Sydney FC comeback breaks Heart
Young Socceroos attacker Corey Gameiro has staked his claim for a start in Frank Farina's starting side with his second-half double lifting Sydney FC to a 4-3 Foxtel National Youth League win over Melbourne Heart at WIN Stadium.
Young Socceroos attacker Corey Gameiro has staked his claim for a start in Frank Farina's starting side with his second-half double lifting Sydney FC to a 4-3 Foxtel National Youth League win over Melbourne Heart at WIN Stadium.
Sydney FC's hold on top spot was under threat until Gameiro stamped his authority on the contest in his hometown of Wollongong.
The Sky Blues twice drew level through Marc Warren and Anthony Tomelic cancelling out goals from Mate Dugandzic and Marcus Schroen, before Gameiro's decisive intervention.
The Heart fielded a number of high-profile players with Dugandzic, Nick Kalmar and goalkeeper Tando Velaphi all getting a start.
Sydney, for their part, lined up with Warren and prolific Youth League goalscorer Mitch Mallia as overage players although the former was forced off during the opening half with a hip injury.
Warren went from villain to hero inside the opening quarter-hour, first bundling over Dugandzic in the penalty area for the opening goal before equalising just minutes later.
The action continued apace with Dugandzic failing to convert a near-open goal, while Mallia struck the frame of the goal with only the goalkeeper to beat.
Schroen gave his side the lead before the interval, but the Sky Blues equalised through substitute Tomelic seconds after he had entered the fray.
Sydney took the lead for the first time midway through the second period as Gameiro converted from the penalty spot after being bundled over.
The powerful frontrunner then added his second and Sydney's fourth with a header, before Dugandzic pulled a goal back for the Heart in the dying seconds.
Sydney FC 4 (Marc Warren 14', Anthony Tomelic 55', Corey Gameiro 70', 80')
Melbourne Heart 3 (Mate Dugandzic 13', 92', Marcus Schroen 43')
Sydney FC: 1. Tristan Prendergast, 3. Aaron Calver, 4. Jacob Tratt (c), 5. Marc Warren (7. Christian Gonzalez 41'), 6. Dylan Caton, 8. Max Burgess (18. Anthony Tomelic 54'), 9. Mitchell Mallia, 10. Hagi Gligor, 11. Alec Urosevski, 14. Joshua Macdonald (12. Corey Gameiro 45'), 15. Themba Muata-Marlow.
Substitutes: 20. Luke Babic (gk).
Cautions: Warren 12', Calver 32', Gameiro 62', Urosevki 76')
Red Cards: nil
Melbourne Heart: 1. Tando Velaphi (gk), 2. Jeremy Walker, 4. David Vrankovic, 5. Ross Archibald (c), 6. Stefan Mauk, 7. Mate Dugandzic, 8. Paulo Retre, 9. Ben Garuccio (14. Ersin Kaya 60'), 10. Marcus Schroen (12. Jonathan Bounas 61'), 11. Nick Kalmar (3. Phillip Petreski 60'), 15. Sam Mitchinson
Substitutes: 16. Marko Stevanja (gk)
Cautions: Dugandzic 10', Garuccio 20', Retre 28', Archibald 68', Mitchinson 75'
Red Cards: nil