MANLY UNITED FALL TO SYDNEY FC
Sydney FC had their rising young star Tiago Quintal to thank as well as its sturdy backline who kept a second successive sheet as the young Sky Blues registered a well earned 2-0 victory over Manly United in round 2 of the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition at the Illinden Sports Centre on Friday night.
The first big chance of the game came when Harry McCarthy almost followed up his stunning goal last week with another beauty eight minutes in.
The number ten found himself on the left flank and cut inside of Zachary De Jesus with some brilliant footwork, before he curled it goalward only to be denied by the crossbar.
In what was shaping up to be an even contest, Sydney FC were the team to draw first blood in the 22nd minute when Mitchell Glasson was first to pounce on a fumble from Levi Kaye.
The striker was taken down by Alen Aganovic in the six-yard box, giving referee Ivica Covic no choice but to point to the spot.
Quintal stepped up, and expertly placed it into the bottom left corner to make it 1-0 to the Sky Blues.
The game’s pace picked up before the halfway mark when Connor Rose created a chance for himself by heading it over Richard Nkomo allowing him to have a one-on-one, but his well struck effort smashed the goalkeeper’s near post.
Only seconds later, Sydney FC found themselves on the counterattack with Glasson on the right-hand side, and he cleverly picked out Quintal on the edge of the box, who fired it into the roof of the net leaving Kaye no chance.
A brace for Quintal and a second for Sydney FC.
The young Sky Blues should have scored once more in the 65th minute, after De Jesus did excellently taking on three or four Manly shirts on the edge of the box before putting in a dangerous low cross which was cleared from the six-yard box.
The ball fell to Jacob Brazete, who seemed to hesitate with his effort, and eventually fired it wide of the post in a chance where Sydney FC really should have made it three.
Both teams were unable to create too many clear-cut chances in the final 25 minutes of the game, but McCarthy came close late on when he cut inside from the left once more, striking it powerfully towards the centre of the goal.
The strike almost wrongfooted Adam Pavlesic, but the goalkeeper reacted well denying Manly any way back into the game.
Sydney FC head coach Jimmy van Weeren reflected on a pleasing performance and clean sheet following the game:
“I think we created more chances and it was a fair result.
“It’s nice for us because normally with youth players normally you don’t get that consistency, especially at the back.
“We always back ourselves to create chances and score goals, but it’s been really nice for the guys at the back and the goalkeepers to keep two clean sheets.” said van Weeren.
Match Stats
Sydney FC 2 (Quintal ’23, ’45)
Manly United FC 0
Friday 23 February 2024
Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre
Referee: Ivica Covic
Assistant Referees: Arinath Gobinath & Patrick Teleki
Fourth Official: Joel Crawford
Sydney FC: 3. Tyler Williams, 4. Joseph Calusic, 5. Richard Nkomo, 8. Lachlan Middleton, 10. Tiago Quintal (35. Jai Rose ’46), 13. Jacob Brazete (14. Jared Middleton ’86), 18. Matthew Scarcella (6. Dylan Rose 46’), 19. Mitchell Glasson (9. Bailey Callaghan ’46), 21. Zachary De Jesus, 28. Nathan Amanatidis (11. Marin France ’46), 30. Adam Pavlesic (GK).
Unused subs: 40. Alexander Zaverdinos
Yellow cards: Williams ‘33
Red cards: nil
Manly United FC: 1. Levi Kaye, 3. Zac Sfiligoi, 4. Jesse Piriz, 6. Saxon Hillyer (16. Zayne Ahluwalia ’46), 9. Benjamin Koop, (12. Miguel Bauza ’63), 10. Harry McCarthy, 11. Connor Rose (25. Rocco Pelle ’86), 19. Alen Aganovic, 27. Corey Cronin, 39. Stefano Rossello (7. Peter Kekeris ‘46), 45. Bilal Belkadi (13. Ezra Palombini ’76)
Unused subs: 31. Jay Coates
Yellow cards: Aganovic ’60
Red cards: nil
Player Ratings:
3: Mitchell Glasson (SYD)
2: Tiago Quintal (SYD)
1: Adam Pavlesic (SYD)
By Liam O’Sullivan (@liamdlosullivan) for Football NSW
