Words: Michael Flynn
Image: Sydney FC

Sydney FC kicked off the Townsville Football Cup on Sunday with a hard-fought 3-1 win over Northern Fury at Townsville Sports Reserve.

Despite dominating their NPL Queensland opponents for long periods, Sydney had to work hard to record the win in the opening match of the week-long tournament.

Nikola Petkovic’s first half free-kick added to a second-half brace from substitute Corey Gameiro, while Kevin Fraser scored from the penalty spot for Fury.

The action started early as Sydney’s pace and quick passing saw Fury chasing shadows from the kick-off.

Nikola Petkovic opened the scoring inside three minutes with a curling free kick from the right sideline that evaded the attentions of a crowded penalty box to sneak in at the back post.

The nerves soon settled for Fury’s youngsters however they remained on the back foot for much of the opening quarter hour.

Danny Pledge offered an outlet down the right wing for the hosts, before Caleb Hobson made the first attempt on goal for Fury with a low strike on the turn 18 minutes in.

Less than a minute later, Sky Blues off-season recruit Bernie Ibini blazed wide of the target on the angle after bettering his marker.

Fury forwards Braedyn Crowley and Fraser increasingly sought to press the Sydney backline, seeing Crowley direct his first attempt of the match at Sky Blues custodian Anthony Bouzanis on 24 minutes.

Alex Brosque broke down the left shortly after to force a near-post save from Fury goalkeeper David Schonberger, before Chris Figg denied Pedj Bojic’s header at the far post from the resulting corner.

Fury saw their best chance just after the half hour as Bouzanis tipped Corey Waples’ strike onto the crossbar after Sydney failed to clear from a corner.

The visitors returned fire less than a minute later as Bojic delivered a looping shot drift just over the crossbar.

Sydney continued to push to close out the half, however were repeatedly denied by the sharp positioning and tackling of Fury centre half Ari Isman.

Fury made a break late in the half, with Petkovic fortunate to receive only a yellow card for bringing down Fraser as the last defender.

The Sky Blues replaced forward pairing of Brosque and Ibini at the half for Gameiro and Shane Smeltz, but Fury delivered the first chance after the restart when Fraser was closed down on goal by the onrushing Bouzanis.

Gameiro spurned his first chance of the match soon after, getting behind the Fury line, with a heavy touch as he sought to round Schonberger.

Desperate Fury defending spared the host’s blushes on the half hour following a period of extended pressure from Sydney – Schonberger denying Smeltz at the near post before Peyre blocked Gersbach’s follow-up attempt.

Further chances fell for Sydney as Smeltz’s cross flashed across the face of goal before Schonberger inexplicably threw out of goal straight at Gameiro allowing the young forward to finish into an empty net with 20 minutes remaining.

Fury pulled a goal back inside a minute when George Timatheon brought down Hobson in the penalty area, allowing Fraser to convert with the spot kick and inspire hopes of a comeback.

However, Sydney continued to see the better of the chances as Jurman headed over from a Petkovic free-kick, before Gameiro turned in Smeltz’s cross on the break to restore the visitor’s two goal advantage with 14 minutes remaining.

Gameiro spurned his chance of a hat-trick with ten minutes left, heading Terry Antonis’ cross at Schonberger from inside ten yards.

Further opportunities in the final minutes failed to add to Sydney’s haul as Themba Muata-Marlow headed wide from a free-kick, before Gameiro’s low cross just evaded Smeltz.

Fury made a final push from a series of late set-pieces, however Sydney ultimately held firm to record the victory.

Fury return to action on Wednesday when the face fellow Queenslanders Brisbane Roar.

SYDNEY FC 3 ( Nikola PETKOVIC 3’, Corey GAMEIRO 70’ 76’)
NORTHERN FURY 1 (Kevin FRASER 70’pen)