Yorke help spur Sydney onto first hometown victory.
Sydney FC.Sydney FC continued their unbeaten run, this time in their hometown debut, with a 3-1 victory over the New Zealand Knights in the opening round of Hyundai A-League Pre-Season Cup match at Aussie Stadium tonight.
Strikers Dwight Yorke and Sasho Petrovski both scored for Sydney FC in front of an adoring crowd that had waited months to finally see their team on home soil.
It only took until the 25th minute before debutant Yorke scored his first ever goal for Sydney FC bringing the crowd of almost 9,000 to their feet.
The former Manchester United star made no mistake from the penalty spot after Knights goalkeeper Danny Milosevic had taken down Sasho Petrovski, who was chasing a through ball from Alvin Ceccoli, in the box.
Yorke had been enterprising up until that point and combined well with Robbie Middleby who was sensational down the left side.
The Trinidad and Tobago international had the crowd in the palm of his hand throughout the match and looked like he may score three times before he netted the penalty.
There were times when Yorke showed the class that saw him as one of the most feared strikers in world football during the 1990’s.
Whether it was a deft touch of the ball, the vision to deliver a classic cross or his enthusiasm in defence, it was clear to everyone at the ground that Yorke was here to dominate the Hyundai A-League.
After the match Yorke said he had enjoyed the game and was happy with the result.
“For me the result is the most important thing and tonight we won so that is great,” Yorke said.
“It was a really enjoyable experience playing with this team.”
“I was impressed with my team mates and the way they conducted themselves on the pitch.
“We contested every ball and played hard throughout the game so that makes it an even better result.”
But if Yorke was the player the crowd came to see it was Petrovski they were talking about as they left the ground.
The prolific goal scorer was in brilliant form for Sydney FC throughout the World Club Championship qualifying rounds and he carried that standard on tonight.
Petrovski scored the first of his two goals just seconds before halftime to give the home side a 2-0 lead at the break.
The goal came after David Carney flicked on an Andrew Packer cross on the near post for Petrovski to head past a despairing Milosevic.
Petrovski snared his second goal in the 71st minute when he latched onto a brilliant pass from midfielder Terry McFlynn.
McFlynn threaded the ball through the smallest of gaps between the Knights defence and Petrovski made no mistake from 15 metres out on the right side.
Only a minute earlier Petrovski had slid a similar chance across the face of goal.
Sydney FC coach Pierre Littbarski was pleased with the form of his strikers and said if Sydney FC’s future opponents spend too much time covering Yorke other members of his team would be ready to take advantage.
“When everyone marks Dwight it gives our other offensive guys more of a chance to score and Sasho and David Zdrilic have proved they can score also,” Littbarski said.
“I thought Dwight had a good debut and physically he was great.”
“Overall it was a very entertaining match and there was some good stuff from both teams – I enjoyed it from the bench.”
When Yorke was finally replaced in the 73rd minute by Ufuk Talay the crowd again rose to their feet to salute Sydney’s new hero and the striker returned serve, turning to each corner of the ground and politely applauding the fans.
Yorke remained on the ground for 15 minutes after the match to sign autographs and pose for photos with excited Sydney FC faithful.
For the victors Middleby was tireless until he was replaced by American striker Alex Salazar in the 70th minute, McFlynn was impressive and Bolton was his usual reliable self in goal repelling several good chances for the Knights in the opening half.
The Knights finally got on the score board in the 83rd minute when Steve Fitzsimmons, who had been one of his side’s best, fired a rocket from 20 metres out on the right hand side of the box that cannoned into the top corner of Clint Bolton’s net. Sydney FC’s next game is against the Central Coast Mariners in Gosford at 7pm next Saturday.
Sydney FC 3 (Dwight Yorke, penalty 25th min, Sasho Petrovski 45th, 71st min) defeated New Zealand Knights 1 (Steve Fitzsimmons 83rd min)
Aussie Stadium, Sydney
Saturday July 23, 2005
Referee: Ben Williams
Crowd: 8714
Sydney FC1. Clint Bolton
2. Iain Fyfe
3. Alvin Ceccoli
7. Robbie Middleby
10. Steve Corica (c)
11. Sasho Petrovski
12. David Carney
14. Andrew Packer
15. Terry McFlynn
17. Jacob Timpano
19. Dwight Yorke
Substitutes:13. Alejandro Salazar on for 7. Robbie Middleby (70th min)
6. Ufuk Talay on for 19. Dwight Yorke (73rd min)
5. Steve Laurie, 20. Justin Pasfield did not play
New Zealand Knights1. Danny Milosevic
3. Ronnie Bull
4. John Tambouras
5. Danny Hay (c)
6. Neil Emblen
7. Steve Fitzsimmons
8. Ben Collett
9. Simon Yeo
10. Sean Devine
12. Cole Tinkler
15. Joshua Rose
Substitutes:16. Noah Hickey on for 15. Joshua Rose (68th min)
18. Xiaobin Zhang on for 8. Ben Collett (76th min)
17. Frank Van Eijs, 20. Glen Moss did not play
Yellow cards: Danny Hay (15th minute), Danny Milosevic (24th min), Simon Yeo (60th min), Steve Fitzsimmons (84th min)
Yorke lives up to billing on his first night.
By Michael Cockerill (The Sun-Herald)Sydney FC 3 v NZ Knights 1He came, he saw, he conquered. After months of anticipation, and weeks of hype, Dwight Yorke lived up to his billing with a goalscoring debut as Sydney FC comfortably accounted for the New Zealand Knights in last night's pre-season trial match.
The new competition's benchmark signing did all that could have been expected of him, and perhaps a bit more.
He scored - albeit with a penalty - he worked hard on and off the ball during his 74 minutes on the park, and he helped pull a decent attendance. Not a bumper crowd, it must be said, but the gate of 8714 was encouraging as Sydney appeared on their home turf for the first time.
As a contest, it was effectively over by half-time as Sydney built a two-goal lead. But with new Australia coach Guus Hiddink watching from a VIP box, the Sydney players still had plenty to play for.
If Hiddink is indeed looking to start with a clean slate, Socceroos long shots such as Saso Petrovski, David Carney and Iain Fyfe can have done their slender hopes no harm.
Petrovski's two-goal haul was a highlight. But it was Yorke, a Trinidad and Tobago international, who stole the show, and deservedly so.
The moment the fans had come to see arrived 24 minutes and 13 seconds into the match, when Yorke opened his account for his newest club from the penalty spot. Alvin Ceccoli's lobbed pass had caught the Knights square at the back, and Petrovski collided with the oncoming goalkeeper Danny Milosevic as he tried to retrieve the ball.
Milosevic protested against what seemed a tough decision by referee Ben Williams, but once the fuss died down Yorke calmly steered his spot kick into the bottom corner, just under the despairing dive of the keeper. There were no wild celebrations from Yorke, but there was a loud roar from the stands.
With the pace of Robbie Middleby, and the craft of Yorke and Petrovski being well fed by the clever prompting of Terry McFlynn, Sydney threatened to turn the screws.
To their credit, New Zealand refused to cave in and caused the hosts some anxious moments, but they couldn't prevent.
Sydney adding a second goal just before the break. Andrew Packer's delightful cross was flicked on by Carney and Petrovski converted a close-range header.
Sydney enjoyed a storming start, with Yorke having two good opportunities inside the first six minutes.
The first came after Knights fullback Ronnie Bull had gifted possession to Yorke outside the Knights penalty area, but Milosevic did well to save low to his left. Yorke again came close after Middleby was released by Petrovski, but Milosevic was equal to the challenge with a brave block at close range.
New Zealand showed their first signs of resistance shortly afterwards, when Neil Emblen unleased a 20-metre drive which dipped over the crossbar. Sean Devine, with a flick on that Ceccoli had to clear off his own line, and Simon Yeo, with a near-post header, also came close.
Striker a pose: Dwight Yorke makes a break for it last night in his debut appearance for Sydney FC.
Photo: Simon Alekna
