Sydney FC 1 Melbourne City 1
The evening’s hors d’oeuvre to the main meal in Uzbekistan on this day of Saint Taylor took us to Allianz Stadium for a real test for Sydney FC’s growing credentials as a top six side. A superb first half that saw the reborn Jordan Courtney-Perkins rifle in a contender for goal of the season had us scratching our heads as to why we weren’t further ahead. A fabulous route-one move from Melbourne City brought the scores level with an equally impressive strike from former Sky Blue starlet Marco Tilio, and the game could have gone either way in a see-sawing finish. There was lots going on tonight, and the game was superb entertainment.
After a morning NPL pre-season fixture in Newcastle, this one was always going to be a little rushed. Judging by the volume of people on the light rail I wasn’t the only one who was cursing the early kick off. Michelle and Carla were on the same packed tram, having joined from the pub at Surry Hills, and our Perth cousins Nic and Aaron were joining the fun at Allianz in between T. Swift gigs. One of our group being in a wheelchair did raise the question – how the f*ck do you get up those steps to Allianz Stadium – but we knew where the lifts were and it was incredibly easy.
The stadium was fuller than last week, and the 5.40pm kick off caught out everyone – we all thought it was 5.30pm, but that was a blessing in disguise for those running even later than us. We were in our seats well before kick off, again a meagre turn out from our block of members, but for those who were there, the pre-game excitement was building. A happy birthday tifo was unveiled as the players emerged, a smurf holding a cake, the Cove Youth celebrating a milestone, and a row of blokes in pink shirts, rumoured to be the prototype for next year’s goalkeeper top, took their spot in the main stand. The Cove were in good voice, the ceremonial feeding of the on-field pre-game flag into it’s storage bin was quite a spectacle down below, and we were ready for kick off.
Sydney were brilliant in the first half. It did take a good chance for City to wake us up, Tilio and Andrew Nabbout looking menacing, but most of the attacking play was at the other end as the Sky Blues stroked the ball around beautifully. Jamie Young was his usual annoyingly outstanding self in the City goal, but he could do nothing about Courtney-Perkins’ shot midway through the first half; the ball was worked out to the athletic wing back in space, and we were all expecting a low-percentage cross to be slid in for Fabio Gomes, but he simply rifled the ball into the top corner of the goal with one of the best strikes you’ll see at Allianz Stadium. The stadium erupted in shock and awe – what a goal, and from a player who had looked lost at sea only a few months ago. Young made a great double save too, conjecture about whether the follow-up actually hit the post or not, and Sydney had plenty of chances. Fabio was guilty of a glaring miss, powering his header wide, and the home team had Rhyan Grant to thank for a timely block to stop a certain goal as the half wore on. Terrific entertainment on the field.
The first half was drawing to a close with the participants for the toddlers’ race lining up in front of the home fans; it was amusing watching mums and dads, mainly dads, corralling their excited, adventurous children, who were taking it in turns to escape from their parents’ supervision. When the half-time whistle sounded, the field instantly filled with half-time heroes and we had the traditional Benny Hill scene of the ground staff trying to divert the sprinklers as they soaked all the heroes with a heavy spray. Just when they had it under control, the centre sprinklers went off as the toddlers were lining up – still can’t believe this still happens. It’s definitely not just a Kogarah thing.
The wee little girl who won the race and fired into the goal to a big cheer was stoked; the half-time presenter was keen to talk to her, which gave way to the scene of another toddler trying and struggling to get around the presenter to score their goal. Priceless scenes.
City were out early for the second half and Sydney made them wait. Mind games maybe? The second 45 was eventful. The Sky Blues were matched by their opponents and the game opened up into a classic. Fabio was down for a while after choosing the wrong option once again, but to be fair his aerial ability came in handy to win some unwinnable headers in a raw, bustling performance. When Joe Lolley lifted in a limp corner, Young immediately punted the ball upfield for Tilio. He took the ball in his stride, cut inside and leathered the ball into the goal, another sweet strike at the same end, and City were level. We’d had the warning already a couple of times, Tilio just way too quick, so this one was as disappointing as it was impressive.
The Cove’s megaphone had a few moments, our fearless capo carrying out running repairs mid-song, and once again the party in the home end was going off, win, lose or draw.
The last ten minutes were action-packed, some of our group having left to make kick off for the Matildas game at Cheers Bar. Super sub Max Burgess, on for the unimpressive Fabio, was forced into a professional foul to prevent City taking the lead. VAR had a good long look at it, trying to find a reason to give a penalty – after seeing the “mic’d up refs” segment on Optus during the week, this could easily have been a penalty, but the end result was a free kick and yellow card for Maxi.
The shot from the free kick was over, and City had a nother good chance soon after that whistled over. Redders was cautioned for going off at the ref after he had missed an obvious foul in the lead-up. With Jaiden Kucharski on for a miniature cameo, Sydney piled on the pressure. We had a pitch invader, something that we never see these days, a clueless nob who ambled onto the field, grinning gormlessly with his arms in the air before being roughly manhandled by security, with no resistance whatsoever. Luke Brattan may or may not have been telling them to be less rough, or he could have been egging them on as they headed swiftly for the tunnel – honestly, with “kids on the pitch” coming up in ten minutes’ time, what was the point of copping a massive fine and a ban from football for years? Some people…
Sydney couldn’t find a way through, Maxi blazed one over from in front, the front line made life uncomfortable for Young as City continued to play the short game in defence, and a 1-1 draw was probably the right result. Shame we couldn’t get the full three points, especially after that first-half showing, and Lolley did everything in his power to get that shot away on his left after cutting in, but City were wise to it.
The players and fans appaluded each other for their efforts this evening, the Cove reminded the players who we were playing next week, and the teams were quickly off the field as the nets were hung up on the goalposts and the field promptly cleared ahead of the manic open pitch session that followed. The security guards instructed all those crowded round the gates at the end of the field to make their way to the sides of the stadium, probably so the patchy dead grass behind the goal wasn’t affected. The kids raced onto the field, most heading straight the mascots, Muph and Plutonic, never know which one is which, as more and more people spilled onto the playing surface. The ground staff would have watched on with bated breath, and indeed as I was walking around checking the state of the field, a big lummox of a kid was hacking away at the penalty spot at the Cove end as if he was a defender spoiling a crucial penalty at the world cup. That’s why we can’t have nice things folks…
A close-up inspection of the pitch did show that the unknitted sections of turf were still obvious. We’re going to have to put up with this consistently now that the concert cap has been lifted, and with rugby union and NRL to come, it will be heavily tested. The field started to empty and it was time to get out of there, the 8pm Sydney time kick off from Tashkent already having passed, and after tuning in to 10 Play on the light rail, it was straight into Cheers Bar to join the gang for the big game. Ninety frustrating swearing-filled minutes later, with the Matildas being rescued by the Grand Old Mrs Fornaroli, the footballing day was over. Cheers Bar was gearing up for a night of EPL action with Perth Glory as the entree, but we were back on the train and home, with 30 minutes still to go at HBF Park.
Another brilliant spectacle at Allianz Stadium, the A-League definitely delivering unparalleled matchday entertainment and to be honest, had we lost, it would still have been a great match. Hayden Matthews was again solid against a sparkling City attack and we look forward to next week’s Sydney derby double-header at the shit-hole with plenty of optimism. This might not be make or break for our season, with the teams separated by a point and just inside the top six with a small buffer to seventh. Melbourne City will definitely come good though at the end of the season, so any slip-up will be crucial. See you next week. Forza Sydney FC.
