R.I.P. The absolute pipe dream of our youth competing for the Prem in a comp full of prospective NSD clubs.
Hope we can at least maintain a finals spot… Assuming the NSW NPL doesn’t get called off again.
There have been highlights!?
Probably deserved that on the balance of play in the second half.
I like Kucharski’s selfish attitude in and around the box. Too often we see young players looking for options rather than backing themselves.
The young Dutchy in goals is a marked improvement. He looks a lot more confident and the defenders appear more settled as a result.
Do a North Korean version.
Start the highlights with “after a boring and uneventful first half that ended 0-0” just show the second half.
2-0 winners baby!
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Yeah much better 2nd half, controlled it even before the reward of pulling a couple back. Kucharski seemed to have more space by starting wider and cutting in, looked more dangerous.
Highlight being 2 absolute club legends on the benches, Pirate Bingley as assistant to Crittenden and of course Howie “Muscat snapper” Fondyke. Pleasure to be in the same postcode as such greatness.
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Yeah, actually a great second half.
Unfortunately, the game was too far gone.
Good it wasn’t such a huge hit to GD as it seemed it might be. Good fight shown.
Despite the side shipping goals, Aaron Gurd looks a player for the future.
It’s far too early for him for the A League but he should be the #4 CB next season. Reads the game well, is great with his feet and doesn’t shirk an aerial challenge. I don’t see why we should keep someone like Liam McGing rather than giving him that occasional experience.
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What was the final score in the end?
4-2 to Blacktown
Yep, 3-0 down inside 10 mins (one deflection, one flapped cross leading to a smashing finish at the back stick, one goalmouth scramble / shooting gallery that got thumped in at the 3rd or 4th attempt). It was pretty ugly and we could’ve been 5-0 down inside 20 mins, but after that we got a foothold before conceding a 4th just before half-time, that was a pen from an unfortunate handball (cross drilled at close range) which our keeper saved, scrambled and saved the follow up again, before Jordan Smylie tapped it home at the 3rd attempt.
So 4-0 probably a fair scoreline at the break, Blacktown were utterly dominant. Won everything in midfield, some good switches and got in behind at will (Kai Kamikura at LB had a particularly torrid time), while we offered nothing going forward. Couldn’t keep the ball or string 2 passes together, Blacktown super organised and knew exactly where and when to squeeze and win it back.
Credit to JVW, our boys were infinitely better after the break and deservedly “won” the second half. Couple of good saves at either end and Blacktown had one that deflected onto the bar that looked awfully like it had crossed the line, but we were still the better side after HT. Fairly strong lineup for them as well tbh, front three of Mario Shabow, Jordan Smylie & Mitch Mallia plus they also had Jackson Bandiera at LB all as ex-HAL players. But really they just bossed the middle of the park for the first half hour.
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APIA conceded late in injury time to draw 3-3 with Northbridge, so if our boys beat Olympic (live right now on NPL.TV) they will go top.
Beautifully worked goal by Sydney to level things up at 1-1 just now.
Fucking pick that out!
Kachowski makes it 2-1 with his 2nd, a long range shot this time.
3-1, superb counter. 
Finishes 3-1, caught most of it on the stream, take a bow Jimmy. Excellent performance from all, much better than last week against still a pretty strong Olympic team (remember they pushed our A-L lads just a few months ago).
Much more solid at the back. Grimaldi improved alongside Gurd and Trenkoski at LB much stronger than Kai was last week. All helped by a much more coherent midfield that could keep the ball and Girdwood-Reich looked very tidy cleaning up in front of them (he was missing last week).
Kucharski a little bit special up top and forming a really good partnership with Sapsford. Both missed glorious chances in the few minutes either side of Olympics opener and our equaliser, so we probably deserved to be in front even before JK’s screamer and then the textbook counter that killed it.
This team is the good Sydney FC.
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Is there anywhere to get highlights for these games?
I usually get them on YouTube on the Football NSW channel, usually go up early in the week (last week’s FYI):
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I’m beginning to think Kucharski will be ready for the first team next season if he continues like this. I’m not saying he should start every week but should definitely be seeing game time.
He’s direct, loves to take on his man and backs himself when there’s a chance.
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