Sydney FC maintained their perfect start to the Foxtel National Youth League season with a crushing 3-0 victory over an experienced Perth Glory at Intiga Stadium on Sunday.
Sydney FC maintained their perfect start to the Foxtel National Youth League season with a crushing 3-0 victory over an experienced Perth Glory at Intiga Stadium on Sunday.
Mitchell Malia broke the game open for the Sky Blues with a goal on the cusp of half-time before Blake Powell and Alex Urosevski punished a leaky Perth defence in the second.
It was an impressive performance by Sydney – who snatched a stoppage time win over crosstown rivals Western Sydney last weekend – against a Glory team featuring seven players with A-League experience.
Sydney’s defence was solid early against attacking plays from Glory, especially with Adrian Zahra and Chris Harold looking dangerous down the left and right wings.
Centre backs Aaron Calver and Themba Muata-Marlow also nullified the influence of influential Perth striker Ndumba Makeche.
Glory left back Riley Woodcock was impressive for the second week in a row with his speed and precision down the line, but his side remains winless after two rounds.
The first half was peppered with chances for both teams and for the most part it seemed neither side was going to find the back of the net.
Harold, Zahra and Jacob Collard found space early in the half for Glory, but all three players lacked composure in front of goal when it counted.
Zahra appeared to be robbed of a penalty when his arm was pulled back during one of his attempts inside the box.
Perth custodian Jack Duncan was kept busy, forced into action by strong attempts from Powell and Calver within a short space of time.
Duncan almost had egg on his face when Urosevski ran around him inside the penalty area, but the Sydney striker’s shot went across the face of goal.
Woodcock was lively in the first half with his pace causing headaches for the Sky Blues defence and twice forcing goalkeeper Anthony Bouzanis to make diving saves.
But it was Mallia who broke the deadlock just two minutes before the break after wrong-footing David Stokoe and then easily slotting the ball past Duncan.
A lapse of concentration only eight minutes into the second cost Glory any chance of victory when Powell pounced on a loose ball from a corner to score an easy goal.
Urosevski then completed his team’s hat-trick in the 73rd minute with an impressive goal against the run of play.
Makeche, Jack Clisby and Brandon O’Neill, who hit the crossbar from long range, all had chances to snare a late consolation goal for Glory.
Three players from both teams were booked in a sometimes spiteful encounter played in warm conditions.
Sydney 3 (Mallia 43, Powell 53, Urosevski 73)
Perth 0
