Sydney FC v Wrexham AFC LIVE updates: North-east Wales meets New South Wales in pre-season friendly
G'day, g'day
Hello football fans and welcome to our live coverage of tonight's friendly between Sydney FC and Wrexham AFC - a showdown that absolutely nobody would have thought up five years ago. I mean, why would they?
Why on earth is the third-best team in Wales doing a pre-season tour of Australia? And why would around 35,000 people in Sydney be interested in braving a cold Tuesday night to see them play a team that was probably the A-League's biggest disappointment last season?
The answer: celebrity, folks. A force so powerful that it works when the celebrities in question aren't even here. Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney (now, legally, Rob Mac) are not at Allianz Stadium tonight - their schedules, we presume, are too busy - but it is only because of them that you even remotely care about Wrexham, or at least enough to click on this blog and read this post.
Their takeover of Wrexham AFC is truly one of sport's most fascinating stories, and their rise from England's fifth tier to the Championship - three consecutive promotions, an unprecedented feat at this level - has been nothing short of a remarkable. The hit Disney+ series Welcome to Wrexham has documented it all, helping them build a global fanbase that stretches all the way … here.
This coming season, the Red Dragons are just one division below the Premier League. Can they get there? Who knows. But this match forms an important part of their preparations. So let's see what happens.
For Sydney FC, the job is simple: be a good opponent and fly the flag for the Australian game, unlike Melbourne Victory, who shamed the A-League with a 3-0 defeat on Friday night. (I'm joking.)
I'm Vince Rugari, by the way. Pleasure to have your company.
7.05pm
This place is buzzing
Expecting a crowd of around/over 35,000 here at Allianz Stadium, which is quite something.
Where would A-League teams fit in the English pyramid? This might be our best chance to find out
Trying to draw meaning from pre-season friendlies is a fool's errand. But this is the A-League's silly season, after all - so in that spirit, let's have a crack.
If you've thought about club soccer in Australia for longer than a few moments, the following unanswerable question may have crossed your mind: how would our teams fare in Europe? Specifically, England.
In an alternate universe in which A-League sides have the opportunity to compete in the English pyramid system … how would they go?
Would our best survive in the Premier League? Almost certainly not. So what's the level? Could champions Melbourne City hold their own in the Championship? Could the Wanderers climb out of League One? Would the likes of last season's cellar-dwellers Perth Glory and Brisbane Roar sink to the bottom of the League Two table … or lower?
6.52pm
Here are the starting XIs
For your perusual, the team sheet.
The Sky Blues, still four months out from the start of the A-League season, are missing marquee man Douglas Costa, midfielder Leo Sena and defender Alex Grant - plus club great Anthony Caceres, who has departed for Macarthur FC, and some others like Patryk Klimala who have also moved on. Their squad is about six players short of what it will be when October comes, and two of those players will be imports. So don't judge them on this, tonight.
Meanwhile, there's the Wrexham team. I know you don't know too much about these players individually, and you should probably know I don't either - but it's not about that, is it? It's about how they make you feel.
6.47pm
G'day, g'day
Hello football fans and welcome to our live coverage of tonight's friendly between Sydney FC and Wrexham AFC - a showdown that absolutely nobody would have thought up five years ago. I mean, why would they?
Why on earth is the third-best team in Wales doing a pre-season tour of Australia? And why would around 35,000 people in Sydney be interested in braving a cold Tuesday night to see them play a team that was probably the A-League's biggest disappointment last season?
The answer: celebrity, folks. A force so powerful that it works when the celebrities in question aren't even here. Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney (now, legally, Rob Mac) are not at Allianz Stadium tonight - their schedules, we presume, are too busy - but it is only because of them that you even remotely care about Wrexham, or at least enough to click on this blog and read this post.
Their takeover of Wrexham AFC is truly one of sport's most fascinating stories, and their rise from England's fifth tier to the Championship - three consecutive promotions, an unprecedented feat at this level - has been nothing short of a remarkable. The hit Disney+ series Welcome to Wrexham has documented it all, helping them build a global fanbase that stretches all the way … here.
This coming season, the Red Dragons are just one division below the Premier League. Can they get there? Who knows. But this match forms an important part of their preparations. So let's see what happens.
For Sydney FC, the job is simple: be a good opponent and fly the flag for the Australian game, unlike Melbourne Victory, who shamed the A-League with a 3-0 defeat on Friday night. (I'm joking.)
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Sydney Morning Herald
an hour ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Absolutely insane': Harris wins first gold as Short digs deep after hospital visit
'I'm stoked,' Harris said. 'I'm sure I'll process it later, but I'm so happy. That's the most fun I've had in a race.' Short, who trains alongside Harris, watched her swim from the marshalling room ahead of his own 30-lap battle. 'It was absolutely insane,' Short said. 'She said to me, 'imagine if we both win gold'. I was thinking 'jeez that's going to be a tough ask for me'. But I wanted to pull my weight. She has worked so hard.' While Harris, McEvoy, Mollie O'Callaghan and Kaylee McKeown all claimed individual golds in Singapore, as well two from Moesha Johnson in the open water, Short left the meet with a trio of what-ifs. He missed gold in the 400m freestyle by 0.02 seconds, was forced to withdraw from the 800m due to illness, and fought bravely for fourth in the 1500m final, clocking 14:43.08 — the second-fastest time of his career. Short had to cancel lunch plans with his parents at a Singapore pub on Saturday, convinced he'd be too battered by illness to even qualify for Sunday's final. 'It's been a pretty horrible week, to be honest,' said Short, who lost three kilograms while sick. 'The 800 heat felt phenomenal and the next two days were horrible. 'I couldn't really leave my bed. I was just throwing up and had really high temperatures. I was really down the dumps. I'm just stoked to get in the final. '14:43 is a pretty good time after the week I've had.' Head coach Rohan Taylor added: 'That was unbelievable. He's a fighter.' With Australia's men's medley team failing to make the final, it was up to the Dolphins' women to try and land a final blow on the USA. With the men's medley relay team failing to make the final, it was left to McKeown, Ella Ramsay, Alex Perkins and O'Callaghan (3:52.67) to chase one last gold for the Dolphins. But the Americans, anchored by Torri Huske, were too strong, taking the title in 3:49.34. O'Callaghan, stuck on 11 world championship golds, will now have to wait until Budapest 2027 to surpass Ian Thorpe's Australian record. There were more memorable moments on the final night: France's Leon Marchand claimed gold in the 400m individual medley, though fell short of his own world record. Summer McIntosh won her fourth gold of the meet in the same race. If McIntosh were a country, she would have finished fourth on the medal tally. And 12-year-old Chinese sensation Yu Zidi, turned heads again with another fourth-place finish but did become the youngest medallist at an international swimming meet in 89 years after helping China to a relay medal as a heat swimmer. Forrester's silver medal — shared with Japan's Mio Narita — was especially sweet after she missed the final in Paris. 'I was honestly just in disbelief. That was crazy,' Forrester said. 'I feel like it's been a really tough two years. I'm super proud of myself.' The USA pipping Australia on the medal tally will be salt in the wound but it was one of those weeks, with illness affecting both camps. Australia could have won more and the same could also be said for the USA. With no Ariarne Titmus, Kaylee McKeown dropping the 50m backstroke, and Short robbed for the chance for supremacy in the 800m freestyle, there were golds left on the table in the first major international swimming competition since the Olympics. There was also a bad mixed 4x100m freestyle heat that Australia will learn from. Loading The Dolphins' haul of eight golds wasn't quite the 13 they collected in Fukuoka in 2023, but it remains their second-best world championship return since 2007. 'There was a lot of turmoil through the week but I think we handled it well,' Taylor said. 'Obviously, we were one gold medal short [of the USA]. It's nice for it to come down to the last relay. We did our best but they were too good on the day. It makes us more hungry. 'Jenna Forrester getting back on the podium is a great story. Harrison's Turner's bronze from lane eight. Jeez, that 800 freestyle final with Lani [Pallister] was special. 'The relays at the beginning were great. Sienna Toohey making a semi-final. Each moment was special to me.'
9 News
an hour ago
- 9 News
Magda Szubanski moves Logies to tears as she's inducted into Hall of Fame
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here The standout moment of Australian television's night of nights has been claimed by someone who wasn't even at the ceremony. Magda Szubanski was beamed into the 2025 Logie Awards on Sunday night as she was inducted into the Hall of Fame, and the beloved comedian and actress shared a message that left not a dry eye in the house. "I want to say first of all – let's get this out of the way – I have not been awarded this honour because I have the cancer," Szubanski quipped at the start. Magda Szubanski teared up as she thanked the Australian public for their overwhelming support throughout her cancer diagnosis. (Getty Images for TV WEEK Logie A) "The cancer" was in fact the reason for the 64-year-old's absence from the awards ceremony. She has been isolating whilst undergoing treatment for stage four mantle cell lymphoma, a rare and fast-moving blood cancer, which she announced earlier this year she had been diagnosed with. The honour of being inducted into the Hall of Fame recognises 40 years of work that has made Szubanski one of the most beloved Australian stars, best known for her role as Sharon Strzelecki in Kath & Kim as well as for characters on shows like Fast Forward , The D-Generation , and Big Girl's Blouse . "I am getting this because of 40 years of hard work: lobbying, bribing, threatening, whatever it took, whatever it took," she joked. "Finally it has all paid off, so I don't feel like an imposter, I feel like I have earned it and I am thrilled. "But honestly, I do want to say thank you so much for this honour." Allison Langdon accepts the Ray Martin Award for Most Popular News or Public Affairs Presenter - presented by Ray Martin himself. (Getty Images for TV WEEK Logie A) She teared up at the end of her speech, thanking the Australian public for their overwhelming support as she fights cancer. "The love and support that I have felt, like a tsunami, from the Australian public, it has been overwhelming," she said, wiping away tears. "When I go online and look at those messages, every time, my heart lifts, and I feel that much stronger to deal with the cancer. "So thank you for the love that you are pouring my way." The Gold Logie for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television went to Home and Away veteran Lynne McGranger, who beat out a field of women nominees and Hamish Blake. A Current Affair 's Ally Langdon had been in the running for the gold, but she didn't leave empty handed, receiving the Ray Martin Award for Most Popular News or Public Affairs Presenter. She also accepted the award for Best Sports Coverage for the Paris Olympic Games, won by Nine and Stan Sport. Travel Guides continued its winning streak, receiving its fourth consecutive Logie for Best Lifestyle Program. (Getty Images for TV WEEK Logie A) Blake – who always insisted he was a reluctant nominee for the Gold Logie in a field filled with women – accepted the award for Best Competition Reality Program for LEGO Masters Australia . Travel Guides continued its winning streak, receiving its fourth consecutive Logie for Best Lifestyle Program. Earlier in the night, Jelena Dokic won Best Factual or Documentary Program for Unbreakable: The Jelena Dokic Story . The former tennis star spoke directly to "every single girl and woman" watching. "Never allow anyone to take your worth or happiness or smile away. Believe in your goals and dreams," she said. She ended with a moving moment and her biggest thanks for fellow tennis legend Todd Woodbridge, who she referred to as "my person". Jelena Dokic accepts the Logie Award for Best Factual or Documentary Program. (Getty Images for TV WEEK Logie A) "This makes me cry so much because I sat down with you at the table 11 years ago when I retired and you said to me that I can be a commentator and bring my story to life," Dokic said. "I looked at you and I said to you, 'I don't know who you are talking about but you are not talking about me'. "I was a person who couldn't string two sentences together and had no social skills, but you believed in me. "I hope everyone finds a Todd like I did. "You're a massive reason why I'm here. "You love to remind me every single day how right I am and I still need to listen to you. So I will. Todd Woodbridge won his first Logie - the Bert Newton Award for Most Popular Presenter. (Getty Images for TV WEEK Logie A) "I say if everyone can have a father and mentor like Todd, they would be very fortunate. Thank you everyone." It was a winning night for Woodbridge too, who collected his first ever Logie: the Bert Newton Award for Most Popular Presenter for his long list of credits that includes Tipping Point , the Australian Open, and the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris last year. national entertainment Television CONTACT US
The Age
an hour ago
- The Age
‘Absolutely insane': Harris wins first gold as Short digs deep after hospital visit
'I'm stoked,' Harris said. 'I'm sure I'll process it later, but I'm so happy. That's the most fun I've had in a race.' Short, who trains alongside Harris, watched her swim from the marshalling room ahead of his own 30-lap battle. 'It was absolutely insane,' Short said. 'She said to me, 'imagine if we both win gold'. I was thinking 'jeez that's going to be a tough ask for me'. But I wanted to pull my weight. She has worked so hard.' While Harris, McEvoy, Mollie O'Callaghan and Kaylee McKeown all claimed individual golds in Singapore, as well two from Moesha Johnson in the open water, Short left the meet with a trio of what-ifs. He missed gold in the 400m freestyle by 0.02 seconds, was forced to withdraw from the 800m due to illness, and fought bravely for fourth in the 1500m final, clocking 14:43.08 — the second-fastest time of his career. Short had to cancel lunch plans with his parents at a Singapore pub on Saturday, convinced he'd be too battered by illness to even qualify for Sunday's final. 'It's been a pretty horrible week, to be honest,' said Short, who lost three kilograms while sick. 'The 800 heat felt phenomenal and the next two days were horrible. 'I couldn't really leave my bed. I was just throwing up and had really high temperatures. I was really down the dumps. I'm just stoked to get in the final. '14:43 is a pretty good time after the week I've had.' Head coach Rohan Taylor added: 'That was unbelievable. He's a fighter.' With Australia's men's medley team failing to make the final, it was up to the Dolphins' women to try and land a final blow on the USA. With the men's medley relay team failing to make the final, it was left to McKeown, Ella Ramsay, Alex Perkins and O'Callaghan (3:52.67) to chase one last gold for the Dolphins. But the Americans, anchored by Torri Huske, were too strong, taking the title in 3:49.34. O'Callaghan, stuck on 11 world championship golds, will now have to wait until Budapest 2027 to surpass Ian Thorpe's Australian record. There were more memorable moments on the final night: France's Leon Marchand claimed gold in the 400m individual medley, though fell short of his own world record. Summer McIntosh won her fourth gold of the meet in the same race. If McIntosh were a country, she would have finished fourth on the medal tally. And 12-year-old Chinese sensation Yu Zidi, turned heads again with another fourth-place finish but did become the youngest medallist at an international swimming meet in 89 years after helping China to a relay medal as a heat swimmer. Forrester's silver medal — shared with Japan's Mio Narita — was especially sweet after she missed the final in Paris. 'I was honestly just in disbelief. That was crazy,' Forrester said. 'I feel like it's been a really tough two years. I'm super proud of myself.' The USA pipping Australia on the medal tally will be salt in the wound but it was one of those weeks, with illness affecting both camps. Australia could have won more and the same could also be said for the USA. With no Ariarne Titmus, Kaylee McKeown dropping the 50m backstroke, and Short robbed for the chance for supremacy in the 800m freestyle, there were golds left on the table in the first major international swimming competition since the Olympics. There was also a bad mixed 4x100m freestyle heat that Australia will learn from. Loading The Dolphins' haul of eight golds wasn't quite the 13 they collected in Fukuoka in 2023, but it remains their second-best world championship return since 2007. 'There was a lot of turmoil through the week but I think we handled it well,' Taylor said. 'Obviously, we were one gold medal short [of the USA]. It's nice for it to come down to the last relay. We did our best but they were too good on the day. It makes us more hungry. 'Jenna Forrester getting back on the podium is a great story. Harrison's Turner's bronze from lane eight. Jeez, that 800 freestyle final with Lani [Pallister] was special. 'The relays at the beginning were great. Sienna Toohey making a semi-final. Each moment was special to me.'
