hopefully we’ve excited these people and then they buy memberships and they come to our games.”
With 40,242 fans packed into Allianz Stadium it certainly made for a lively atmosphere as Wrexham AFC and Sydney FC took to the field.
TRANSFER NEWS: Irankunda set for $7m UK move as City eye reunion with Socceroos winger: Rumour Mill
Whilst it was technically a friendly Wrexham defender Lewis Brunt was fortunate not to see yellow for a late challenge on Joe Lolley in the 11th minute; the Englishman feeling the full brunt of his counterpart’s challenge.
Back from a loan spell at Perth Glory, Patrick Wood was handed a starting berth for the game at Allianz Stadium and warmed the gloves of Red Dragons keeper Danny Ward as the home side began to find their rhythm.
Somewhat against the run of play though it was the Welsh side who took the lead, and it came from a moment of set-piece magic from skipper McLean.
Fouled on the left edge of Sydney’s box, the former Premier League winger whipped a wicked left-footed delivery across the face of goal which hit defender Popovic before nestling into the back of his own net.
Whilst the Hollywood-backed side looked to be in complete control of proceedings they did suffer an injury blow; Oliver Rathbone hobbling down the tunnel before the half was out with what looked to be an ankle injury.
The home side had claims for a penalty turned down in the 44th minute after Corey Hollman’s fiercely driven shot struck the outstretched arm of Brunt inside the box.
However, whilst big-screen replays of the incident incensed both the crowd and the Sky Blues players Talay’s side found the leveller they were looking for from the resulting corner.
BIG DEAL: Wellington Phoenix sign 15-goal striker with exotic CV: ‘They should be ready for Eze!’
A brilliant in-swinging delivery from Joe Lolley was met by the head of the leaping Courtney-Perkins and while his powerful header was well saved by Ward, Popovic was on hand to slam home the equaliser before the half-time whistle sounded.
The Sky Blues made two changes at the break with goalkeeper Harrison Devenish-Meares replacing Gus Hoefsloot while 18-year-old forward Mathias Macallister celebrated signing his first professional contract with the club by replacing off-season signing Rhys Youlley.
Wrexham came close to making it 2-1 just a minute into the second-half as McLean got his head onto an out-swinging delivery into the box, however his header was straight at Devenish-Meares who saved comfortably.
The visitors had several more opportunities to add a second before both sides then made a host of changes as the clock ticked past the 60th minute; Wrexham changing 10 players on the park whilst Sydney made an additional nine subs.
Goalkeeper Devenish-Meares then produced an excellent one-handed save to deny Jack Marriott in the 67th minute, flinging out a big left arm to block the forward’s effort from close range.
JETS MOVE: Club great handed key Newcastle Jets role in ‘pivotal moment’
Completely against the run of play the home side then lifted the lid off Allianz Stadium as second-half substitute Lacey made it 2-1 to Sydney FC.
Collecting the ball inside the own half a now youthful Sydney FC side raced forward on the counter with striker Akol Akon laying the ball into the path of Lacey who then bent a sublime curling effort into bottom corner to ultimately secure victory for his side.
“I think other than the set piece, I think we defended our box very well,” said Talay when asked for his assessment of the performance.
“That’s the stuff that we’ve been working on for the last probably two-and-a-half weeks with our back line and our sixes, and I thought they did a very good job, especially our wingers as well.
He added: “Working down to double up with our full backs was very important today. So overall, I think the fitter the boys will get, the easier it will come for them.
“But overall, pleased to see that we dealt with those moments a lot better.”
