Sydney Olympic defeat Sydney FC 1-0
It was Sydney FC?s second loss after losing 3-0 to Sutherland Sharks last week.
Both sides played some good football and had a number of chances but it was a 30m rocket from discarded Gold Coast United midfielder Alex Smith in the 87th minute that won the clash for the home side.
Vitezslav Lavicka recalled most of his senior players to the starting line up after the last match against Sutherland with only Karol Kisel, Terry Antonis and Joel Chianese missing from the A-League squad for the final pre season friendly match against State League opposition.
The game started at a crisp pace with both sides trying to play football on what was a bumpy pitch.
Sydney FC found the back of the net in the 6th minute when Jamie Coyne rose above the pack to head home from a Scott Jamieson cross but referee Kris Griffith Jones ruled he had fouled his opponent and the goal was disallowed.
Nick Carle once again looked dangerous for the visitors, causing problems on the edge of the Sydney Olympic box with Bruno Cazarine shooting wide on 12 minutes after he was the beneficiary of some slick work by Carle.
Sydney FC will now look forward to the clash with Newcastle Jets in Cessnock next Saturday (17 September) before hosting Perth Glory at WIN Jubilee Stadium as part of fan day on Saturday 24 September.
Sydney Olympic also had their moments with a couple of shots from outside the area going close to the Sydney FC goal, which was patrolled by Ivan Necevski.
But it was Sydney FC who had the better of the first period, with Coyne coming close in the 27th minute when he again climbed high, this time putting his header from a Jamieson free kick wide of the post.
While Sydney FC did have the better of the play it was Sydney Olympic who came closest to opening the scoring in the 37th minute when a stinging volley from Smith was tipped onto the post by Necevski.
The teams went to the break locked at 0-0 and Sydney FC coach rotated two players with Michael Beauchamp replacing Sebastian Ryall in the heart of defence and Shannon Cole coming into the right midfield role for Rhyan Grant.
Dimi Petratos also entered the match in the 54th minute, replacing Cazarine, and within a minute he made a smart run in behind the defence only to see his shot well saved by Olympic ?keeper Paul Henderson. Nathan Sherlock replaced Pascal Bosschaart three minutes later.
Sydney FC came close in the 63rd minute when some brilliant lead up work by Terry McFlynn, Jamie Coyne and Dimi Petratos down the right flank saw Mark Bridge denied by a last ditched save by Henderson.
Two minutes later McFlynn hit the post after Bridge and Carle combined on the edge of the penalty area. Carle was then replaced, making way for Juho Makela.
Cole had a grand chance to win the game in the 81st minute when an inch perfect Bridge cross found him inside the penalty area but his shot, after a good first touch, went sailing over the bar.
With just three minutes left on the clock, Olympic midfielder Smith found the back of the net with another 30m dipping shot, which gave Necesvki no chance and handed the home side a 1-0 lead.
Match Stats
Sydney Olympic 1 (Alex Smith 87)
Sydney FC 0
Belmore Sports Ground
Crowd: 2,500
Referee: Kris Griffith-Jones
Sydney FC: 20. Ivan NECEVSKI, 2. Sebastian RYALL(5. Michael BEAUCHAMP ?46), 3. Jamie COYNE, 4. Pascal BOSSCHAART (22. Nathan SHERLOCK ?57), 6. Hirofumi MORIYASU (13. Milos DEGENEK ?80), 9. Bruno CAZARINE (11. Dimi PETRATOS ?54), 10. Nick CARLE (18. Juho MAKELA ?65), 15. Terry McFLYNN (c), 19. Mark BRIDGE, 21 Scott JAMIESON, 23. Rhyan GRANT (12. Shannon COLE ?46).
Subs not used: 1. Liam REDDY.
-Sydney FC release
