Summary
Sydney FC 0 drew with Hakoah Sydney City East FC 0
Sydney FC has played out an entertaining 0-0 draw against Hakoah Sydney City East FC with a number of the Sky Blues squad getting further game time.
With trial players, debutants and Sky Blues favourites on show, the Members were treated to some good quality football from both sides at Leichhardt Oval.
Sydney FC created a number of great chances and were unlucky not to find the net, while at the back new Sky Blue Jop Van Der Linden marshalled the defence well alongside returning centre half Aaron Calver.
Corica’s men will now turn their attention to their week long training camp in Gold Coast next week, in order to get further fitness ahead of the start of the campaign in October.
What They Said
Jop van der Linden: “I’m excited to be here finally. It’s been great to train with the team this week and have my first game tonight.
“I’m getting fit for the season but there is still plenty of time.”
Brosque: “I’m feeling pretty good and slowly building. It’s good to get these games in and minutes under the belt.
“Tonight we probably we had a lot more chances than the other night (FFA Cup) but the ball just wouldn’t go in.”
Key Moments
14’ CLOSE FOR LOKOLI-NGOY – Retre whips the ball into the box with pace for the young forward who nearly gets his toe onto the cross.
19’ LOKOLI-NGOY GOES INCHES WIDE – Charles beats Hakoah’s centre back to be through on goal but drags his shot just wide of the left hand post.
39’ THUNDEROUS EFFORT FROM DA SILVA – Ball is played back to the edge of the area for Da Silva who lashes the it towards goal. The Hakoah keeper just does enough to parry away from goal.
49’ HEADED WIDE LOKOLI-NGOY – Beautiful interplay between Da Silva and Brosque leads to a dangerous cross that’s met by Charles rising above the pack but the effort goes just wide.
51’ NEAR POST EFFORT GALLEGOS – Da Silva slips a beautiful ball in behind for the Uruguayan triallist who nearly sees his near post effort find the net.
65’ CHIPPED EFFORT HITS THE POST SOUFI – Barely a minute on the pitch and the Hakoah midfielder launches an audacious effort from 40 yards that hits the bar and lands in the box for Heward-Belle to pick up.
76′ GALLEGOS CHANCE – Great chance for Gallegos as Zullo finds him on the edge of the area but he blasts it high over when well placed.
78′ BUHAGIAR CHANCE – Another great chance, this time as Zullo picks out the run of Buhagiar, but the youngster’s lobbed header goes just wide.
Team News
Sydney FC 0 drew with Hakoah Sydney City East FC 0
Sydney FC made a number of changes to their starting line up with new Dutch signing Jop van der Linden making his debut alongside Aaron Calver at the heart of the defence. Triallist Sebastian Gallegos was again given a chance to impress while Charles Lokoli-ngoy started for the first time up front this pre-season.
Ground: Leichhardt Oval
Referee: Tim Danaskos
Sydney FC: 1. Andrew REDMAYNE (GK) (45’ Tom HEWARD-BELLE), 2. Aaron CALVER, 5. Jop VAN DER LINDEN (71’ 3. Benjamin WARLAND), 6. Joshua BRILLANTE (45’ 13. Brandon O’NEIL), 7. Michael ZULLO, 8. Paulo RETRE, 11. Danny DA SILVA (65’ 35. Cameron DEVLIN), 14. Alex BROSQUE (67’ 12. Trent BUHAGIAR), 19. Chris ZUVELA, 21. Charles LOKOLI-NGOY (86’ 17. Luke IVANOVIC), 26. Sebastian GALLEGOS
Subs Not Used: 16. William MUTCH, 18. Patrick FLOTTMANN, 32. Sam McILLHATTON, 33. Joel KING.
Yellow Cards: None.
Red Cards: None.
Hakoah Sydney City FC: 1. Anthony BOUZANIS (GK) (37’ 40. Michael FIGUEIRA (GK) ), (70’ 25. Max EPHRAIM (GK) ) , 3. Michael KOUTA, 4. Bradley WALKER, 10. Andre DE JONG (64’ 2. Hesan SOUFI), 11. Jordan CRIGHTON, 15. Steven KATSIONIS, 19. Dominic COX, 21. Amaury GAUTHIER, 22. Mitchell KNIGHT, 46. Ethan DE MELLO, 60. Takayuki NOJI.
Subs: 5. Mitchell STAMATELLIS, 6. Cameron DRAPER, 7. Aswin ADINANTO, 8. Oliver GREEN, 13. Robert EZEKIEL, 16. Joshua ORCHARD, 17. Harry JONES, 27. Jordan MAKRIDOPOLOUS, 33. Jordan LEWIS, 43. Max BALARD, 45. Mario REBOLLO, 54. Ben FUCHS.
Yellow Cards: None.
Red Cards: None.
