Sydney FC have maintained top spot on the table with a 3-2 win over Melbourne Victory in their Foxtel National Youth League clash at Cromer Park on Sunday.
Sydney FC have maintained top spot on the table with a 3-2 win over Melbourne Victory in their Foxtel National Youth League clash at Cromer Park on Sunday.
Bouncing back from their first loss of the season to Brisbane Roar last week, Sydney were gifted the best possible start with Mitchell Mallia opening the scoring in the second minute.
Mallia intercepted an under-hit pass between Victory defenders before creating space for himself in the area, and curling his shot into the top right corner.
Just three minutes later the home side doubled their lead when Alec Urosevski latched on to a clever through ball before backing himself and firing it past Lawrence Thomas in the Victory goal.
Victory hit back on the half-hour mark. After a nice interchange of passing, Connor Pain found Christopher Cristaldo in space in the area and the midfielder finished from close range.
Five minutes before the break, Urosevski nearly had his second after another poor defensive clearance by the visitors, but was denied by the woodwork.
In first half stoppage time Mallia grabbed his second and Sydney-s third. Joshua Macdonald began the move making a fine run drifting in from his spot on the right wing past several Victory defenders.
His incisive pass then split the Victory back four wide open leaving Mallia one on one with the Keeper, with the striker making no mistake to secure his first half brace.
On 68 minutes, Victory reduced the deficit to one Lawrence Thomas in the Victory goal made a fine save to deny Joshua Macdonald with quick distribution releasing Scott Galloway down the right sideline.
Galloway then produced a looping through-ball for Anthony Proia who had only been on the field a matter of minutes. Proia outpaced two defenders and calmly chipped the ball over the advancing keeper to set up a tense finish.
Nikola Taneski had a chance to seal the win for Sydney five minutes from time but his close range shot produced a fine save from Thomas down to his right.
However, despite increased possession and promising build up work in the closing stages, Victory were unable to grab the late equaliser.
Sydney FC: 3 Mitchell Mallia (2-, 45-), Alec Urosevski (5-),
Melbourne Victory FC: 2 Christopher Cristaldo (31-), Anthony Proia (68-)
Sydney FC
1. Ivan Necevski, 3. Aaron Calver, 4. Jacob Tratt, 5. Daniel Petkovski (19. Joshua Symons 48m) , 6. Dylan Caton, 8. Max Burgess (16. Christopher Zuvela 60m), 9. Mitchell Mallia (7. Nikola Taneski 60m), 10. Hagi Gligor, 11. Alec Urosevski, 14. Joshua Macdonald, 15. Themba Muata-marlow.
Melbourne Victory FC
20. Lawrence Thomas, 3. Milos Ridesic, 5. Dylan Murnanae, 6. Jordan Brown (2. Christian Cavallo 56m), 7. Christopher Cristaldo (14. Anthony Proia 56m), 8. Luc Jeggo, 9. Jesse Makarounas, 10. John Buceto (12. Anthony Duzel 56m), 11. Connor Pain, 16. Scott Galloway, 17. Jimmy Jeggo.
Yellow Cards: Jacob Tratt (44-), Jimmy Jeggo (48-), Nikola Taneski (77-)
Red Cards:
