Sydney FC head to South Korea to face Pohang Steelers tomorrow looking to bounce straight back following a 3-1 Hyundai A-League defeat to the Wellington Phoenix.
Summary
Sydney FC (Holosko 51’) 1 def by Wellington Phoenix 3 (Powell 12’, Watson 13’, Bonevacia 37’)
Sydney FC head to South Korea to face Pohang Steelers tomorrow looking to bounce straight back following a 3-1 Hyundai A-League defeat to the Wellington Phoenix.
Three first half goals inside the opening 40 minutes gave the Phoenix the ascendancy before the Sky Blues came back into the game with a second half Filip Holosko strike.
Four games remain for the Sky Blues who at close of play were still only one point off the Finals spots with an away trip to bottom placed Central Coast Mariners next Saturday.
What They Said
Graham Arnold: “The first 30 minutes was poor and I don’t know where it came from which is the hardest thing and that’s what made it difficult for ourselves. After that I thought we were the better side, we did well second half, but you can’t do that in the A-League. When it’s continually sloppy mistakes and individual errors it makes it tough. We’ve had six games in 20 days but that’s what you’re dealt and you have to get on with it.”
Goals
12’ POWELL GOAL – A ball in from the left hand side is only half cleared by Grant and Powell turns and shoots into the far corner.
13’ WATSON GOAL – Bonevacia plays in Watson who runs clear and slots beyond Janjetovic.
37’ BONEVACIA GOAL – McGlinchey crosses from the left and the ball rolls all the way through to Bonevacia at the far post who side foots home.
51’ HOLOSKO GOAL – Stambolziev gets to the byline and crosses, Moss gets a hand to it but can only push the ball into the path of Holosko who fires home.
Key Moments
4’ WATSON CHANCE – Watson is released by Rodriguez but the pass is just too heavy and Janjetovic is able to come out and make save.
9’ POWELL CHANCE – A ball is played in behind the Sydney FC defence which Powell latches onto but Janjetovic is quickly out of his box to blast the ball against the striker’s legs and away.
27’ SMELTZ CHANCE – Stambolziev lifts the ball to the far post, Carney nudges it back inside but Smeltz’s first time shot loops just wide.
64’ HOLOSKO SHOT – Neat play on the right between Carney and Ryall ends with the ball being played to Holosko who hits the ball first time from the edge of the box but Moss saves.
Team News
Sydney FC (Holosko 51’) 1 def by Wellington Phoenix 3 (Powell 12’, Watson 13’, Bonevacia 37’)
Sydney FC Head Coach Graham Arnold made five changes to the side beaten at Melbourne City seven days earlier. Filip Holosko and Ali Abbas moved to the bench with Robert Stamboziev and Rhyan Grant returning to the starting line-up. Meanwhile Seb Ryall returned to the centre of defence at the expense of Zac Anderson following suspension while David Carney displaced Andrew Hoole and Shane Smeltz came in up front in place of Matt Simon who has a rib injury. Jacques Faty came onto the bench alongside cousin Mickael Tavares and Ivan Necevski.
Crowd: 10,235
Ground: Allianz Park
Referee: Takuto Okabe
Sydney FC: 1. Vedran JANJETOVIC (gk), 2. Seb RYALL, 5. Matt JURMAN, 6. Rob STAMBOLZIEV, 8. Milos DIMITRIJEVIC (27. Mickael TAVARES 45’), 9. Shane SMELTZ, 10. Milos NINKOVIC (21. Filip HOLOSKO 24’), 13. Brandon O’NEILL, 17. David CARNEY, 23. Rhyan GRANT, 25. Aaron CALVER (19. Jacques FATY 45’).
Subs not used: 20. Ivan NECEVSKI (gk), 22. Ali ABBAS.
Yellow cards: Dimitrijevic 45’, Tavares 65’, Faty 92’.
Red cards: None.
Wellington Phoenix: 1.Glen MOSS (gk), 2.Manny MUSCAT, 4.Roly BONEVACIA, 8.Alex RODRIGUEZ, 10.Michael MCGLINCHEY (6.Dylan FOX 84’), 12.Blake POWELL (23. Matthew RIDENTON 75’), 13.Albert RIERA, 18. Ben SIGMUND, 19.Tom DOYLE, 22.Andrew DURANTE (c), 26. Hamish WATSON (16.Louis FENTON 63’).
Subs not used: 20.Lewis ITALIANO (GK), 3.Justin GULLEY.
Yellow cards: Ridenton 90’.
Red cards: None.
