Sydney FC 2 Auckland FC 2
A late equaliser from Guillermo May saw Sydney FC throw away a home final after Alexandar Popovic had struck what looked like the winner, the result and performance a perfect allegory for the Sky Blues’ faltering season. A goalless first half didn’t inspire, but once the teams were shooting towards their own fans, Ben Garuccio’s opener was certainly coming. What we didn’t foresee was Patrick Kisnorbo’s air-tight defence breached so soon when May was left all alone at the back post to head home, and the action was building up to its dramatic end that saw any chance of a home finals match evaporate. Luckily we had chosen to upgrade our tickets to the Sydney Arms; the pain was eased by free-flowing Stone and Wood for three hours.
What seemed like an awkward time for a game turned out to be perfect timing, the 11am kick off for West Ryde Rovers Over 40 Women Division 2 giving us a window to make the journey from the north west suburbs in time for gates opening, something that we haven’t experienced for years. Our usual gate had a long line waiting to get in, and our gate for today around the back was awash with half-time heroes and their families trying to work out where they were meant to go. We had treated ourselves to a membership upgrade to celebrate the conclusion of our birthday month, the new concept of The Sydney Arms giving us an opportunity to get loose while watching from a padded half-way line seat on the sunny side of the stadium.
The warm-ups were happening on the field, but the real warm-up was happening on level 2 as we took full advantage of the beers, burgers and pies before heading out to see the Anzac Day ceremony. That was very well done, the two national anthems of New Zealand and Australia warmly applauded at the conclusion. Ducking back for one more frothy brew, it was time to settle in for the first half, Sydney missing their striker Apostolos Stamatelopoulos, sitting in the stands alongside us, and employing Ahmet Arslan as the central marksman, perhaps sending mixed messages to Victor Campuzano and Paddy Wood on the bench.
We got to see the frustrating side of Al Hassan Toure early in the game, setting off on his runs too early, but he almost caught out Auckland goalkeeper Michael Woud who came out of his box and thought twice about picking up the ball. Garuccio on the other side was having a barnstorming start to the game, and that culminated in a weaving bulldozing run through the visitors’ defence that saw his fierce shot ping off the corner of post and crossbar, Tiago Quintal unable to find a way to goal from the rebound. There were meaty challenges, Wataru Kamijo and Piero Quispe on the receiving end, but the referee kept play going as much as possible. There was also a penalty appeal, the crowd adamant that Quintal had been brought down until the replay showed he had fabricated contact and ‘play on’ was the right decision. Harrison Devenish-Meares was almost caught with the ball right in front of goal as Sydney laboured to play the ball out from the back, but the defence looked solid, Popovic and Jordan Courtney-Perkins winning everything in the air.
The score at the break was unsurprising, the excellent Paul Okon-Engstler having gone close with a low shot, but Sydney FC were blunt in attack, Stamatelopoulos retreating with his family from the beaming sun into the cool dark ‘pub’ to enjoy some half-time food and entertainment. It was tough going in the sun, but it was soon to go behind the opposite stand and we’d have a perfect view of the second half. The toddler race grand final was a close affair, and after collecting yet another cloudy beer from inside, I took my spot for the second half, one of only a handful of people to make it back to my seat to see the start of the second half; it’s a common sight at high-profile games, the swathe of empty seats while the occupants take advantage of the unlimited food and beverage – I don’t think I belong here.
The game was soon to come to life, HDM plucking a corner out of the air right in front of goal. Now that Piero Quispe was on our side we could see exactly what was happening. Maybe it’s an instruction from PK, maybe it’s the players deciding to do it themselves, but nobody passes to Quispe. He was often the obvious ball, and the player in possession would turn and go the other way. When he did receive a ball after heading back inside to find a touch, he strode forward and brought a good save from Woud, the rebound just out of reach of Arslan. Toure flashed a ball in front of Arslan soon after, having picked up a loose ball out wide. The goal was coming, and when it did it was Quispe with the shimmy on the edge of the area before off-loading to Garuccio. The in-form defender shaped to shoot with his left before turning inside and slotting a low shot into the net before racing into the corner as the crowd rose as one. We thought it had taken a deflection, such was the non-reaction from goalkeeper Woud, but on replay it seemed to just deceive everyone.
Wood for Quintal was an odd move, the young winger having offered so much more than the insipid Toure, and he hadn’t been on the field for five seconds when Auckland equalised – a long throw saw the Sydney defence completely switch off, the marking non-existent as Auckland players were allowed to move untracked, Popovic was forced to abandon his man and May was left in acres of space to head the ball home. What a horrible way to concede. Akol Akon and Campuzano were brought on, the utterly uninspiring Toure and the hard-working but ineffectual Arslan making way. Frustratingly Akon would be unwilling to take on his man, choosing to go back to Rhyan Grant instead – we know what he can do, he just has to take the risk.
Courtney-Perkins had a good header flash by the near post, the game was opening up now with the visitors breaking at speed. Quispe caught Auckland napping with a quick corner that almost paid dividends, and it was his corner soon after, flicked on by Campuzano, that found Popovic stealing in behind, and he prodded the ball into the roof of the net before wheeling away in celebration. Fantastic! Surely Sydney had got the win they needed and thoughts turned to getting further late goals to lift us up into second spot. Instead it was Auckland who attacked, Sam Cosgrove a millimetre away from connecting at the far post, and while Akon did wow the crowd with a sweet turn and cross at the other end, it was no shock when the visitors struck. Again it was horrible defending in the box, the unmarked player at the far post lifting the ball back in for May to power in a header unchallenged. The Auckland fans went crazy behind HDM’s goal. There was still time, but the game could go either way, the excellent Kamijo firing over with a hopeful effort, before one of the game’s stupider moments as Paddy Wood kicked the ball out of Woud’s control as the Auckland keeper went to kick the ball upfield – that’s been outlawed for so long, every single fan in the stadium was asking why, Patrick, why?
The game ended with the Auckland players surrounding the referee – it looked like captain Grant had handled in the area – it was on our side – as he went in for a tussle just before the final whistle; now what are the rules in that scenario? Can play be brought back for VAR even if the final whistle has sounded? The boos echoed around the stadium, there was little love between the players and the fans, the home support having endured so much disappointment in a lacklustre season that has somehow still yielded a finals berth.
There was time for a final beer as the party moved back indoors, the blackout curtains allowing us to forget that there had even been a game on, and a strange re-run of a Man Utd v Forest EPL game on the big screens. We were ushered out onto the stadium precinct, and headed off to the Dove and Olive on the light rail to take in the final game of the A-League season to see who we’d play next week.
As partygoers headed off, we took the train back to our local area, enjoying one last beer in the two local pubs before finally getting back home around midnight. A huge day, thankfully no boozy plans made to head to next Saturday’s Big Blue elimination final, and a fitting way to probably farewell the 2025/26 season as a Sydney FC member, barring a miracle. The Sydney Arms? Well that was kinda fun. An evening game would have worked better, having the sun in our eyes in the first half was a real shit, but the concept was good, the food was splendid and the execution very professional. The mood was very upbeat despite the final score, and the sprinkling of familiar faces in the throng gave it quite a celebratory feel. Would I go again? I think I would, maybe once a season, but it was certainly a diversion from the football experience and I’m definitely more at home in Cove Heights amongst the atmosphere without the lure of unlimited food and drinks.
If this is the last home game of the season, thanks for being part of 2025/26 and reading along. It hasn’t been smooth sailing this season in the men’s or women’s competitions, but we’ll be back for more when the new season rolls around again in October. Bring. It. On!