Sydney FC’s Foxtel National Youth League side eased past the Melbourne Victory at Lambert Park, Leichhardt on Sunday to record a 3-1 win and climb into the top four.
Goals to Jordan Tsekenis, Hagi Gligor and Anthony Tomelic comfortably cancelled out Cristaldo’s early second half strike as the Sky Blues midfield proved too strong to breakdown.
The match was barely five minutes old when Sydney FC took the lead in the first real attempt of the game.
A sweeping ball from Blackwood released Andrew who took on the Victory keeper. Spinella, in goals for the Victorians, kept out Andrew’s initial strike however Tsekenis was on hand to loft the ball over the gloveman from outside the area to hand the Sky Blues and early lead.
The Sydney FC midfield continued their pressing game as they forced turnovers in the middle of the park and seven minutes after their first goal the lead was doubled through a fantastic strike from Gligor.
An aerial ball was contested by Blackwood outside the area and he nodded the ball down into the path of Gligor who took one touch before unleashing an unstoppable volley into the roof of the net.
George Blackwood went close moments later after McGing had kept the lead at two goals with a fantastic sliding challenge to deny the Victory from close range and with no further chances the Sky Blues carried their two goal margin into the break.
The deficit was halved only two minutes in to the second period however, as a wayward pass out of defence saw the Victory pounce on the loose ball.
Cristaldo was released into the area on the right, taking two touches and surging forward before firing low and hard into the bottom corner of the net to claw a goal make and make it 2-1.
In immediate response to conceding Steve Corica sent on Max Burgess to restore energy into the midfield as he harassed the Victory into more quick turnovers and wayward passes.
Lifted by conceding Sydney FC sprang into action as they charged forward time and again in search of a third to kill off the game.
That third goal came in the 59th minute as Tomelic was afforded too much time and space on the right hand side of the Victory penalty area. He calmly trapped the ball before looking up and unleashing an unstoppable effort into the net off the hands of the Victory keeper.
From there it was smooth sailing as the Victory struggled to break down the Sky Blues compact defence and with no further chances Sydney FC picked up a valuable three points with a comprehensive home win.
The Young Sky Blues are next in action at Lambert Park, Leichhardt on Sunday 22nd February as they take on the Newcastle Jets (kick off 5pm).
Sydney FC 3 def. Melbourne Victory 1.
SYDNEY FC: 1. Luke BABIC, 17. James ANDREW, 10. George BLACKWOOD, 12. Hagi GLIGOR, 3. Christian GONZALEZ, 14. Nicola KULESKI, 18. Charlies LOKOLI-NGOY (50’ Burgess), 2. Liam MCGING, 5. Themba MUATA-MARLOW, 19. Jordan TSEKENIS (73’ Antoniou), 6. Peter TRIANTIS (46’ Tomelic).
SUBS NOT USED: 20. Matthew SYMES.
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