Sydney FC made it five wins from six pre-season matches when they defeated Northern Fury FC in the first match of the Wingate Townsville Football Cup.
Sydney FC (Petkovic 3‘, Gameiro 67’, 76’) d. Northern Fury FC 1 (Fraser 73’ pen)
The Sky Blues dominated the game and should have had more goals after they created a number of other good chances. In-form striker Corey Gameiro was again the difference bagging a second half brace to take his total to nine goals in six pre-season games.
Nikola Petkovic opened up the scoring for Sydney FC with an early goal from a free kick, while Fury’s consolation came from the penalty spot.
Shane Smeltz made his Sydney FC debut setting up the club’s third strike for Corey Gameiro and coming close to getting on the scoresheet himself as well.
What They Said
Graham Arnold: “It was a good workout, I think Fury played very well. We were a bit sloppy at times but when you look at the conditions, it’s very warm and I had a lot of young boys on the field to give them a bit of experience of game time as well. In the end I was happy we got through without any injuries.
“It was a pretty slow game because of the heat and we are not used to that at the moment coming from Sydney. It’s a great opportunity and a training camp situation. The most important thing this week is the physical aspect of our game and to return to Sydney with no injuries.”
Shane Smeltz: “It’s good to get 45 minutes under my belt and I felt really good out there. We created a lot of good chances and I was very pleased at how well we worked as a team, particularly for our 3rd goal.
“I don’t think I’ve ever played in a team with this much depth in the final third and that can only be good for the season ahead.”
Goals
3’ PETKOVIC – Sydney FC win a free kick on the right hand edge of the pitch after a foul on Pedj Bojic. Nikola Petkovic steps up to take it left footed and swings the ball into the danger area where two defenders fail to clear it and it nestles inside the right hand post of the Fury keeper.
67’ GAMEIRO – Goalkeeper David Schonberger makes a dreadful error when releasing the ball to his defender. Instead he gives it straight to in-form Sydney FC striker Corey Gameiro who has an open goal to slot the ball into.
73’ FRASER (Penalty) – Northern Fury attacker Jake Perry takes on Sydney FC’s George Timetheou inside the penalty box and the young defender trips him to give away a penalty. Striker Kevin Fraser steps up and sends Anthony Bouzanis the wrong way.
76’ GAMEIRO – A counter attack from the Sky Blues and a fabulous cross from the right of the Sydney FC attack by Shane Smeltz falls right on the head of Gameiro and the striker guides his header perfectly into the far left hand corner of the keeper’s goal.
Other Key Moments
19’ IBINI CHANCE – Bernie plays a neat one-two with Nick Carle receiving the ball back in the left channel of the penalty area. The striker’s pace put him clear of the defence but from a tight angle passes the ball wide of the upright when aiming for the keeper’s left hand corner.
28’ BOJIC HEADER – A left wing corner from Petkovic is hit deep to the far post where Bojic standing on the 6 yard line directs a downward header towards goal which defender squeezes around the post.
34’ BOUZANIS SAVE – Northern Fury’s Corey Waples takes on a long range shot which is headed for the top corner until Anthony Bouzanis gets his finger tips to the ball to direct it onto the bar and Sydney FC clear the resulting second ball.
35’ BOJIC HIT BAR – Pedj Bojic receives the ball on the right edge of the box and unleashes a shot which skims the top of the Fury cross bar.
49’ GAMEIRO CHANCE – A mid range pass from Antonis puts Corey Gameiro clean through with only the keeper to beat however as the striker attempts to round the keeper he takes too heavy a touch and puts the ball out of play for a goal kick.
60’ SMELTZ SHOT SAVED – Gameiro picks up the back on the left edge of the yard box and squirts the ball across the line to Smeltz at the back post. The Kiwi international hits a first time shot which the keeper parries as he races across his line. Smeltz picks up the rebound and gives it to Carle whose goal bound shot from 12 yards is blocked.
80’ GAMEIRO HAT-TRICK CHANCE – Cross from the right again finds Gameiro but the front man puts his header straight into the arms of the keeper when free from 8 yards out.
Team News
Sydney FC (Petkovic 3‘, Gameiro 67’, 76’) d. Northern Fury FC 1 (Fraser 73’ pen)
Ground: Townsville Sports Reserve
Referee: Alan Milliner
Arnold gave a start to Anthony Bouzanis in goal while also brought in Christopher Naumoff, Alex Gersbach, Pedj Bojic and Nick Carle in the Sky Blues first outing since their 3-1 Westfield FFA Cup win over Melbourne City.
Sydney FC: 30. Anthony BOUZANIS, 4. Pedj BOJIC (27. Aaron CALVER 60’), 5. Matt JURMAN, 6. Nikola PETKOVIC (24. Themba MUATA-MARLOW 75’), 11. Bernie IBINI (7. Corey GAMEIRO 45’), 12. Hagi GLIGOR (18. Peter TRIANTIS 45’), 13. Christopher NAUMOFF, 14. Alex BROSQUE (9. Shane SMELTZ 45’), 16. Alex GERSBACH (25. George TIMETHEOU 70’) , 17. Terry ANTONIS, 19. Nick CARLE.
Subs Not Used: 1. Ivan NECEVSKI, 20. Vedran JANJETOVIC, 21. Marc JANKO, 26. Dylan CATON.
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