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Sydney Morning Herald
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Sydney FC v Wrexham AFC as it happened: Teenage sub steals the show as Sky Blues win 2-1
Posts area Go to latest Pinned post from 9.09pm on Jul 15, 2025 WATCH: Joe Lacey's stunning goal Latest posts 10.07pm on Jul 15, 2025 Thanks and good night That'll be all from us on the live blog tonight. Thanks for reading along. Hope you enjoyed the game and our coverage - and I hope you do as Ufuk Talay says and watch the A-League this coming season, because it's absolutely worth your time. This event all about Wrexham - and it was - but Sydney FC put on a good show too and stole some of the spotlight at Allianz Stadium tonight. What a moment for Joe Lacey, as well. Cheers, and have a great night. 10.05pm on Jul 15, 2025 Ufuk Talay: 'Hopefully we've excited these people and they buy memberships' Sydney FC coach Ufuk Talay, meanwhile, had a message for the 40,000 fans who turned up - many of whom, we presume, have not been to an A-League game before. Maybe they should think about it. As much as we're here to win games and win trophies, we're here to entertain as well. And it's great that the young boys came on and entertained and we scored a goal to win the game. That's what football is, and that's the brand that we've always tried to play. That's the brand that we want to play at Sydney FC where we are getting in goal scoring opportunities sometimes, we are defending our box with desperation and we want to score goals to win games. Hopefully we've excited these people and they buy memberships and they come to our games. As he said in our story quoting him yesterday, though, Talay wasn't having any of the debate about where the A-League would hypothetically rank in the English pyramid and how teams like his compare with the likes of Wrexham: I personally don't like this comparison. They play in their own competition. We play in our own competition. And I don't think we're comparing apples with apples at the same time. It's apples with oranges. Their budgets compared to our budgets are totally different. But one thing I will say, our game is the A-League. So we should love and support our domestic game regardless, because it is our game. And the talent it produces, you look at the Socceroos where Popa [Tony Popovic] selects players from within our competition. So obviously our competition level is good enough for players to be selected to play at international level. We do produce players, players do go overseas. In the last two and a half years, I think Sydney's made sales that they've never made before previously in the 20 years that the club's been around for. It is our game and I think comparing it with other competitions, I don't believe it's the right thing to do. 10.00pm on Jul 15, 2025 Phil Parkinson: 'Some of the quality from us wasn't where it needs to be' Coach Phil Parkinson wasn't overly happy with how Wrexham played: As a workout, it was a decent game for us. Some of the quality from us wasn't where it needs to be. First half, I thought we were in control, got the goal and then conceding off a set play, it gave them a lift … second half, we got a lot of good possession, got into some good areas but the quality of our crossing wasn't where it needed to be to go and take advantage of that kind of pressure we had. In fairness to [Sydney's] youngsters, the lad who came on and scored the goal produced one moment of real quality in the second half and that's what football is about. It's big moments and credit to him for that. Parkinson was, however, impressed with the calibre of talent in the Australian game - particularly young talent. It was put to him that one of Wrexham's rivals in the Championship this coming season, Portsmouth, have gone big on Aussie players in the belief that there are undervalued players here and therefore transfer bargains to be had. You look at the young players who came on tonight, the athleticism of them and the quality … the European market is expensive and they've dipped into the Australian market. In every league there's quality players to be identified and signed but I think the Sydney youngsters tonight, in front of 40,000 people, what an opportunity for them. Same as a few of our youngsters, two in the first half: Aaron James and Harry Ashfield. That was a big game for them today, playing at a stadium like this in front of such a great crowd. 9.57pm on Jul 15, 2025 Danny Ward: 'Sydney played really well' We've just heard from some of the players and coaches in the post-match press conference, starting with Danny Ward, the former Liverpool and Leicester City goalkeeper who now plays with Wrexham. He was impressed with the talent on show from Sydney FC, and the huge crowd that turned out to watch them. Playing in front of big crowds at this point of the season is a testament not only to the people of Sydney, but also how big the club and the direction that Wrexham's going in as well. To draw a crowd like that in our second pre-season game is top. In terms of the game, I thought Sydney played really well. They were sharp and gave us a real good test. The result aside, it's a good workout for the boys. It's pre-season. We're here to get fit and get our sharpness and ideas back across. The result aside, I think we did that. 9.34pm on Jul 15, 2025 Joe Lacey: 'It just felt like a video game. It felt like I had a VR headset on.' Awesome stuff from Joe Lacey, the 18-year-old junior for Curl Curl, speaking on Paramount+ about what I'm safely assuming is the greatest moment of his life so far. It's massive. My mum's Welsh. It's very big for me and my family because they're all watching in Wales. She's there at the moment actually, so it's huge. All credit to the boys. On the goal: It just felt like a video game. It felt like I had a VR headset on. I didn't know what to do to celebrate, I just chucked my hands in the air. I had all the boys around me, it made it even more special. 9.20pm on Jul 15, 2025 FULL-TIME: Sydney FC 2-1 Wrexham AFC And that's it! Sydney FC have done it. The full-time whistle has blown and they have secured a 2-1 victory over Wrexham AFC. An own goal off Corey Hollman in the 18th minute gave the Red Dragons the lead, but they couldn't hold it. On the stroke of half-time, Alex Popovic pulled Sydney FC level - and after both sides made mass changes at about the hour mark, the Sky Blues were simply the better team, with Joe Lacey's match-winning goal in the 74th minute the absolute highlight of the match. People came here to soak in a bit of that Wrexham magic, but they will leave talking about the promise of Sydney's next generation of talent. Superb. 9.15pm on Jul 15, 2025 Sydney FC are almost there Just a few minutes left in this match and what a feat it would be if Sydney FC can seal the victory here. Since those changes at about the 60-minute mark, they've been fielding what is essentially an NPL team. Every player, bar Devenish-Meares, has come through their academy. Yes, Wrexham made 10 changes too but you'd expect a club of their calibre to have better depth than the A-League's seventh-best team from last season. Terrific signs for the future. Sydney FC 2-1 Wrexham AFC, 87 minutes 9.09pm on Jul 15, 2025 WATCH: Joe Lacey's stunning goal 9.08pm on Jul 15, 2025 More than 40,000 fans in the house The official crowd for tonight is 40,242. Massive turnout. That's about 5000 more than the crowd that watched the Socceroos beat Indonesia here a few months ago. In a live, consequential World Cup qualifier. 9.06pm on Jul 15, 2025 These kids are alright These young Sky Blues are well on top, winning back-to-back corners and continuing to apply pressure on the visiting side. They've got their tails up - no fear, just confidently attacking the game as kids do. In fact they've looked the better team since the mass substitutions about 20-odd minutes to go. Bodes well for the upcoming A-League season if this is the depth that Sydney FC has to lean upon. I've said it before and I'll say it again - Australia is producing some really good talent these days.
Daily Mirror
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Sydney FC youngster broke down crying as difficult Wrexham question saw boss hit out
Wrexham were beaten 2-1 by Sydney FC in a pre-season friendly in Australia, with youngster Joe Lacey bursting into tears after scoring the winner for the hosts with a superb strike A Sydney FC prodigy was left in tears after netting the decisive goal in his squad's surprise win over Wrexham and sharing his family's Welsh heritage. The Red Dragons are currently on a pre-season tour in Australia as they gear up for their campaign in the Championship next season. They kicked off with a promising start, securing a 3-0 friendly win against Melbourne Victory last week. However, Wrexham faced a setback this Tuesday when they were edged out 2-1 by a spirited young Sydney side. The Hollywood-backed team initially went ahead in the first half thanks to an own goal after James McClean's free-kick was inadvertently deflected by Sydney's Corey Hollman. Sydney then levelled the scoreline just before the interval when defender Alexandar Popovic headed home from a corner. Despite Wrexham's efforts to regain control, they were caught off guard in the 74th minute by substitute Joe Lacey. The 18-year-old midfielder dazzled the more 40,000 spectators at Allianz Stadium with an excellent strike from just outside the box. Post-match footage showed Lacey in a poignant embrace with his sister. He later revealed the significance of his goal, citing his mother's Welsh background and mentioning that his aunt works as a paramedic at Wrexham's Racecourse Ground during games. In a post-match interview, Lacey said: "My mum's Welsh and it's very big for me. My family, they're all watching in Wales, she (Lacey's mum) is there at the moment. "I love them all. I'm very grateful for them. They're all in Wales besides from my sister who came in from Newcastle, so I'm very grateful for them." Reflecting on his goal, Lacey added: "It just felt like a video game. It felt like I had a VR (virtual reality) set on." Sydney manager Ufuk Talay seemed less than pleased during his post-match press conference when prompted to weigh up A-League teams against Wrexham. He sidestepped the comparison and urged Aussies to back their homegrown football. He said: "I personally don't like this comparison. They [Wrexham] play in their own competition, we play in our own competition. I don't think we're comparing apples with apples at the same time - it's apples with oranges. "Their budgets compared to our budgets are totally different. Our game is the A-League so we should love and support our domestic game regardless. Our competition level is good enough for players to be selected at international level." Wrexham's loss to Sydney was compounded by an injury to star midfielder Ollie Rathbone, who hobbled off before the break with an ankle issue. Post-match reports confirmed he was later taken to hospital for an X-ray. "We're really hoping for him and it's a very quiet dressing room in there, because we have concern about Ollie," Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson told the club's media team. "It didn't look that bad an incident when it happened, but it swelled up instantly in the dressing room, and Kev (Mulholland, club physio) has gone with him to hospital. We've just got to keep our fingers crossed." Parkinson will be keeping his hopes up for a clean bill of health as Wrexham wrap up their tour with a match against Wellington Phoenix in New Zealand on Saturday. Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Sign up to our newsletter! Wrexham is the Game is great new way to get top-class coverage Wrexham AFC is the arguably the fastest-growing club in the world at the moment thanks to a certain Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. The Dragons have achieved two consecutive promotions and are cheered on by crowds from not only North Wales but also from all over the globe, thanks to the success of the Disney+ documentary 'Welcome to Wrexham'. But does it have a dedicated, quality source of information piped through to your inbox each week, free of ads but packed with informed opinion, analysis and even a little bit of fun each week? That's where Wrexham is the Game steps in... Available every Wednesday, it provides all the insights you need to be a top red. And for a limited time, a subscription to 'Wrexham is the Game' will cost fans just £15 for the first year.
BBC News
16-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Sydney FC match winner Lacey's Welsh connections
For Sydney FC's Joe Lacey, a matchwinning goal against Wrexham was particularly special because of his Welsh Red Dragons went ahead in Tuesday's pre-season contest through Corey Hollman's early own goal before Alex Popovic equalised for the Sky Blues just before struck in the 74th minute as the Australian side beat Phil Parkinson's men at the Allianz goal meant that little bit more for Lacey, he revealed, because he has a Welsh mother while his aunty has worked at the Stok Cae Ras on matchdays as a paramedic."My mum's Welsh and it's very big for me," he said in a post-match interview."My family, they're all watching in Wales, she (Lacey's mother) is there at the moment."I love them all. I'm very grateful for them. They're all in Wales besides from my sister who came in from Newcastle, so I'm very grateful for them."On his goal, Lacey added: "It just felt like a video game. It felt like I had a VR (virtual reality) set on."Wrexham conclude their pre-season tour with a match against New Zealand side Wellington Phoenix at the Sky Stadium on Saturday, 19 July (06:30 BST).
News.com.au
15-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Teenage star Joe Lacy steals the show as Sydney FC defeats Wrexham in friendly
Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac may not have been in attendance on Tuesday night, but 40,242 punters got a glimpse of a future star, as teenager Joe Lacey stole the show in the Sky Blues' 2-1 over AFC Wrexham. Lacey, 18, stunned everybody in attendance when he scored the decisive goal after curling a low shot past Wrexham keeper Callum Burton in the 74th minute of play. 'To be fair, I don't even think I really saw it,' Lacey said of his goal against the Welsh glamour club. 'I just put my hands into the air as soon as I heard the crowd. 'I've been at the club a long time and had a lot of my mates on the pitch alongside me. 'I'm very grateful for the opportunity... yeah, I'm just buzzing.' Sure, it was a pre-season friendly, but with the visitors competing in the English second tier this upcoming season, and Sydney playing the final half hour with an outfield composed entirely of academy players, the result really felt like a serious boilover. Oh, and did we mention the Sky Blues' marquee man, Douglas Costa, didn't even play? Initially, things looked to be going to script for visitors, who scored after 18 minutes when Sydney midfielder Corey Hollman helped James McClean's free kick into the home side's net. However, Alexandar Popovic struck a blow for the locals when he buried a Jordan Courtney Perkins header that had initially been parried by Danny Ward just before the break. The goal came just moments after Sydney FC was denied what appeared to be a certain penalty after a Hollman shot made contact with Lewis Brunt's arm in the 18-yard box. Probably the most surreal moment of the match occurred in the 60th minute, when both teams simultaneously made a combined 19 substitutions (10 by Wrexham and nine by Sydney). This would prove crucial, as Lacey and his merry band of youngsters out 'fairytaled' British football's fairy tale team. Rather appropriately, the winning goal was an absolute showstopper, which started deep in Sydney FC territory. Matthew Scarcella got the move started when he made a long pass to teammate Akel Akon. Thinking quickly, Akon squared the ball to Lacey, who struck it perfectly from just outside the box. Ironically, Lacey has Welsh heritage and has family living in the country. 'Before the game, I didn't know how much pull they [Wrexham] had in Australia,' he said. 'I knew they had a documentary and I've got family in Wales and they've told me about it.' Wrexham will now travel to Wellington to take on the Phoenix on Saturday, while Sydney turns its attention to its Australia Cup opener against Western United on 29 July.
