They may not have got the win, but the Wolves proved they could match it with the A-Leagues' best on Saturday.
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Goals to Burundian international Elvis Kamsoba and Kosta Barbarouses guided Sydney FC to a 2-0 victory in their friendly at Albert Butler Park. Close to 1500 supporters were treated to an intriguing contest, with a host of sky blues stars - including Milos Ninkovic and Adam Le Fondre - given managed game time.
The game was held as a warm-up for Sydney FC ahead of their A-League Mens campaign, while Wollongong used the contest as preparation for next week's FFA Cup round of 32 clash with Mount Druitt.
"It was our first hit-out and we got through almost unscathed, though we had a knock for my midfielder Takumu (Tsujimura).After the boys have been out for so long, to get minutes in the legs was good, and obviously against Sydney FC, the most decorated team in Australian football, we put up a good challenge," Wolves coach Luke Wilkshire said.
"There were some good signs. We had moments, where with a bit more composure, we would have taken those opportunities. But it was a great opportunity to play against these guys and I thought it was a good performance from us.
"The first goal (conceded) was disappointing, it came from our mistake in transition, and the second one maybe we showed a bit of fatigue. But all in all, I think we created some good moments ourselves and on another day, we could have done a bit more. But most important for us now is the round of 32 next week."
Kamsoba, who joined the sky blues in July, said he enjoyed the hit-out against the Wolves.
"I'm trying to get fit and ready for the season and the FFA Cup games, and it's always nice to get a goal. I'm a striker, that's the aim. We want to score goals and assists, and I managed one today," he said.
"They (Wolves) were quite hard as expected. It's good that they gave us a challenge but, on the day, we got the two goals. We're professionals, they're semi pro, and we've got to set a standard."
Sydney FC had more of the early running on Saturday, peppering the goals on numerous occasions in the first 10 minutes, but without success. At the other end, Wolves forward Peter Simonoski found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper, however, his shot swung wide.
While Saturday's game may have been a friendly, tempers did start to flare, with Wolves player Bilal Belkadi receiving a yellow card following some push and shove.
Minutes later, Le Fondre had a great chance denied by Wolves goalkeeper Hayden Duroses, before Marcus Beattie nearly scored on the counter-attack. However, it was the sky blues who hit the scoreboard first, with Kamsoba sliding the ball past a diving Durose to give them a 1-0 lead in the 36th minute.
That's how the score remained at the first break.
The Wolves looked composed when they returned to the field, with opening chance of the stanza coming quickly through Leroy Jennings, but gloveman Tom Heward-Belle was up to the task.
It was the first of several half-opportunities for both sides during this period, highlighted by Le Fondre's header hitting the cross bar following a cross. Ten minutes later, Lachlan Scott got himself into a dangerous position inside Sydney FC's box, with defender Ben Warland shutting down the chance.
But with about five minutes left in the half, the visitors finally mustered their second goal, with Barbarouses tapping in a lovely cross from Connor O'Toole. It proved to be the last vital moment of the game, as the sky blues prevailed 2-0.
Spectators were treated to a bonus 45 minutes of football, with the Wolves youth grade side then playing a half against Sydney FC to round out the action.
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