Sydney FC Academy claimed a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Sydney Olympic in a closely contested match on Sunday night at Belmore Sports Ground. With the surface challenging, both teams displayed a direct style of play, providing an excellent learning opportunity for the young players on the Sydney FC side.
The game remained evenly balanced throughout, with Sydney Olympic enjoying a slight edge in terms of chances created. However, they failed to capitalise on their opportunities, allowing Sydney FC Academy to snatch the win late on.
Defensively, Nathan Paull and Aaron Gurd were standout performers for Sydney FC Academy. They admirably dealt with the direct play from Sydney Olympic, frustrating their opponents and contributing significantly to their team’s victory.
In midfield, Oscar Priestman showcased his skills on the difficult playing surface. Despite the challenges, Priestman managed to score the opening goal for Sydney FC Academy with his weaker left foot. His contribution was crucial in setting the tone for the match. Additionally, Nathan Paull showcased his versatility by converting a corner kick to secure the second goal for his team in stoppage time.
A notable highlight of the match was the NPL debut of Oscar Fryer, a talented U17 attacker. Fryer made a strong impact in the final 15 minutes of the game, demonstrating his abilities by providing the assist for Nathan Paull’s goal.
Post-match, Sydney FC coach Jimmy Van Weeren was very ecstatic with the come from behind victory he told Football NSW.
“I thought that early on in the first half we had the better chances but they kind of took over from there,” he said.
“The surface here isn’t the best and the boys were disappointed to be down a goal at half-time but were still positive.
We believed that if we got the chances in the second half we would win and so I am quite proud of our team to show that mentality. I think most importantly it was nice to see some of the young players that are transitioning into the NPL squad really contributing off the bench.
In the U20’s match earlier in the day, despite their dominance and superior style of play, Sydney FC Academy suffered a 0-1 defeat to a counter-attacking Sydney Olympic team. Despite creating numerous chances, they were unable to convert them into goals. Nonetheless, U16 player Tyler Williams showcased his defensive prowess, while U17 player Lachlan Middleton impressed in midfield.
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