Sydney FC’s Rhyan Grant continued his comeback with his first 75 minutes of football in over a year as the Sky Blues’ Foxtel National Youth League side ran out comfortable 5-2 winners over the FFA’s Centre of Excellence at Lambert Park this afternoon.
They were given an early scare however, as the visitors scored from the penalty spot on 13 minutes. Skipper Jacob Tratt appeared to handle the ball when trying to block a cross and Jamal Reiners slotted home the spot kick for the FFA Centre of Excellence.
The Sky Blues were back in it within five minutes as Blackwood broke clear of the defence to coolly slot past the keeper.
Sydney FC were 3-1 up in 33 minutes as Tomelic raced to the byline and crossed to Antoniou who bundled the ball home in a challenge with the keeper.
Right on the stroke of half time the home side made it 3-1 as George Timotheou raced from the halfway line on the left to cross to the far past where James Andrew was waiting to fire past the keeper.
Sydney FC vice captain Sasa Ognenovski watched on in the second half as the Sky Blues extended their advantage. George Blackwood got his second of the game by again outpacing the defence and calmly placing the ball beyond the FFA Centre Of Excellence keeper Dragicevic in the 76th minute.
Substitute Daniel Araujo made it 5-1 following up a Blackwood shot which was parried four minutes later.
Danny Kim pulled one back for the Centre of Excellence in the final five minute with a sweet long range shot but the Sky Blues ran out 5-2 winners to move up to third on the table.
