Sunday football across beautiful Sydney

Plenty of games were played yesterday around the town, and Sydney put on some wonderful weather to celebrate. Both the city's Hyundai A-League teams were in action, whilst the NSW Premier League began their finals series. A lot was revealed in Sunday's friendly matches involving WS Wanderers and Sydney FC.


2pm: Sydney FC 1 drew Newcastle Jets 1
(Leichhardt Oval. Crowd 2k)

Ruben Zadkovich scored a pretty good goal from a freekick just outside the box, curving it in past an outstreched Necevski. The unlikely goalscorer always seems to perform best when playing against his former club. Perhaps Newcastle should give Ruben some sky blue coloured contacts to wear when playing other teams. The Jets were the more cohesive team and looked great in their Del Piero, Juve themed strip.

Sydney meanwhile had about half of their first team in action and as such couldn't quite get a hang of the attractive, possession based football they're obviously seeking to play. They often got caught attempting to play out from defense but then again they did only have one of their first team defenders available. That was Fabio Alves, who played out of his skin to again prove himself to loyal Sydney fans questioning his move from Victory. Youngster Mitch Mallia headed in the equaliser from a corner in the second half.


4pm. Marconi Stallions 2 def Sydney Oympic 0
(Belmore Sports Ground)

Second placed Olympic were downed at their homeground by third placed Marconi after a brace from Joe Gibbs. It means last year's Champions will have a second chance to get through to the next stage of the finals, facing Blacktown City in a week.


8pm. Western Sydney Wanderers 1 def Parramatta FC Eagles 0
(Parramatta Stadium. Crowd 1k)

In their first hit out at new home Parramatta Stadium the Wanderers found a win, albeit a single goal event against the NSW Premier League's cellar dwellers. There's a lot of positivity and goodwill floating around for this club, but on preseason results alone it doesn't look as if they're going to be overly competitive this season. Contrast this narrow margin win, their loss to Heart in Lismore, a 1-0 win over Brisbane Premier League outfit Wolves FC, and a 2-1 defeat to Sydney United, with Adelaide United for example, who toppled champions Brisbane Roar a massive 6-2. It won't give Wanderers fans the greatest of faith.

Dino Kresinger got the winner for Wanderers in tonight's match, chipping Eagles' 'keeper Matthew Nash on the hour mark.