Klimala scores hat-trick in 6-3 friendly victory

Sydney FC have completely dominated the reigning Champions in a pre-season friendly, dusting off the Central Coast Mariners by six goals to three.

Patryk Klimala opened his account with a hat-trick while Douglas Costa, Corey Hollman and Adrian Segecic also found the net in a pulsating performance.

Sydney FC 6 (Klimala 23′, 40′, 65′, Hollman 48′, Costa 59′, Segecic 69′) def. Central Coast Mariners 3 (Kuol 43′, De Lima 49′, Wilson 78′)

All Photos – Jaime Castaneda // @jamcas50 IG Moments That Mattered

23′ | KLIMALA OPENS HIS SYDNEY FC ACCOUNT – Patryk Klimala is played through on goal by Corey Hollman and bearing down on the keeper he slots it into the corner.

40′ | KLIMALA AGAIN – Corey Hollman makes a driving run into the box and cuts it back for Klimala who taps it home.

43′ | KUOL FOR CCM – Mariners counter and Alou Kuol has the simplest of tap ins from inside the six yard box.

48′ | HOLLMAN GETS HIS GOAL – After an impressive opening half, Joe Lolley pokes one through to Corey Hollman who slides and diverts it past the keeper.

Corey Hollman is fouled by Alou Kuol

49′ | MARINERS RESPOND – The visitors go up the park and slot their second of the afternoon.

59′ | COSTA OFF THE MARK IN SKY BLUE – The Brazilian on the edge of the box curls one around the defender and into the bottom corner.

65′ | KLIMALA COMPLETES HIS HAT-TRICK – The Pole is on the end of a great cross from Lolley and he scores his third of the afternoon.

69′ | SEGECIC GETS OUR SIXTH – Jaiden Kucharski presses the Mariners keeper into a mistake and he selflessly passes to Adrian Segecic for the easiest of tap ins.

75′ | STUNNING ONE ON ONE SAVE – After the Mariners are through on goal, Andrew Redmayne makes a brilliant one on one save.

79′ | MARINERS SCORE THEIR THIRD – Will Wilson adds a third for the visitors.

Leo Sena controlling the middle of the park Match Report

Sydney FC have been relentless, scoring six goals in a brilliant performance against Central Coast Mariners at Sky Park on Wednesday afternoon.

Patryk Klimala put in a great performance for the Sky Blues, scoring three and netting in Australia for the first time, plus Alex Popovic started his first game under Ufuk Talay.

Alex Popovic started his first match in Sky Blue

The hosts started brightly, completely dominating the ball and restricted the Mariners to barely two passes before it was either punted up the park, kicked out for a throw in or nicked by a Sky Blue jersey. They would’ve enjoyed approximately 80% possession with the opposition chasing shadows for almost the entirety of the first half.

As they worked the ball across the lines, Jordan Courtney-Perkins and Corey Hollman had two early chances but on the stretch they were no trouble for Jack Warshawsky in the Mariners net drifting high and wide.

With all the Sky Blue pressure, they were soon rewarded through the boot of Patryk Klimala.

Sydney FC players pre-game

A poor clearance from Warshawsky fell to the feet of Corey Hollman in the midfield and he played a superb defence splitting pass into the path of Patryk Klimala who took a touch and passed it beyond the on-rushing keeper for his first goal in Sky Blue.

The Pole almost had his second of the day when Joe Lolley cut one back to him moments later but this time, the keeper was on hand to plunge low to his left to deny him with a spectacular save.

He didn’t have to wait long for his second though, with Corey Hollman making a great run into the box and his pass across the face was tapped home by Klimala.

Douglas Costa scored his first in a Sky Blue shirt

With the Mariners struggling to get any foothold in the match, they were given a lifeline before the break, netting with their first shot of the match after a counter attack was tucked home by Alou Kuol.

Klimala slots his second of the day

Despite the change of ends, the Sky Blues continued their relentless domination of the ball and saw their lead extended at the beginning of the second half.

Joe Lolley was swarmed by two or three Yellow defenders on the edge of the box however he was able to poke a ball through to the forward running Hollman who slid into the area and diverted the ball past the keeper and into the corner.

It was then Mariners’ turn to respond in what was turning into a breathless game of football. A sweeping move down the right hand side saw it conclude with a cut back to Arthur De Lima on the penalty spot who guided home for 3-2.

As per the narrative of the game, Sydney rallied forward once more and Klimala almost had a perfect hat-trick when he met a Joe Lolley cross with his head however his attempt floated wide.

Mariners players were left chasing shadows for much of the game

After another chance to the Sky Blues bounced inches wide of the post, Douglas Costa scored his first of his Sydney FC career.

The Brazilian drifted inside the pitch and picked up the ball on the D and after taking a touch, curled one with his left around the defender and into the bottom corner for a two goal lead once more.

Minutes later, Sydney had their fifth with Costa, Lolley and Klimala all combining. Douglas Costa picked up the ball and found the feet of Joe Lolley out wide. The Englishman whipped a low cross to the back post and Patryk Klimala was there to net his third of the contest.

After this, the changes came from both sides, giving opportunities to more players ahead of what is going to be a long season for the Sky Blues with AFC Champions League 2.

Jaiden Kucharski fouled as he was bearing down on goal

Despite only being on the pitch for five minutes Adrian Segecic added a sixth. Fellow substitute Jaiden Kucharski pressed Warshawsky in the goal and he was unable to sort his feet out in time. Kucharski nicked in and stole the ball and could’ve easily rounded the keeper to score himself but selflessly played it back to Adrian Segecic who had an even easier task of tapping home.

As the Mariners finally looked to claw their way back into the contest, Andrew Redmayne made a stunning one on one save. The Mariners were all in an offside position, however the flag did not come, but the number one pulled out a great left hand save to deny the visitors.

The Yellow and Navy would grab a third goal after a long ball over the top beat the offside trap and the out-rushing Redmayne and a composed Will Wilson was found and was able to curl one into the corner.

Joe Lolley contributed throughout the match

Adrian Segecic and Nathan Amanatidis almost added a seventh however they just missed the target and saw their effort saved respectively.

In the end, a brilliant performance by Talays side, completely suffocating the reigning Premiers and they will look to build on this ahead of Thursday’s clash with FC Kaya Iloilo in Manila.

Nathan Amanatidis fires an effort goalward Line-Up

1. Andrew REDMAYNE, 4. Jordan COURTNEY-PERKINS (16. Joel KING 30′), 5. Hayden MATTHEWS (31. Will KENNEDY 66′), 6. Corey HOLLMAN, 9. Patryk KLIMALA (25. Jaiden KUCHARSKI 66′), 10. Joe LOLLEY (7. Adrian SEGECIC 66′), 11. Douglas COSTA (28. Nathan AMANATIDIS 66′), 15. Leo SENA (27. Lachlan MIDDLETON 76′), 17. Anthony CACERES (33. Marin FRANCE 76′), 23. Rhyan GRANT (19. Mitch GLASSON 76′), 41. Alexandar POPOVIC.

Unused Subs: 12. Harrison DEVENISH-MEARES