Manly United have advanced to the next round of the Australia Cup with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Sutherland Sharks on Tuesday night – an impressive away result against a side that recently got the better of them in the NPL competition.
With no time to dwell on the weekend’s defeat at the hands of Marconi, Manly showed genuine resilience and composure to quickly turn the heat up on the Sharks, with the visitor taking the lead in the 32nd minute thanks to a Sam Griffiths goal – his second since returning from injury. The opposition responded after the break when Brendan Gan levelled the scores, before Jared Muir found the net as the game approached the 80th minute. It was Muir’s first goal representing the First-Grade side and ultimately, the one that helped see his team progress to Round 6 of the tournament.
But the result was more than a win for Manly. While their performances have been building in recent weeks, this latest one does much to highlight the depth and direction of the squad. A large portion of the matchday group consisted of players who’ve come through the Manly United and MWFA pathways, with a number of those on the field at full-time still eligible for the Under-20s.
Blending emerging local talent with experienced leadership, the victory reflected the work being done across the club and a glimpse of what is building under coach Vlado Knezevic.
Manly now look ahead to the next round and a home fixture against Sydney United 58 on May 13, KO 7.30pm.
Image credit: Facet Photography
