Sydney FC roared back into the winners circle with a well-deserved 2-1 victory over Perth Glory at the Sydney Football Stadium tonight.
Sydney FC roared back into the winners circle with a well-deserved 2-1 victory over Perth Glory at the Sydney Football Stadium tonight.
Second half goals from Man of the Match Brett Emerton and Bruno Cazarine secured the three points that sees Sydney FC move back into the top six but it was the debut of Joel Chianese, the non-stop work of Nick Carle and the passion of the side that had the Sky Blues fans on their feet.
Perth scored a late consolation goal in the 86th minute although replays showed that Billy Mehmet was offside as he ran onto a ball to score.
There was also a touch of glamour at the match with former Miss Australia Laura Dundovic and Mel B (aka Scary Spice) enjoying the Sydney FC game from the stands.
Sydney FC made three changes to the team that went down last weekend against Newcastle. Emerton returned from injury with Chianese handed his starting debut as Terry McFlynn (suspended) and Mark Bridge (ankle injury) missed out while Ivan Necevski replaced Liam Reddy between the sticks.
The match game started with the Sky Blues backing up their words of praise and respect for Vitezslav Lavicka with actions as they attacked every loose ball with vigour. Carle, in particular was immense defensively.
The introduction of Chianese gave Sydney FC some pace up front and it almost paid dividends in the 7th minute when only a last-ditched Josh Risdon interception thwarted Cazarine after a quick transition led by Chianese had Perth stretched.
Another player brought into the team this weekend, Necevski, also covered himself in glory, coming off his line twice to smother through balls before he pulled off a wonderful save to deny Travis Dodd in the 23rd minute.
Neither side could lay claim to having the ascendency at the half tine break as the players went to half time with the scores locked at 0-0.
After the break Sydney FC gained the upper hand, using width on both side of the midfield with Emerton and Karol Kisel and it was the experienced pair that played a huge part in the opening goal of the game in the 54th minute.
Sydney FC played some smart quick passes in the midfield before Cazarine flicked a neat ball out wide for Kisel to fly down the left touchline, cut the ball back to the edge of the penalty area and Emerton controlled the ball and thumped it into the back of the net.
The goal lifted Sydney further and if not for a desperate double block from the Perth defence in the 66th minute denying Kisel and Chianese, Sydney could easily have doubled its lead.
Chianese had an even better chance to score his first Hyundai A-League goal in the 67th minute when the ball fell to his feet 10m from goal but his shot was saved by Perth ‘keeper Danny Vukovic.
The pressure ultimately paid off in the 73rd minute when Cazarine scored his 7th goal of the season with a diving header that came after yet another foray down the touchline. This time it was substitute Shannon Cole who found space out wide, delivering a cross to the far post that was played back in by Emerton and Cazarine met the ball with a thumping header.
Chianese was replaced in the 80th minute and received a fantastic ovation from the Sky Blue fans and his replacement, fellow youngster Mitch Mallia, forced a great save from Vukovic less than a minute later.
Perth pulled a goal back in the 86th minute when Billy Mehmet scored, although he was clearly offside when he ran onto a through ball and volleyed the ball into the back of the net.
The win lifts Sydney FC to equal 6th place on the competition ladder, right in the middle of a congested mid-table that sees the Sky Blues just four points behind Perth, who stay in 4th-place.
Sydney FC takes on Adelaide United next Sunday at Hindmarsh Stadium before the Sky Blues return to the Sydney Football Stadium on 25 February for a clash with Wellington Phoenix.
Sydney FC 2 (Brett Emerton 54, Bruno Cazarine 73) d Perth Glory 1 (Billy Mehmet 86)
Sydney Football Stadium
Crowd: 8,508
Referee: Strebre Delovski
Sydney FC: 20. Ivan Necevski, 4. Pascal Bosschaart, 5. Michael Beauchamp, 6. Hirofumi Moriyasu, 7. Brett Emerton, 8. Karol Kisel (12. Shannon Cole ‘68), 9. Bruno Cazarine, 10 Nick Carle (22. Nathan Sherlock ‘93), 16. Joel Chianese (24. Mitch Mallia ‘80), 21. Scott Jamieson, 23. Rhyan Grant.
Sub not used: 1. Liam Reddy.
Yellow cards: Karol Kisel 40.
Red cards: Nil
Perth Glory: 1. Danny Vukovic, 3. Bas van den Brink, 5. Steve Pantelidis, 7. Jacob Burns, 9. Shane Smeltz, 10. Liam Miller, 13. Travis Dodd (27. Andrezinho ‘73), 14. Steven McGarry, 19. Josh Risdon, 21. Mile Sterjovski (4. Billy Mehmet ‘64), 35. Dean Heffernan.
Subs not used: 20. Neil Young (gk), 8. Adam Hughes.
Yellow cards: Jacob Burns 14.
Red cards: Nil
