Steve Corica’s injury time header clinched a vital three points for Sydney FC in a 1-0 victory over the Newcastle Jets.
The match came to life in the second half after Ruben Zadkovich was sent off after fifty-two minutes for a lunging challenge on Adam Griffiths.
As the game appeared to be heading for a draw, Corica latched onto Terry McFlynn
Steve Corica’s injury time header clinched a vital three points for Sydney FC in a 1-0 victory over the Newcastle Jets.
A gutsy 10 man Sydney FC defeated Newcastle Jets 1-0, making it three wins from three games against the Jets this season thanks to Steve Corica-s dramatic injury time header that sent the Sydney FC fans into raptures.
The game appeared to be heading for a scoreless draw when Corica latched onto Terry McFlynn-s ball moments before the final whistle. His diving header went past Newcastle-s keeper Ante Covic and into the net, sealing Sydney FC-s victory in front of a delighted Cove.
It was a win based on character but Sydney FC thoroiughly deserved the victory after dominating for most of the match, even when they went down to 10 men.
The best chance of a dour first half fell to Michael Bridges in the 34th minute when he forced a fine save from Covic from close range. Sydney FC-s Ruben Zadkovich pounced on the ball after Andrew Durante gave away possession and released Alex Brosque down the left flank. Brosque-s cross found Michael Bridges 12 yards out from the goal and although Bridges stroked the ball on his first touch, Covic made a fine save to deny the Sydney FC striker.
In the 52nd minute of the second half, Zadkovich was shown a red card after a reckless tackle on Jets defender, Adam Griffiths, which looked like turning the game. Although reduced to 10 men Sydney FC continued to look hungry for a goal and remained ahead of Newcastle in terms of shots on goal as well as balls in the penalty area.
Mark Rudan almost won it for Sydney FC in the 85th minute when his header off an Ufuk Talay cross went back across goal.
Newcastle then had their chance when a stinging Noel Spencer shot was well saved by Clint Bolton but Mario Jardel could not put away the rebound, although replays showed he was offside.
Then, just when the 10,732 crowd seemed to have resigned themselves to a scoreless draw Steve Corica brought the crowd to its feet with a diving header during injury time to clinch three points for Sydney FC.
LIVE MATCH UPDATES:
Full-Time: Sydney FC 1 (Corica 90+2′) Newcastle Jets 0
90+1′- GOAL! Sydney FC 1 Newcastle Jets 0
Steve Corica heads Sydney FC to victory. Rudan charged down the right flank, squared the ball to McFlynn, who calmly chipped the ball to the back post where Corica latched onto the ball and tucked away the winner.
90′: There will be three minutes added on for Sydney FC to find a winner.
89′- Jardel ruled offside and spared the blushes of missing an absolute sitter in front of an open goal. He failed to tuck away the crumbs after Clint Bolton stretched down to his right to tip away Spencer’s strike.
85′- Rudan throws himself at the ball but heads Talay’s cross over the bar.
84′- Popovic whips in another dangerous ball but it evades everybody.
84′- Bolton claims the ball.
84′- Now Newcastle have a corner, and Van Egmod brings on Jardel for Thompson.
83′- Newcastle clear away the danger.
82′- Milligan’s header also deflected wide for a corner.
81′- Popovic’s header deflects for another corner.
81′- Talay’s free kick deflects off the wall for a corner.
80′- Yellow Card to Durante. Brosque took him on one-on-one and Durante brought him down cynically.
78′- Musialik blasts high and wide.
77′- Bridge fires a shot wide of Bolton’s left upright.
74′- Joel Griffiths flicks a header wide of Bolton’s goal.
74′- Covic flaps at a cross but the last touch comes off Brosque for a Newcastle goalkick.
73′- Joel Griffiths offside before tucking the ball away.
72′- Thompson’s dangerous cross fizzes across the box but evades everybody.
71′- Yellow Card to Mark Bridge for kicking the ball away.
67′- Play has stopped as Joel Griffiths lies on the turf on the edge of the box.
66′- Yellow Card to Popovic for late contact on Joel Griffiths.
65′- Newcastle clear away the danger.
65′- Sydney FC corner, as the momentum begins to build for the home side.
63′- McFlynn is on for Michael Bridges.
62′- Great chance for Sydney FC. Brosque latched onto a Talay long ball but Covic smothered his effort. The rebound was then centred to Bridges, but his effort was blocked by a fully stretched Durante.
59′- Popovic chimes in down the left and whips in a cross but Bridges heads over the bar.
57′- The red card is the last thing Sydney FC need as they chase three points. Michael Bridges has dropped deeper to carry out the extra defensive duties.
54′- Popovic and Joel Griffiths tussle as the ball rolls dead for a Sydney FC goalkick.
54′- Thompson centres a ball into the box but Bolton comes and claims.
52′- RED CARD. Ruben Zadkovich sent off by Matthew Breeze for a lunging challenge on Adam Griffiths on the half way line. Both sets of players tussled as tempers flaired after the decision.
51′- Newcastle Jets make a change with Noel Spencer coming on for Jobe Wheelhouse
50′- Bridge drives in a low, weak shot that is comfortabely saved by Bolton
46′- The second half is underway.
Half-Time- Sydney FC 0 Newcastle Jets 0
Ante Covic’s sharp glovework has kept the score 0-0 at half time in a game that has failed to reach any great heights. Both sides were guilty of giving away possession cheaply in a lacklustre display. A draw would be an ideal result for Newcastle and it appears that is their intention tonight. Mark Bridges looks lively, but they have failed to create any chances. Ruben Zadkovich looks the most likely for Sydney FC, but overall, it was a half to forget.
45′- There will be 2 minutes injury time.
45′- Bolton snares the corner.
45′- Thompson strides into the Sydney FC box but Rudan tucks the ball out for a corner.
42′- Covic catches the corner with a strong take.
41′- Zadkovich shot deflects wide for a Sydney FC corner.
39′- Corica bursts into the box but loses control of the ball under pressure from the Jets defense.
39′- Milligan smothers Bridge’s shot from the edge of the box with his legs.
35′- Yellow card to Middleby after clipping down Elrich down the Newcastle right.
34′- Brilliant save by Covic. Brosque laid the ball square to Bridges after Zadkovich intercepted the ball, but Covic got down sharply to his left. Highlight of the match so far.
30′- Bridge chips the ball into Griffiths who heads over the bar.
27′- Corica wastes the free kick.
26′- Free kick to Sydney FC ten metres outside the box after Brosque was brought down by D’Apuzzo.
24′- A pause in play as Bridges stays down after being accidentally collected by North’s studs.
23′- Bolton claims a wasteful cross from D’Apuzzo.
22′- Covic slides out to grasp the ball from Popovic’s feet after Brosque played him into the box.
18′- Covic collects Fyfe’s chip in from the right.
14′- Middleby curls in a cross from the left flank amidst shouts from the crowd for a penalty as Bridges tangled with a Newcastle defender.
12′- Ball cleared away by Sydney FC.
12′- Free kick to Newcastle on the right edge of Sydney FC’s box.
8- Elrich charges into the Sydney FC box and Middleby slides in to knick the ball away amidst shouts for a penalty
6- Musialik plays Bridge over the top, ball cleared by Rudan
4- Sydney FC has begun the match enjoying the dominant share of possession in Newcastle’s half.
1- The match is underway. Sydney FC will line up in a 3-5-2 formation, while the Jets are fielding a 4-2-3-1 shape.
Welcome to Sydney FC’s live match updates for tonight’s crucial encounter with the Newcastle Jets. This match shapes as the classic six-pointer. Newcastle sit in fourth spot on 22 points with Sydney four points adrift. Sydney FC have enjoyed two 1-0 victories over Newcastle this year, and another three points for John Kosmina’s side is vital tonight to remain in touch in the race for the final four.
In team news, Tony Popovic returns from suspension for Sydney FC, but Juninho is unavailable. Newcastle welcome back Mark Bridges, while Gary Van Egmond has opted to leave Mario Jardel on the bench.
The match pits the Hyundai A-League’s two leading marksmen up against eachother, with Alex Brosque looking to catch Joel Griffiths at the top of the goal scoring charts.
Sydney FC v Newcastle Jets
Friday 7 December
Sydney Football Stadium
Referee: Matthew Breeze
Crowd: 10 732
Sydney FC: Clint Bolton, Iain Fyfe, Mark Rudan, Tony Popovic (c), Robbie Middleby, Ruben Zadkovich, Steve Corica, Alex Brosque, Mark Milligan, Ufuk Talay, Michael Bridges. Subs: Ivan Necevski (gk), David Zdrillic, Brendon Santalab, Terry McFlynn.
Newcastle Jets: Ante Covic, Adam Griffiths, Jade North (c), Stuart Musialik, Andrew Durante, Matt Thompson, Joel Griffiths, Tarek Elrich, Adam D’Apuzzo, Jobe Wheelhouse, Mark Bridge. Subs: Ben Kennedy (gk), Noel Spencer, Mario Jardel, Stephen Laybutt.
