Sutherland Sharks send Sydney FC packing after 3-0 victory
Although Sydney FC were missing up to eleven players from its original squad, the Sky Blues had the likes of Ivan Necevski, Sebastian Ryall, Michael Beauchamp, Hirofumi Moriyasu, Mark Bridge, Dimi Petratos, Shannon Cole, Juho Makela, Rhyan Grant and Bruno Cazarine all play a part in what was a tough loss for Vitezlav Lavicka?s men.
It was recorded as Sydney FC?s first loss in its current pre-season campaign with all three goals coming in the second half which enthralled the home Shire fans and their coach Robbie Stanton who played a number of youth players along with his senior members with the NSW Premier League Finals Series in a week?s time.
The visitors started strongly, holding possession well, but it was Sutherland who had the first shot on goal when Ivan Necevski made a great save from Chris Price in the 9th minute. Within two minutes Juho Makela and Petratos had fashioned chances, which were saved by Nathan Denham.
Sydney FC then took control of the first half although neither side was able to create a guilt edged chance with the teams going to the break locked at 0-0.
Lavicka made one change at half time with youngster Milos Degenek replacing Moriyasu and before the 2,000 strong crowd had even taken their seats Sutherland hit the lead when former North Queensland Fury midfielder Panny Nikas converted a penalty in the 47th minute.
Lavicka reacted by bringing Bridge into the game in the 56th, replacing Hagi Gligor, who was busy and effective in his first starting appearance for the club. Cazarine joined him five minutes later, replacing Rufer.
Sutherland doubled its lead in the 70th minute when a 30m shot from youngster James McKenzie was inexplicably left by Necevski, only to see the ball sneak inside the right hand post into the back of the net.
Cazarine came close to pulling a goal back in the 82nd minute when he ran onto a Bridge through ball but his shot was well blocked by a desperate Sutherland defence. Sutherland lived dangerously from the ensuing corner when a goal-bound shot from Sebastian Ryall was cleared off the line.
Sutherland rounded out the scoring in the 90th minute when Lachlan Cahill latched onto a perfect Tom Gollins ball on the edge of the Sydney FC penalty area and Cahill slotted the ball home.
It was to be the final moment of the match which the Shire based side proved too strong on the evening with notable performances from McKenzie, Gjoreski, Denham, Nikas, and Stavroulakis.
Sutherland Sharks 3 (Panny Nikas 47 pen, James McKenzie 70, Lachlan Cahill 90) d Sydney FC 0
Seymour Shaw
Crowd: About 2,000
Referee: Strebre Delovski
Sutherland Sharks: Nathan Denham, George Souris, Chris Price, Matt Bailey, Todd Halloran, Hayden Morton, Nick Stavroulakis, Paul Kohler, James McKenzie, K Gjoreski, P Savour
Subs: Tyson Rhodes, M Stuart, Lachlan Cahill, Mike Katz, Huseyin Jasli, Alex Augusto, Panny Nikas, Ehsan Popal, S Garrett, T Gollins
Sydney FC: 20. Ivan NECEVSKI, 2. Sebastian RYALL (c), 5. Michael BEAUCHAMP, 6. Hirofumi MORIYASU(16. Milos DEGENEK ?46), 7. Hagi GLIGOR (19. Mark BRIDGE ?56), 11. Dimi PETRATOS, 12. Shannon COLE, 13. Joe GIBBS, 18. Juho MAKELA, 23. Rhyan GRANT, 24. Caleb RUFER (9. Bruno CAZARINE ?61).
