Sydney FC’s Foxtel National Youth League squad produced one of the performances of the season in their final home match to comfortably dispatch the Newcastle Jets 6-1 at Lambert Park on Sunday.
A brace to George Blackwood, combined with strikes to Burgess, Tsekenis, Lokoli-Ngoy and a first goal in a Sky Blue shirt to Robert Stambolziev sealed the three points while Braeyden Crowley was the lone scorer for the Novocastrians.
Blackwood signalled his hunger for goals early as he flashed an effort wide in the first minute and he didn’t have to wait much longer as he opened the scoring in the fifth minute with a simple finish following a cutback by James Andrew on the right flank.
The Sky Blues continued to exert their dominance with a high press, forcing multiple turnovers of possession, and a second goal arrived in the 22nd minute as Max Burgess fired low and hard, first time, from the edge of the box with Blackwood the provider.
The second goal brought the Jets to life and two minutes later they’d halved the deficit as Crowley latched onto a lofted ball to deftly chip Babic from inside the area.
Roused by a short Jets resurgence Sydney FC pushed to extend their lead with Andrew rattling the post before George Blackwood nabbed his second of the match in the 44th minute.
Max Burgess shrugged off his marker to release Stambolziev on the left flank, and the Sky Blues new boy whipped in a delightful cross allowing Blackwood to nod home from the penalty spot for a 3-1 lead as the sides entered half time.
The Sky Blues threatened from the offset of the second period, and within minutes of coming on as a substitute Jordan Tsekenis extended the Sky Blues margin as he blasted the ball into the net from a tight angle following a neat run from fellow sub Zuvela on the right.
The Jets had hardly had a look in, in the second half, and Robert Stambolziev all but secured the three points as he struck in the 68th minute to make it 5-1.
Chris Zuvela took on his marker in the centre of the field before laying off to Stambolziev on the edge of the area. The 24 year old took one touch before curling the ball into the net to mark his first strike in a Sky Blues jersey.
With the game winding down the Sky Blues took their foot off the pedal and were nearly punished when substitute goalkeeper Matt Symes gave away a penalty.
Brandon Lundy stepped up for the Jets to take the spot kick but his effort was tame and Symes was able to dive low to his left to preserve the 5-1 scoreline.
As the clock struck 90 minutes Lokoli-Ngoy put the icing on the cake to score Sydney FC’s sixth goal as he held off his defender on the edge of the box before turning and drilling the ball past a stranded Solari in goal, with the final whistle sounding moments later.
Sydney FC’s National Youth League squad will complete their season away from home against the Central Coast Mariners on Sunday 1st March (kick off 4pm).
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