Swibel strikes Y-League grand final glory
20-year-old striker Jordi Swibel and his Sydney FC Young Sky Blues finished this season as the undefeated champions, winning the 2019-20 Y-League grand final.
“THESE are the moments we all cherish as players,” Jordi Swibel told The AJN this week, describing the jubilation of singing Sydney FC’s song with his teammates in the change rooms at Sydney’s Jubilee Stadium on January 31 after they won the 2019-20 Y-League grand final 5-1 against Melbourne Victory.
The moment meant even more to the Young Sky Blues, given they fell one game short of making last year’s decider of Australia’s only elite national U23 men’s football competition.
Their response this season was epic to say the least.
Not only did they make the grand final and win it convincingly against a strong Melbourne outfit that topped Conference A, but they became the first team to complete a regular Y-League season undefeated, winning five of their eight regular season games and drawing three, to top Conference B.
They also broke league records, scoring 37 goals while only conceding 15.
Swibel scored six goals and made six goal assists.
“I think it was a case of us learning our lessons from last season, when to qualify [for the grand final] we had to win our last game, but we went down 1-2 which was tough – especially because it was against our arch-rivals the Western Sydney Wanderers,” Swibel, 20, said.
“This year we had a lot of experience because most of us have remained in the team and went through that, so I feel we had the confidence to beat anyone and win the title.”
The talented striker got his team off to the best possible start in the grand final, trapping an accurate cross from Thomas Fay with his right boot in the sixth minute, and then blasting the ball past the keeper with his left.
“Getting that goal early on was great on a personal note, and for the team I think it also settled some nerves.
“I didn’t have anything in mind before the game in terms of goal celebrations, but in the moment I noticed I was on camera [on Fox Sports’ live broadcast], so I decided to point to the Sydney FC badge – just to fire us up.”
Melbourne equalised in the 36th minute but Sydney edged in front on the stroke of half-time through a successful penalty shot.
The Young Sky Blues dominated in the second half, scoring three more goals.
Swibel almost added one more to his tally in the 52nd minute, running onto a chip pass towards goal, but his on-target shot was saved by the keeper.
And his teammate Marco Tilio’s second goal tap-in came about from a deflected free kick scoring attempt by Swibel in the 71st minute.
“I feel we played great for the entirety of the game. It was a very intense first half, as you would expect in a grand final, and then the game really opened up for us.
“It was a very hot afternoon, and our strength and conditioning trainer prepared us well for that all season, so I felt we were the fitter team on the field too.”
In more good news for the former Hakoah junior – who earned his first playing time in the A-League last month, coming off the bench in the latter stages of two consecutive matches – he has been named in Sydney FC’s 26-man squad for its upcoming 2020 AFC Champions League campaign, along with six of his Y-League teammates.
Swibel was also picked in last year’s squad, but then suffered a hamstring injury that put him out of contention.
“I’ve played a lot more football now compared to last year, so if [Sydney FC head coach] Steve [Corica] does decide to call upon any of us younger guys, I’m ready to go, and I’m sure we’ll all take up the opportunity to play with both hands.”
While the A-League season continues, Sydney FC will play six mid-week Pool H AFC Champions League matches in Sydney and overseas against clubs from China, South Korea and Japan.
Sydney FC kicks off their Asian campaign at Sydney’s Jubilee Stadium at 7.30pm on February 12 when they take on Chinese team Shanghai SIPG.
comments