A delightful double to 18-year-old Patrick Wood helped Sydney FC flatten 10-man Macarthur FC in a 3-0 win at Campbelltown Stadium on Saturday night.
Milos Ninkovic added his own touch of class scoring the Sky Blues’ second of the night between Wood’s two strikes.
All three goals came in the second half of a contest halted at half-time for an hour due to poor weather conditions after Bulls captain Mark Milligan was sent off for a crass challenge in the opening stanza.
The Sky Blues got on top early and almost went ahead through unlikely goalscorer Ryan McGowan, but a phenomenal Adam Federici block denied the defender’s sweetly hit strike on the volley.
Trent Buhagiar sent an inviting cross from Joel King off target from close range before drawing Bulls captain Milligan into a reckless challenge just minutes later, which resulted in a red card to the former Socceroos star.
A lengthy half-time break due to poor weather conditions saw an hour go by between the two stanzas of the contest, but as the skies cleared both sides returned to battle with Macarthur’s ten men rejuvenated from the extended break and piling on the chances in a frenetic second half.
Derbyshire had the ball in the net after a delightful ball from Markel Susaeta but the Englishman was adjudged offside; the Bulls continued to turn up the heat with substitute Lachlan Rose beginning to threaten, floating dangerously in off Macarthur’s left flank into dangerous attacking situations.
But just as the hosts looked to have gained the ascendancy in the contest Wood emerged from the bench to break the deadlock, arriving fastest to the scene to net the opener off Federici’s spilled save from a Kosta Barbarouses strike.
The opening goal scored by Sydney’s inexperienced striker seemed to give the elder statesmen greater confidence to express and create, leading to a typically classy solo run and goal from Milos Ninkovic, who dribbled with ease through Macarthur’s defensive line to slot his shot calmly past Federici.
With the 10-man Bulls showing broken resolve after going two behind Wood sniffed an opportunity to capitalise. The 18-year-old took full advantage of the ball arriving at his feet in the box to sweep home his second of the night with the clock ticking toward full time, sealing a 3-0 win in favour of the reigning A-League Champions.
Key moments
McGowan strikes but Federici rises to the occasion
McGowan ventured forward for a Sky Blues corner and would have been convinced his well-hit strike on the volley from Matt Derbyshire’s headed clearance was destined for the back of the net.
But Federici had other ideas. The Bulls gloveman got two strong hands to the shot as it rifled toward him, pushing the ball over the bar and keeping his clean sheet intact.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6227598884001
Milligan walks for clumsy challenge on Buhagiar
The Bulls captain claimed he got the ball in a challenge on Buhagiar which ultimately led to his dismissal.
But with the Sydney speedster bearing down on goal Milligan’s kick out was late and Buhagiar went down, leaving referee Alex King no choice but to send Milligan to the sheds and leave Macarthur with ten for the remainder of the game.
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Redmayne matches Federici’s quality with sublime block to deny Susaeta
The A-League’s superb goalkeeping brigade continue to produce stellar blocks as the season progresses, and Andrew Redmayne ensured he joined Federici in making a save for the highlight reel in the opening stanza.
Susaeta sparked the chance with a superb run from the halfway line and into the box, squaring up Paulo Retre and striking toward the bottom left corner.
Redmayne got down to his right and got a fingertip on the strike to divert the ball just past the post and out for a corner.
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Wood on hand to put the Sky Blues ahead
Desperate for a goal to reflect his side’s one-man ascendancy, Steve Corica turned to Wood to replace Buhagiar up top on the hour mark.
Just six minutes later Wood had found the back of the net, in just his third cameo off the bench for the Sky Blues this season.
Neat midfield play between Alex Baumjohann and Rhyan Grant sparked the chance; Grant dribbled toward the box and slid Barbarouses in on goal who shot across Federici to the bottom right corner.
Federici saved but his spilled block fell to the feet of Wood who sauntered in to score his first A-League goal.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6227608004001
Ninkovic adds touch of class to Sky Blues performance
A solo goal scored in typically mercurial fashion from Serbian star Milos Ninkovic put Sydney two goals to the good over their newly established local rivals.
Ninkovic drove through midfield toward Macarthur’s defensive line and caught both Antony Golec and Aleksandar Jovanovic flat-footed as he cut through the two centre-halves with ease and buried his shot into the back of the net.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6227606858001
Wood bags his brace in memorable night out for the teenager
Not content with his first A-League goal on the night, Wood displayed his innate ability to drift to the right place at the right time once again to tap home a deflected pass from Jordan Swibel.
Swibel cut into the box and shaped to shoot but was thwarted by closing Macarthur defenders.
Unfortunately for the hosts the ball fell into Wood’s path, and the young forward made no mistake in placing the ball into the back of the net.
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