Sydney FC secured their first win of the A-League season with a 2-1 victory over Adelaide United at Allianz Stadium on Sunday, overcoming recent challenges both on and off the pitch. Central to the match’s outcome was teenage midfielder Akol Akon, who provided the decisive pass leading to the match-winning goal.

The Sky Blues entered the fixture under considerable scrutiny following a lackluster performance in the Sydney derby and controversy surrounding the club’s initial decision to block Akon from joining Australia’s squad at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup. The club later reversed this decision amid public criticism. Despite the media attention on the 17-year-old, Sydney FC coach Patrick Kisnorbo dismissed concerns about the pressure on Akon, emphasizing the player’s potential while urging caution in managing expectations.

“Akol’s a great little player with a big future that needs to work a lot still,” Kisnorbo said after the match. “The best thing for us is to treat him normally, work him, play him, and today he had great impact.” He added that the week’s events were “normal” for a club frequently in the headlines.

The match itself began unfavorably for Sydney FC when a back pass in the 16th minute from an outfield player to goalkeeper Harrison Devenish-Meares was intercepted by Adelaide striker Brody Burkitt, who converted the opportunity from close range. Earlier, Burkitt had a goal disallowed due to an offside call by the linesperson.

In response, Sydney FC increased the pressure in Adelaide’s defensive half, abandoning the long-ball tactics that had failed them previously. Their persistence paid off in the 64th minute as Rhys Youlley, an Olyroos player, scored his first A-League goal by firing a shot from outside the box that found the net after a misstep by Adelaide goalkeeper Joshua Smits.

Shortly after, Akon—on the field for only seven minutes—delivered a key pass to Al Hassan Toure, who set up Nigerian striker Oriola Sunday for the go-ahead goal. Initially, the goal was ruled out for offside by the same linesperson responsible for disallowing Burkitt’s earlier strike. However, after a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review, the goal was confirmed, securing Sydney FC’s victory.

Kisnorbo praised the interplay, noting the timing of the pass from Akon and the presence of Sunday where it mattered most. In the closing moments, Sydney’s defense withstood pressure from Adelaide, preventing what would have been their eighth consecutive home match without a win.

The result provides Sydney FC with a much-needed boost as they attempt to turn their season around, while Akon’s performance offers encouragement regarding the development of one of the league’s promising young talents.