Western United’s Australia Cup campaign is over following a loss to Sydney FC.
United started the game energetically, affecting a couple of turnovers high up the pitch and looking to stretch Sydney’s defence in the early goings.
It was the hosts that had the first effort on goal, and it was nearly a spectacular opener as Luke Brattan thundered a long-range strike against the left-hand upright.
Sydney held the momentum after that and following a couple of set pieces and half chances, the Sky Blues took the lead when Joe Lolley passed to Caceres to finish strongly into the bottom left corner.
United showed flashes of tidy possession play but was largely unable to test Andrew Redmayne in net for Sydney.
That inability to turn possession into clear chances proved to bite United as Sydney looked threatening each time they went forward and doubled their advantage before the half hour mark.
Some indecisive defending from United allowed Patrick Wood to finish from the top of the six-yard box.
Sydney held the advantage heading into half-time leaving United with work to do coming out of the break in order to progress in the Australia Cup final four.
Western United tried to get going in the second half, aiming to increase the tempo going forward and find a way back into the game.
But with a two-goal cushion and the support of a home crowd, Sydney sought to manage the contest and slow things down to see the game out.
The longer the game went on without United finding a goal, the more it helped the hosts’ plan and a third goal seemingly all but put the game to bed in the 67th minute.
After hitting the post seconds earlier with a free header, Rodwell remained unmarked at the back post and tapped in from Lolley’s cut-back.
It was a frustrating day for United and there was to be no consolation goal, spelling the end of the side’s 2023 Australia Cup campaign.
“It was a pretty tough day, I thought we tried the whole game, battled the whole game,” United defender Josh Risdon said on the post game coverage.
“I thought we were pretty harsh to go in at half time two, nil down. We gave them two easy goals and I thought we had a lot of the play and created some half chances.
“Just a bit tired towards the end and we lost our shape a bit, trying to go for the goal.”
It was a hot evening in Sydney on Sunday, making challenging conditions for the players on the pitch.
“It was pretty tough, doing pre-season in winter and then playing a game in 30 degree heat, it was pretty tough, no doubt about it,” Risdon said.
“But, it’s the same for both teams, it probably drops the quality a little bit especially in the second half.
“Both teams fought well and I can’t complain with the effort from our team.”
With the A-League season not too far away and United bringing in fresh faces over the off season, Risdon said there’s a lot to look forward to.
“We’ve been building really well in pre season, the attitude’s been great, there’s a good belief within the team,” he said.
“We’re building nicely, today’s a bit of a tough one to take, but we can focus now on the season.”
