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NYL - Round 13 - Melbourne City v Sydney FC


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Ballarat becoming a second home for Melbourne City

 

By MICHAEL POLLOCK

 

Jan. 23, 2015

 

 

BALLARAT is a “familiar” sight for Melbourne City FC players, says the metropolitan club’s youth coach, Joe Palatsides.

 

City will play in Ballarat for the third time in seven months when it takes on Sydney FC in a National Youth League points game at Morshead Park on Saturday.

 

This follows on from a practice match with then-National Premier Leagues outfit Ballarat Red Devils last June and an FFA Cup knockout match against Sydney FC in August.

 

While Palatsides said it was too early to consider Ballarat a home away from home, he said the bond was definitely strengthening between the clubs.

 

“We’ve only played one official game so far, but there’s clearly some type of relationship being formed,” he said.

 

“It could well develop to a kind of permanent type of situation. We’ve always reached towards the regional areas and it is something that we’ve been able to do well in Ballarat.”

 

Like the FFA Cup match, the stakes are big for the A- League club this weekend.

 

Palatsides says his side could enter the fray a bit rusty after playing just one match over the past five weeks.

 

The game promises to be a blockbuster, with City commanding second spot on the NYL ladder with seven wins, two draws and three losses from its opening 13 rounds.

 

Sydney might be languishing in seventh with a 4-3-4 record, but Palatsides says he won’t be underestimating the reigning premier.

 

“It’s an important match for the youth team; we need to continue our good start to the year,” he said. “They’re the reigning champions and they equalised us in the final seconds of our first match (in round nine).

 

“This is the best opportunity to play the best games of the season in Ballarat.”

 

Palatsides said several of his players had already seen time on Morshead Park’s premier grass pitch, with several more returning to Australian soil in peak condition earlier in the week after a 12-day training camp in Abu Dhabi with the senior squad.

 

The match will get under way at 3pm.

 

http://www.thecourier.com.au/story/2837586/soccer-clubs-forming-a-bond/

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I don't mind the youth team playing these country matches, but we're Melbourne City and our first-team matches should be played in Melbourne.

 

And I hope that next season van 't Schip and City are going to take the FFA Cup seriously and not use it as "just another pre-season match."

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Soccer: Palatsides backs Ballarat as future A-League host

 

By Michael Pollock and Justin Whitelock

 

Jan. 24, 2015

 

 

MELBOURNE FC youth coach Joe Palatsides has thrown his backing behind Morshead Park as a future A-League venue.

 

Palatsides led City to a 2-1 win over Sydney FC in round 13 National Youth League action on Saturday, and was quick to praise the pitch and facility after the match.

 

"This pitch is first rate," Palatsides said.

 

"We go interstate at times and we don't get the best quality pitches.

 

"They marvel at what's been put on offer here and the boys love the opportunity to play."

 

The encounter marked the third time City has ventured to Ballarat in a match capacity since midway through 2014.

 

Last August saw the club's seniors square off against Sydney in an all-important FFA Cup clash - marking the first time Morshead Park had hosted two A-League outfits in a high-stakes encounter.

 

For City and Palatsides, Saturday's win in front of a healthy crowd was also of great importance.

 

A mediocre opening stanza gave way to an enthralling closing half, with forward Hernan Espindola burying a 93rd minute penalty to clinch the win.

 

Palatsides was pleased with the result, given that City had drawn with the reigning champions in their first match of the season after conceding goals in the 93rd and 96th minutes.

 

The coach also made reference to the growing relationship between Ballarat and the metropolitan club, and said he couldn't think of a reason why Morshead Park couldn't host competitive A-League matches in the near future.

 

"I don't see why not," he said.

 

"I'm not too sure if certain criteria's have to be met, (but) if there was an FFA Cup game played here it would have to be very close (to meeting those requirements)."

 

http://www.thecourier.com.au/story/2838306/soccer-palatsides-backs-ballarat-as-future-a-league-host/

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FNYL Report: Melbourne City FC 2-1 Sydney FC

 

Saturday, 24 January 2015

 

 

Melbourne City FC secured its eighth win of the Foxtel National Youth League season as they left it late to bury Sydney FC.

 

A 93rd minute penalty for a body check on Stefan Zinni saw Hernan Espindola step up to the spot and slot away the winning goal as the match looked destined for a one-all draw with Charlie Lokoli Ngoy cancelling out Wade Dekker’s opener earlier in the match.

 

The last fixture between the sides saw the Sydneysiders score two goals in injury time with the match fresh in the minds of Joe Palatsides’ chargers.

 

The home side showed why they sit second on the FNYL ladder, dominating passages of play in the early stages of the match.

 

It was Sydney however who had the best chance of the half from open play as Jordan Tsenekis found himself with time in the penalty area only to sky his shot over the bar.

 

It was a Phil Petreski free kick that had the crowd at Morshead Park looking towards the top corner in awe as his well-weighted free kick bounced off the upright and away from goal on the stroke of half time.

 

The match received the injection of life it deserved in the 60th minute as Zinni’s cutback trickled past the Sydney defence and into the path of Dekker. The striker did what he could to miss the opportunity, stumbling over the ball, but Dekker found himself with enough time to mop up his mistake, bundling over the line.

 

The opener woke up the Sydneysiders as they worked their way back into the match. After a string of half chances, Sydney were rewarded in the 74th minute as Lokoli Ngoy finished off a set piece to bring his side back to parity.

 

The last 10 minutes saw the home side push for the winner and it seemed like they were going to be rewarded for their persistence in the 86th minute as Espindola looked have been fouled in the penalty area, however the referee waved away any appeals for a penalty to the disbelief of many at the ground.

 

In the last play of the match, Zinni found himself on the edge of the area, dropping his shoulder and drawing the foul from the Sydney defender, winning his side a penalty. It was Espindola who decided to put the match on his shoulders as he coolly slotted home to move his side to the top of the FNYL ladder.

 

http://www.melbournecityfc.com.au/article/fnyl-report-melbourne-city-fc-2-1-sydney-fc/1b5ylamdarrpd1jo6rvlq1n3hi

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This Wade Dekker kid seems like he knows how to score.

Would expect/hope for him to see a few minutes in the Senior team by years end.

There's a world of difference between the NYL and the A-League.

 

Scoring goals is scoring goals.

How are we to know if he can or cant mix it with the big boys if he isn't given a chance?

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This Wade Dekker kid seems like he knows how to score.

Would expect/hope for him to see a few minutes in the Senior team by years end.

There's a world of difference between the NYL and the A-League.

Scoring goals is scoring goals.

How are we to know if he can or cant mix it with the big boys if he isn't given a chance?

Watch him play. Your opinion will almost certainly change.

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This Wade Dekker kid seems like he knows how to score.

Would expect/hope for him to see a few minutes in the Senior team by years end.

There's a world of difference between the NYL and the A-League. Last years best youth players were easily Archibald and Retre,. Even a year older they've struggled with the step up.
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