A-League
Lolley’s Hat-Trick Propels Sydney FC to Dominant Victory
Match Highlights
A Night of Domination at Allianz Stadium
Sydney FC took another step toward solidifying their A-League finals aspirations with a convincing 3-0 victory over Perth Glory. Joe Lolley stole the spotlight at Allianz Stadium, netting all three goals in a second-half masterclass, marking his first hat-trick for the Sky Blues. The victory extended Sydney’s unbeaten streak to four games and brought them within four points of second place on the league table.
Key Moments That Defined the Match
- 14’ | HOLLMAN NEARLY STRIKES: Defensive midfielder Corey Hollman fired a left-footed effort from outside the box, narrowly missing the target.
- 21’ | GRANT’S HEROICS: A misplaced pass nearly led to a one-on-one opportunity for Perth’s Nicholas Pennington, but Sydney captain Rhyan Grant’s desperate sliding tackle averted disaster.
- 51’ | LOLLEY OPENS THE SCORING: Joe Lolley seized a deflection inside the box and volleyed home to put Sydney FC ahead.
- 70’ | LOLLEY’S PENALTY: A VAR review confirmed a handball by Perth’s Adriano Lebib, and Lolley made no mistake from the spot, smashing the penalty into the top corner.
- 88’ | HAT-TRICK COMPLETE: After a save from Perth goalkeeper Oli Sail, Lolley pounced on the rebound to seal his hat-trick and secure the win for Sydney.
Match Report
Sydney FC Tightens Grip on Finals Aspirations
Joe Lolley’s brilliance highlighted a match in which Sydney FC dominated possession and consistently applied pressure to a resilient Perth Glory defense. Despite a scoreless first half, the Sky Blues broke through in the second, with Lolley’s clinical finishing paving the way to a comprehensive victory.
Sydney’s first clear chance came from a set piece in the 28th minute when Lolley’s curling free kick was superbly parried wide by Perth’s Oli Sail. Moments before halftime, Anthony Caceres’ close-range attempt was cleared off the line, leaving the score level at the break.
In the second half, Sydney’s persistence paid off. Lolley struck his first in the 51st minute and added a second from the penalty spot in the 70th. His third came late in the game after a well-worked team effort, earning him the match ball.
Post-Match Reactions
Ufuk Talay (Sydney FC Head Coach):
“It was a much better performance compared to our last outing against Newcastle. From start to finish, we dominated and created plenty of opportunities. I’m very pleased with the full 90 minutes.”
Joe Lolley:
“It’s been a while since my last hat-trick, so this one feels great. When you’re in form, everything seems to fall your way. I’m feeling confident and sharp, and hopefully, we can keep this momentum going.”
Match Statistics
Sydney FC Starting XI: 12. Devenish-Meares (GK), 5. Matthews, 6. Hollman (Quintal 89’), 8. Ouahim (Segecic 70’), 9. Klimala (Wood 89’), 10. Lolley (Kucharski 89’), 15. Sena, 16. King, 17. Caceres, 21. De Jesus (Courtney-Perkins 76’), 23. Grant (C).
Unused Subs: 1. Redmayne (GK), 3. Gurd.
Yellow Cards: Klimala 74’, Courtney-Perkins 83’.
Perth Glory Starting XI:
- Sail (GK), 7. Pennington (Mileusnic 71’), 12. Gomulka, 15. Lisolajski, 17. Carluccio, 19. Risdon (Ngo 90’), 20. Ostler (Faisal 62’), 22. Taggart (Blair 46’), 24. Lebib, 25. Pearman (O’Neill 63’), 29. Mrcela.
Unused Subs: 13. Cook (GK), 3. Hamzaoui.
Yellow Cards: Pennington 13’, Lisolajski 61’, Lebib 74’, Risdon 76’.
Attendance: 7,634
Referee: Sam Kelly
