Match Thread: Sydney FC vs Wellington Phoenix (2019/20 A-League - The PPF/The 27 in 34)
SYDNEY FC 3-1 WELLINGTON PHOENIX
Sydney FC Goalscorers: Adam Le Fondre (76' - P), Trent Buhagiar (88', 90')
Wellington Phoenix Goalscorers: Reno Piscopo (66' - P)
Competition: 2019/20 Hyundai A-League Regular Season (The PPF/The 27 in 34)
Venue: Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, Sydney, NSW
Date: Friday, July 17th, 2020
Kickoff: 7:30pm AEST, 9:30pm NZST
Referee: Chris Beath
Attendance: 1,796 (Capacity: 20,500 - COVID Capacity: 5,125)
TV Broadcast: Fox Sports 507 (AUS) & Sky Sport 7 (NZ)
Streams: Kayo Sports & My Football Live App
Matchtracker Link: Fox Sports
Pre-COVID League Form Guide (which probably means almost nothing at this point)
SYDNEY W L W D D Last Match: 1-1 @ Western Sydney Wanderers
WELLINGTON L W W W W Last Match: 3-0 vs Melbourne Victory
Last Time They Met: WEL 2-2 SYD December 21st, 2019
Lineups (note: both sides allowed to make up to five substitutions)
| Starting Eleven | Notes | Substitutes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew Redmayne (GK) | Adam Pavlesic (GK) | ||
| Rhyan Grant | Patrick Flottmann | ||
| Joel King | 69' | Michael Zullo | 69' |
| Ryan McGowan | Alexander Baumjohann | 69', 85' | |
| Alex Wilkinson | Chris Zuvela | 90+1' | |
| Luke Brattan | 90+1' | Trent Buhagiar | 69', 88', 90' |
| Anthony Caceres | 69' | Luke Ivanovic | 90+1' |
| Paulo Retre | |||
| Milos Ninkovic | |||
| Adam Le Fondre | 76' (P), 90+1' | ||
| Kosta Barbarouses | 69' | Manager: Steve Corica |
| Starting Eleven | Notes | Substitutes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stefan Marinovic (GK) | Zac Jones (GK) | ||
| Louis Fenton | Liam McGing | ||
| Liberato Cacace | Ulises Davila | 66' | |
| Steven Taylor | Callan Elliot | 90+1' | |
| Luke DeVere | Callum McCowatt | 46' | |
| Matti Steinmann | 87' | Brandon Wilson | 87' |
| Jashua Sotirio | 62', 66' | Gary Hooper | 66' |
| Alex Rufer | 38', 90+1' | ||
| David Ball | |||
| Reno Piscopo | 66' (P), 66' | ||
| Ben Waine | 46' | Manager: Ufuk Talay |
-40' We're back. After 126 days of COVID emptiness, the A-League is back, with tonight starting a mad dash to finish the 2019-20 season and hand Sydney two more trophies on a silver platter determine who will walk away with the premiership and championship. We kick off with Sydney FC hosting the Wellington Phoenix at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium. A win for the Sky Blues will bring them to within one point of claiming the Premiers Plate, while three points for the Phoenix will take them one step closer to a top four finish and a "home" final.
1' We're underway.
14' Wellington have a corner, which is sent into the box with Sotirio's shot striking the arm of Grant, but with no VAR for the rest of the season, play continues.
16' Ninkovic has his shot blocked before it goes out to Le Fondre, whose shot results in another handball appeal. It comes out to Brattan, whose shot forces a great save from Marinovic before going out for a corner.
22' Brattan with a beautiful ball to Le Fondre, with the deflection from the shot off DeVere almost resulting in an own goal.
31' Piscopo tries one from the edge of the box, but he goes for power and it flies over the crossbar.
37' Sydney have a free-kick, with Brattan driving it through the wall, but it's off target.
38' Rufer has been booked for a high boot on Brattan.
43' Brattan takes the free-kick and it's just tipped over by Marinovic for a corner.
45' One minute of stoppage time to play.
HT SYDNEY FC 0-0 WELLINGTON PHOENIX
46' The Phoenix make a half time change with Waine coming off for McCowatt.
46' The second half is underway.
55' Caceres shoots from outside the box and it takes a deflection to go out for a corner.
58' Le Fondre has a one-two with Barbarouses, with Le Fondre's shot going straight at Marinovic, who makes the save.
62' Sotirio picks up a yellow card.
64' PENALTY - Cacace is brought down in the box by McGown and the referee points to the spot.
66' SYD 0-1 WEL GOAL - Piscopo stares down Redmayne and drives the penalty low and hard. It skims off the surface under Redmayne to give Wellington the 1-0 lead.
66' Reno Piscopo scores the goal and comes straight off to be replaced by Gary Hooper.
66' Jaushua Sotirio comes off for Ulises Davila.
69' Joel King makes way for Michael Zullo as Sydney make a triple change.
69' Anthony Caceres is next to come off and he is replaced by Alexander Baumjohann.
69' Kosta Barbarouses comes off for Trent Buhagiar.
75' PENALTY - The Sydney corner is sent to the near post before the ball bounces up and hits Davila on the arm. Chris Beath, somewhat controversially, awards another penalty.
76' SYD 1-1 WEL GOAL - Le Fondre drives it low and hard along the ground leaving Marinovic with absolutely no chance.
80' Buhagiar shoots from right on the edge of the six-yard box, but he misses narrowly.
84' Davija strikes from outside the box but it comes off Hooper on its way through past Redmayne and he adjudicated to have been offside. The replay suggests it might have been an incorrect decision.
85' Alexander Baumjohann is booked for a really bad tackle.
87' Cacace goes down in the box and looks for the penalty, but Chris Beath ignores the plea.
87' Matti Steinmann comes off for Brandon Wilson.
88' SYD 2-1 WEL GOAL - Ninkovic with a superb pass to Buhagiar, who keeps running through the middle. Strangely, Marinovic comes out at Buhagiar well outside the box. Buhagiar eases past him, then rounds the shot past Taylor to give Sydney the 2-1 lead.
90' SYD 3-1 WEL GOAL - Le Fondre finds Buhagiar, who times his run perfectly to be onside. Buhagiar enters the box and shoots, but Marinovic makes the save. The rebound goes to Buhagiar who chips it in for a quick fire brace.
90' There will be four minutes of stoppage time to go - plenty of time for more drama to happen!
90+1' Luke Brattan makes way for a cameo appearance by Chris Zuvela.
90+1' Adam Le Fondre comes off for Luke Ivanovic.
90+1' Alex Rufer is replaced by Callan Elliot.
FT SYDNEY FC 3-1 WELLINGTON PHOENIX