Juninho and Alex Brosque combined to score another fabulous goal as Sydney FC beat Newcastle Jets 1-0 to make it two wins in a row.
Juninho and Alex Brosque combined to score another fabulous goal as Sydney FC beat Newcastle Jets 1-0 to make it two wins in a row.
The Brazilian and the Australian picked up where they left off against Adelaide United four weeks ago, the former playing a perfectly weighted through ball that the latter stroked into the goal with great panache.
The New South Wales derby commenced at a fast pace with plenty of attacking drive from Sydney FC. The chances came early with shots from Juninho, Brosque and Steve Corica in the first seven minutes as the home side took the game to a Newcastle Jets side whose physical approach earned it no fewer than three yellow cards in the opening quarter.
Newcastle Jets went close in the 35th minute when former Brazil striker Mario Jardel received the ball just outside the box with no defenders blocking his path to goal. Jardel took a touch on the turn and shot but the ball was sent sailing into The Cove.
A minute later Sydney FC scored what proved to be the winning goal. Juninho split Newcastle Jets’ defence with an exquisite left-foot pass which found the run of Brosque who cut inside away captain Jade North and beat Ante Covic with the greatest of ease.
Sydney FC started the second half well, its attacking football producing good opportunities for Iain Fyfe, Mark Rudan, Brendon Santalab, Ruben Zadkovich and, again, Corica.
The 13,755-strong crowd almost got the Juninho goal that they craved in the 65th minute when the little magician found himself with the ball inside the box after Santalab had worked off his socks to steal the ball. Unfortunately for the home supporters, Juninho sent his low, angled show just wide of the far post.
Newcastle Jets almost snatched an undeserved point when, two minutes from the end of normal time, Denni got on the end of an Adam D’Apuzzo free kick. It was the first save that Clint Bolton had been called upon to make and the Sydney FC goalkeeper got down to low to do so.
Sydney FC 1 (Alex Brosque 36′)
Newcastle Jets 0
Date: Saturday, September 29, 2007
Venue: Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
Referee: Craig Zetter
Crowd: 13,755
Sydney FC: 1. Clint BOLTON (gk), 2. Iain FYFE, 4. Mark RUDAN, 8. Ruben ZADKOVICH, 10. Steve CORICA (23. Ufuk TALAY 74′), 11. Brendon SANTALAB, 14. Alex BROSQUE, 15. Terry McFLYNN, 16. Mark MILLIGAN (captain), 18. Adam CASEY, 22. JUNINHO (12. PATRICK 86′).
Substitutes not used: 6. Tony POPOVIC, 30. Matthew NASH (gk).
Yellow cards: Alex Brosque 72′, Ruben Zadkovich 84′.
Newcastle Jets: 1. Ante COVIC (gk), 2. Adam GRIFFITHS, 3. Jade NORTH (captain), 8. Matt THOMPSON, 11. Tarek ELRICH (23. Jason HOFFMAN 63′), 12. Paul KOHLER, 13. Adam D’APUZZO, 14. Jobe WHEELHOUSE (10. DENNI 75′), 19. Mark BRIDGE, 21. Mario JARDEL (17. Troy HEARFIELD 46′), 27. Stephen LAYBUTT.
Substitutes not used: 20. Ben KENNEDY (gk).
Yellow cards: Matt Thompson 6′, Adam D’Apuzzo 12′, Adam Griffiths 22′.
