WOLVES HIT FIVE TO DEFEAT SYDNEY F.C.

2024 NPL MENS 1 ROUND 26

SYDNEY FC v WOLLONGONG WOLVES

WOLVES HIT FIVE TO DEFEAT SYDNEY F.C.

In a fast and furiously pace for much of the match, the Wollongong Wolves kept their finals quest on track with a dominant display against the relegation threatened Sydney F.C.. The Wolves matched Sydney F.C’.s intensity but were more productive, hitting five goals, with Lachlan Scott scoring a brace and with Takumi Ofuka, Chris McStay and Jake Trew joining in on the act.  Sydney F.C. scored a consolation with an own goal. This was the Wolves most impressive performance of the season.

The match began with Wolves running towards the southern end and kicking off the proceedings. The Wolves kept the ball with several players touching as Sydney employed a high press. A minute in, Sydney’s Jacob Brazete tried to thread through a pass but Darcy Madden chested the ball down and then cleared. A Chris McStay corner kick saw Banri Kanaizumi heading narrowly wide with the Wolves’ first effort in anger.

In the eight minute, Blake Bolwell achieved a shot that unfortunately for his team flew narrowly over the cross bar. Samuel Riak won an aerial ball which was the first of many in the match. A minute later, a dangerous move from Ayouk Mow was intercepted by Kanaizumi. Mow’s further shot from wide on the right sailed over the bar. Sebastian Hernandez produced a low effort which went straight to the Sydney F.C.  custodian. Harrison Buesnell got the better of Mow, who looked to cause danger. Buesnell then intervened as the ball went Mathias Macaliister.

The first goal arrived in the twenty-second minute. Yagoub Mustafa made an enterprising foray on the right side. He received the angled ball from Banri Kanaizumi. He pushed it forward for Sebastian Hernandez. He was shut down, so he passed back to Andre Takami, and he subsequently lifted the ball up to Mustafa. He got around Will Kennedy before centring the ball into space. Ofuka took charge and slotted a left footed effort past a defender and custodian into the goal.  Prior to this, Riak produced a left footed shot that rocketed in on target, only for the goalkeeper, Gus Hoefsloot to beat away with his hands.

The second goal lead-up began when Ofuka took possession of an errant Sydney F.C.  pass. He moved the ball on to Scott and a return pass was in the offing. Ofuka then, produced a shot which McStay attempted to get hold of, but Hoesfloot pushed it away. However, the ball fell into the path of Scott, and he pushed it home for his eighth goal of the campaign.

The Wolves’ third successful strike emanated when Mustafa’s shot from the edge of the box was blocked by Mathias Macalister. after he received Hernandez’ pass from the right.  The ball rebounded to Ofuka. He slipped a pass to Darcy Madden. His considered, constructive cross curved into the box. Scott rose with Dylan Rose and Kennedy in the vicinity. Scott’s looping header projected into the goal to bring up another of his braces.

Sydney F.C. pulled a goal back as substitute Namory Conde who had two attempts from the right. The first pass after he got to the by line with Madden and Ofuka in attendance, was pushed back to him by Kanaizumi. He subsequently came in again.  Conde skirted Ofuka and ran along the by line, He played the ball and Madden stuck out a leg. The ball deflected off his leg into the goal.

The Wolves were undaunted at Sydney‘s goal and scored their fourth with three minutes left on the clock. McStay drew a save from Hoesfloot, but he spilled the ball. Jake Trew charged in to rifle the ball into the back of the net.

A fifth goal beckoned when Alex Masciovecchio found himself with the ball in the centre of the penalty area. He juggled the ball momentarily after getting it off Conde. However, the ball ultimately ran free with McStay latching onto the ball and despatching left footed with power and vigour into the goal.

As the match earlier progressed there were quick turnarounds with attacking manoeuvres. Sometimes passes went astray with both teams guilty at stages.

Twenty-eight minutes in, a Blake Bolwell long ball went over the heads of two Wolves defenders with Mitchell Glasson taking control and being in daylight. The Wolves’ custodian Vedran Janjetovic came off his line to narrow the angle. With an empty goal in his sights, he lifted the ball over the bar. A minute prior, Ofuka slid the ball to McStay, and his shot was on target but could not beat Hoesfloot.

A minute before half time, Glasson bent his effort beyond the far post with Janjetovic flying consequently. Hernandez steamed forward and put in a shot, but it lacked the requisite power. McStay and Mustafa were free and unmarked on the left.

At half time it was 0-2 to the away team.

Sydney F.C. started the second half off at a quick pace and took scant time to get the ball forward only lor Mustafa to halt the progress.  A Wolves free kick saw a McStay set piece being headed over by Kanaizumi.

On fifty-five minutes, Brazete produced an effort which Janjetovic took low down. A further effort from outside the penalty area by Wataru Kamijo, was thwarted by the Wolves’ custodian.

Trew put the ball wide with Hoesfloot off his line and an open goal in sight. Bailey Callaghan very nearly achieved a goal after Glasson went flying down the right in a determined foray. He crossed and Callaghan nearly got a foot in, but his effort was smothered by Janjetovic with two bites at the cherry, gathering in Callaghan’s leg as well as the ball.

A free kick to Sydney F.C. outside the penalty arc saw Glasson providing a top shot but failed to beat Janjetovic who palmed it away to safety. It was not Sydney F.C.’s day.

It was a top performance by the Wolves and not a result Sydney would be wanting, but each team has more to play for, with four rounds left to go.

Coach David Carney – ‘a good performance I thought.  It was good to get the early goal and to get the second one to go in at half time in a comfortable position. Coming out I thought we dominated most of the time. Energy levels were high and were kept up. And subs made a difference too coming on with the fresh legs. Lachie was under the weather and scored two goals and he did his part. The three points keeps up the momentum for the finals. I think they will avoid relegation with other players coming back from the Joeys and such.’

Goal scorer and impressive midfielder, Chris McStay – ‘you are playing against some good young players in a relegation battle, so they came out fighting so we knew it was going to be intense game, so the boys had to be up for it, and we were… You must be there challenging and competing.  They are fighting for survival, and we are fighting for the finals to finish as high as we can. We are pushing for that fourth position

We were there to compete today…. I was happy with the that one (his goal.)

SYDNEY F.C.…….…………………….1

Own goal 81’

WOLLONGONG WOLVES ……….…5

Takumi Ofuka 22’,, Lachlan Scott 32, 51’, Jake Trew 86’, Chris McStay 89’

@ ILINDEN SPORTS CENTRE, ROCKDALE.

FRIDAY  26th JULY

7.30 p.m. kick off.

SYDNEY FC

Coach: Jimmy Van Weeren.

20. Gus Hoesfloot 4. Joseph Calusic, 6. Dylan Rose (14. Jared Middleton 67’) 7. Jacob Brazete 17. Ayouk Mow (28. Nicholas Alfaro 61’) 18. Mitchell Glasson, 22. Will Kennedy (Capt.), 24. Wataru Kamijo 32. Samuel Lancaster (9. Bailey Callaghan 61’) 33. Mathais Macallister, (8. Namory Conde 61) 34. Blake Bolwell (Noah Mathie 67’)

Substitutes not used:  30. Daniel Solsky,

Yellow Cards: Nicholas Alfaro 67’

Red Cards: nil

WOLLONGONG WOLVES

Coach: David Carney

20. Vedran Janjetovic (GK), 2. Harrison Buesnell, 3. Darcy Madden 5. Banri Kanaizumi, 6. Samuel Riak 7. Takumi Ofuka 8. Andre Takami (27. Damon Gray 89’) 10. Yagoub Mustafa 11. Sebastien Hernandez (25. Alex Masciovecchio 82’’), 24. Lachlan Scott (Capt.) (9. Jake Trew 71’), 88. Christopher McStay.

Substitutes Not Used:, 13. Oliver Yates, 15. Dax Kelly, 29. Ben Giason.

Yellow Cards: Chris McStay 63’, Darcy Madden 78’

Red Cards: nil

Referee: Ivica Covic

Assistant Referees: Emma Kocbek and Anastasia Filacouridis.

Fourth Official: Thomas Dale

 

By Malcolm Rowney