Undefeated Sharks stun Sydney FC
The visiting A-League side dominated for large periods of the match in front of a capacity crowd of around 4,000 at Seymour Shaw Park, leaving Coach John Kosmina in a confident mood, despite the one goal defeat.
?We were a bit rusty, definitely Sutherland were a little bit sharper than us, but I thought we knocked the ball around exceptionally well and played some really good football at times which I?m happy with, we?ll only get better.?
From the kick-off Sutherland showed no fear against their A-League opponent, almost opening the scoring with a skidding shot across the face of goal in the second minute lf the match.
Sydney FC settled quickly though, and following some clever build up came close off the boot of Alex Brosque.
The visitors dominated possession in the middle of the park, but posed little threat to the Sharks? goal.
Sutherland on the other hand showed glimpses of why it?s yet to taste defeat in the Premier League and tested FC?s defence with every cutting counter attack.
Sydney?s first real chance fell to Olympic hopeful, Mark Bridge on the half hour.
Playing his first match in Sydney FC colours, the skilful striker ghosted into the box and fired a full-blooded blow.
That shot sprayed wide however, and moments later it was Sutherland that opened the scoring when Neil Jablonski beat Clint Bolton with a blinding strike on the near post.
It looked like FC would go to the break a goal down, but a curling Simon Colosimo corner one minute from half time got Sydney back in the game.
Defender, Jacob Timpano rose to meet the ball on the far post, and his header gave the Sharks? keeper no hope, levelling the ledger at one all.
Kosmina stuck with the same on-field combinations to start the second half, with Ivan Necevski the only change in the Sydney FC goal.
But a piece of individual brilliance blotted the replacement keeper?s card five minutes after the restart.
Sutherland substitute, Matt Hall dribbled through the defence and gave Necevski no chance with his finish, re-establishing the home side?s advantage.
Sydney continued to search for a way to break down the Sharks at the back, but Sutherland kept getting bodies behind the ball.
A late flurry of activity saw both keepers called on to make some spectacular saves as the action swung from end to end, but the scoreline remained unchanged.
New Sydney recruit, Chris Payne came on to make his debut in the 77th minute and the teenager was instantly involved in the action, but he didn?t have time to make a real impact, with the referee blowing full time soon after, and sentencing Sydney to its first defeat of the season.
Sydney FC will be searching for its first win when it plays its final friendly next week against Manly United, but their Coach believes the real challenge will be finding enough fit footballers to field a team.
?We?ll have to look at how many players we?ve got first, we had two on loan tonight and two that won?t be here next week so you take four out and that means we had a starting eleven, that?s it.?
Sydney FC will play Manly at Cromer Park at 7:00pm next Wednesday night.
Match Details
Sydney FC 1. Clint Bolton [gk](20. Ivan Necevski 41? [gk]), 5. Mitchell Prentice, 2. Ian Fyfe, 17. Jacob Timpano, 7. Robert Middleby, 8. Stuart Musialik, 15. Terry McFlynn (3. Nikolas Tsattalios 56?), 4. Simon Colosimo (21. Adam Biddle 70?), 10. Steve Corica (11. Joe Schrippa 41?), 19. Mark Bridge, 14. Alex Brosque (18. Chris Payne 77?)
Yellow Cards None
Red Cards None
Goals Timpano 40?
Sutherland Sharks 99. Phil Zabaks [gk] (21. Matt Brandruso 77?), 2. George Souris, 15. Mike Katz (37. Jim Nikas 41?), 4. Predrag Bojic, 6. Shane Lyons (13. John Blakey 63?), 8. David Huxley, 7. Dimitri Bakis (14. Nick Stavroularkis 41?), 39. Neil Jablonski (10. Matt Hall 61?), 23. David Reid (20. James Lawrence 61?), 9. Brad Boardman (38. Mick Robinson 61?)
Yellow Cards None
Red Cards None
Goals Jablonski 30?, Hall 46?
Referee Kurt Ams
