Sydney FC Youth claimed the National Youth League for the 2015-16 season with a 5-2 thumping of Adelaide United in the Grand Final at Central Coast Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
In a cagey opening to the match, it was the Reds that fired the first warning shot when Jordan O’Doherty’s cut back found number 10 Dylan Smith, whose goal-bound effort was deflected wide by the Sydney FC defence.
It only took until the 12th minute for the Sky Blues to draw first blood. Daniel Araujo’s through ball found right-back Nicola Kuleski on the by-line, whose cut back setup Alex Mullen to side-foot into the bottom corner at the near post, having sent goalkeeper Daniel Margush the wrong way.
Four minutes later, Adelaide passed up a golden chance to level the match. Smith managed to beat two Sydney defenders on the edge of the box and was clean through on goal. Sky Blues custodian Anthony Bouzanis kept his composure and blocked Smith’s effort to protect his side’s lead.
With 20 minutes on the clock, Margush made his first contribution of the afternoon when he produced a spectacular one-handed diving save to claw out a long-range Max Burgess free-kick from the top corner.
The Sky Blues did not have to wait long to double their advantage, in the 24th minute Araujo outmuscled left-back Oliver Zafiridis and squared the ball for an unmarked Chris Zuvela to tap-in from close-range. Just as it seemed the match was getting away from the Conference A champions, the Reds were given a lifeline when just after the half-hour, defender Jacob Tratt diverted the ball into his own net from a corner kick.
The visitors pressed hard to restore their two-goal advantage, but Mullen and Yianni Spyrakis were denied by Margush in the 36th and 38th minutes, respectively. Five minutes before halftime, Burgess ensured Sydney would go to the break with the two-goal advantage. After seeing an attempted through ball deflect back into his path, the winger cut in from the right and fired a low left-footed drive which beat Margush at the near post.
The goalkeeper remained the busiest player on the park, denying Bai Antoniou three minutes after the restart when the striker went one-on-one. One minute later, however, Sydney found a fourth goal. An out-swinging Cristian Gonzalez corner found Mullen who rose highest above the pack to power a header into the net.
It was another set piece which pushed the Conference B winner’s lead out to 5-1 in the 56th minute. Gonzalez whipped in an in-swinging corner from the right, which Margush seemed to misjudge as it went all the way in at the far post.
The one-way traffic continued, though Adelaide were able to pull another goal back in the 61st minute against the run of play. A long ball found striker Samed Altundag, who with no support beat three defenders and fired into the roof of the net from the edge of the six-yard box.
There was still time for both sides to miss opportunities to add to their score – Altundag blazed wide, while Burgess forced Margush into yet another save and Zuvela rounded the host custodian only to hit the side netting when an empty net beckoned.
The frenetic nature of the match slowed up in the final 20 minutes with the heat taking its toll on the players and the result being beyond doubt.
Over-age player proves pivotal
The National Youth League’s rules stipulate that each side is allowed to field four over-age players per match. The eventual champions fielded two in the grand final – Alex Mullen and Jacob Tratt, with the former proving to be pivotal in his side’s outcome by scoring a brace.
On the other hand, it was Adelaide United’s philosophy not to field any over-age players at any point of the season unless absolutely necessary – and did so only with one player, in one match of the campaign.
This is in no way bending or breaking any rules, many clubs choose to field some over-age names to keep them match fit or as an injury comeback, as the Youth League doubles for many A-League clubs as a reserve grade. The decision by Reds coach Michael Valkanis to use the National Youth League as exactly that – a youth league, is a decision that is commendable and by qualifying for the grand final, shows that by not fielding overage players, is not necessarily to a team’s detriment. Despite being well beaten on the day, Adelaide have had a season to be proud of.
Open, expansive football in a grand final?
Despite a rather uneventful first five minutes, this title decider quickly sprung to life. Both teams decided to go for it and play the same style of football that got the pair of them this far. This philosophy employed by both coaches made for a very entertaining spectacle and was a far cry from the usual cagey, overly cautious final where teams seem to change how they play, out of fear of making a mistake and the psychological effects a final has on a player’s mind. Well done Sydney FC and Adelaide United for going against the grain and providing a very entertaining final.
The wrong Adelaide turned up
Despite aiming to take the game to Sydney FC, it seemed the ghosts of the disastrous day in Brisbane returned to haunt the Reds. On the whole, their season was very impressive – however, one can see how Brisbane hit 10 against the Conference A winners. Not by lack of trying or attitude, Adelaide just were not at the races on the day. They were repeatedly torn to ribbons and every time Sydney went forward, it seemed like they would score. If not for a superb performance from Margush in goal (despite conceding five, which included a corner which went all the way in) and some poor finishing at times from the Sky Blues, they may well have been hit for 10 again, or perhaps even more on another day.
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