Three goals in the final 20 minutes has ensured Sydney FC leaves Canberra with a confidence-boosting win ahead of their FFA Cup round of 16 clash.
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A committed Belconnen United outfit held the Sky Blues scoreless until Matt Simon, Jacob Tratt and Andrew Hoole scored late for the 3-0 victory at McKellar Park on Wednesday night.
Belconnen United put up a strong showing for the 1852-strong crowd, the second in as many days for a Canberra team after Canberra Olympic's 3-2 loss to the Central Coast Mariners on Tuesday night.
Simon came on at halftime for a Sydney FC side resting several regulars ahead of next Wednesday's FFA Cup encounter with Adelaide United.
The all-time leading goal-scorer at the Mariners, Simon reacted the quickest to a rebound from Belconnen goal-keeper Adam Perakovic to open the scoring in the 72nd minute.
Tratt (85th minute) and Hoole (88th minute) extended the lead, but the result wasn't a fair reflection of the closeness of the contest.
Socceroos striker Alex Brosque, Serbian midfielders Milos Dimitrijevic and Milos Ninkovic, Senegalese internationals Jacques Faty and Mickael Tavares, first-choice goal-keeper Vedran Janjetovic, Mariners recruit Zac Anderson and Slovakian forward Filip Holosko were among the Sydney FC players kept in cotton wool.
That gave the squad's younger players the chance to present their case to coach Graham Arnold ahead of the start of the A-League season in October.
One of those was highly-rated Newcastle Jets recruit Hoole, the 21-year-old midfielder eager to make a strong impression at his new surroundings.
Hoole played out on the left wing after being named Newcastle's player of the season last campaign.
Belconnen United burst out of the blocks with Danai Gapare testing Sydney FC 'keeper Anthony Bouzanis in the opening minute.
The Sky Blues were again on the defensive when Bouzanis had to diffuse a dangerous situation in the box in the 11th minute.
It wasn't long before Sydney FC had their own chances.
Hoole had a quality shot on target while Naumoff whipped in a free kick around the wall, but both couldn't beat Perakovic.
Defender Matt Jurman was substituted in the 40th minute with a slight knock, while Simon came on for New Zealand international Shane Smeltz for the second half.
Belconnen United are second in the ACT National Premier League, but will drop to third if Canberra FC beats the Cooma Tigers on Sunday.
Central Coast Mariners will be aiming for a clean sweep of their Canberra visit when they take on Gungahlin United at Gungahlin Enclosed on Thursday night.
PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY: Sydney FC 3 (Simon 72', Tratt 85', Hoole 88') bt Belconnen United 0 at McKellar Park on Wednesday night. Central Coast Mariners v Gungahlin United at Gungahlin Enclosed on Thursday night, 6.30pm.
