Sydney FC moved back into fifth place and claimed a sixth straight home victory after a comprehensive 2-0 win over the Central Coast Mariners at Allianz Stadium tonight.
Sydney FC moved back into fifth place and claimed a sixth straight home victory after a comprehensive 2-0 win over the Central Coast Mariners at Allianz Stadium tonight.
Goals to Sebastian Ryall and Joel Chianese helped Sydney make it back-to-back wins over the Mariners in front of a healthy home crowd of 16,155.
Sydney FC coach Frank Farina made three changes to the side with the injured Lucas Neill, suspended Fabio and Ali Abbas replaced in the starting side by Tiago Calvano, Ryall and Terry Antonis.
Tiago stepped in and contributed to an assured defensive performance for the home side, Antonis played one his best matches in a Sky Blue shirt and Ryall came up with the opening goal.
Sydney looked the most dangerous in the first half after a cagey opening and produced a string of chances, to the delight of a boisterous home crowd.
A clever change of direction from Alessandro Del Piero created space for Joel Griffiths in the 7th minute, but his cross flashed across the face of goal. Terry McFlynn then tried his luck from range, but his shot flashed over the bar.
Brett Emerton had the best opportunity of the opening period in the 10th minute after some brilliant lead up work from Del Piero, but his shot was blocked by a scrambling Josh Rose.
The home side looked solid in defence, with the Mariners reduced to a few half-chances, the best of which fell to Pedj Bojic in the 22nd minute but he sprayed his shot wide.
Ryall broke the deadlock three minutes later with a fierce shot that deflected off the Mariners- Trent Sainsbury after some nice lead up work from recently re-signed skipper McFlynn.
Michael McGlinchey forced his way through on goal in the 36th minute but his deflected shot fell tamely into the arms of Sydney keeper Vedran Janjetovic.
Sydney continued to stifle the Mariners in the second half, and by the 60th minute coach Graham Arnold had seen enough, emptying his bench in search of a goal.
Despite the Mariners- fresh legs, the Sydney defence stood tall as the visitors threw numbers forward in a desperate attempt to claim something out of the match.
The best chance for the Central Coast came in the 62nd minute when Mariners defender Trent Sainsbury spurned sent a header over the crossbar with an empty net.
Del Piero then had the fans on their feet again, cleverly cutting inside Josh Rose, but his wicked shot was saved brilliantly by Ryan.
Sydney doubled their lead in the 73th minute when substitute Chianese scored his first goal of the season, finishing clinically past Matt Ryan after a brilliant one-two with Antonis.
The Mariners continued to have the better of possession, but most of that came in their own half as the Sky Blues defended well as a unit to ensure the visitors couldn-t convert it into genuine chances.
McBreen had a chance to pull one back with full time approaching, but his lofted touch flew over the crossbar with just the keeper to beat.
Chianese had a chance to double his tally late in injury time, but his lobbed shot fell just wide of the upright.
Sydney will look to extend their unbeaten home run to seven next Saturday when they take on Melbourne Victory at Allianz Stadium. Kick off for that match is at 7.45pm
Sydney FC 2 (Sebastian Ryall 25, Joel Chianese 73) d Central Coast 0
Allianz Stadium
Referee: Jarred Gillet
Crowd: 16 155
Sydney FC: 20.Vedran JANJETOVIC, 2. Sebastian RYALL, 7. Brett EMERTON, 8. Adam GRIFFITHS, 10. Alessandro DEL PIERO, 13. Tiago CALVANO, 15. Terry MCFLYNN (22. Ali ABBAS ‘91), 17. Terry ANTONIS, 23. Rhyan GRANT, 26. Peter TRIANTIS, 29. Joel GRIFFITHS (16. Joel CHIANESE -69).
Subs Not Used: 1. Ivan NECEVSKI, 21. Yairo YAU.
Yellow Cards: Terry McFLYNN 72.
Central Coast Mariners: 1. Mathew RYAN, 2. Daniel MCBREEN, 3. Joshua ROSE, 4. Pedj BOJIC (5. Zachary ANDERSON ‘61), 6. Patrick ZWAANSWIJK, 7. John HUTCHINSON, 9. Berni IBINI, 14. Michael MCGLINCHEY, 16. Trent SAINSBURY, 18. Nick MONTGOMERY (Oliver BOZANIC ‘61), 21. Mile STERJOVSKI (19. Mitchell DUKE ‘57).
Sub Not Used: 20. Justin PASFIELD.
Yellow Cards: John HUTCHINSON 70.
