Sydney FC moved to the top of the Hyundai A-League leader with a hard fought 1-0 win over Adelaide United at the Sydney Football Stadium on Sunday night.
Sydney FC moved to the top of the Hyundai A-League leader with a hard fought 1-0 win over Adelaide United at the Sydney Football Stadium on Sunday night.
Steve Corica capped off a typically solid performance with the only goal of the match shortly after half time to ensure the home side-s dominance of the match was converted into three points.
It didn-t take long for Sydney to test out the Adelaide-s suspect defence. Inside the first minute it was Alex Brosque with a low driving ball that needed every inch of Reds goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic-s full length dive to stop the visitors from going one down.
In a match in which they seemed to be control of, they found it tough to take full advantage of their numerous opportunities.
In the seventh minute Simon Colosimo missed an opportunity when his close range header from a Karol Kisel header went sailing over the bar. Then, in the 42nd minute, some great lead up work and an excellent pass from Karol Kisel saw star striker Alex Brosque in space, only to hit the side netting at the near post from close range.
With the deadlock still to be broken going into second half, Sydney came out in similar fashion to that of the first, looking to dominate from the outset.
In the 49th minute, an excellent pass from Terry McFlynn saw crowd favourite Steve Corica away down the left side. Facing two defenders, the experience of the captain showed through as he worked his way free to eventually squeeze the ball through the despairing legs of the Adelaide defence.
Taking an awkward deflection off substitute Adam Hughes, Galekovic was left to watch on as Corica-s ball went sailing into the back of the net to give Sydney a well earned 1-0 lead.
“I went for the near post but it took a deflection into the far post,” Corica said.
Despite going one up Sydney still looked to go on the attack in an attempt to put Adelaide well and truly out of the contest.
Just past the hour mark it was Brosque in the thick of it again. After receiving a well executed Stuart Musialik through ball, Brosque fired one in from just outside the area.
The shot looked likely to double Sydney-s advantage, however an athletic effort in goal from Galekovic managed to tip the ball over and leave the visitors with some kind of chance to get back in the match.
Fresh from a two game lay off with a groin injury, marquee player John Aloisi made the most of his limited game time out in the middle. In the 85th minute Brendan Gan found Aloisi in space down the middle. His pin point pass set the star signing away down the left side. Unfortunately his shot, which was just inside the area, was too high and sailed over the Adelaide goal.
Sydney coach Vitezslav Lavicka was pleased with his side-s effort, considering their tough recent encounters
“Its been a busy week but we-ve had good results against Melbourne, Central Coast and tonight. We are going in the right direction, we must continue to be humble, hard working and respect our opponents,” Lavicka said.
Adelaide coach Aurelio Vidmar was philosophical about the loss, saying that Sydney were just too good on the day.
“Sydney were very slick and very, very good. We hung in there for most of the game, and tried to fight back. Technically, we let ourselves down tonight,” Vidmar said.
Sydney has a week off before travelling to Members Equity Stadium to take on Perth Glory on Sunday January 10.
Match Detail
Sydney FC 0 (10. Steve CORICA 49′)
Adelaide United FC 0
Sydney FC Line-up: 1. Clint BOLTON (gk), 3. Stephan KELLER, 4. Simon COLOSIMO, 6. Karol KISEL (7. Brendan GAN 71′), 8. Stuart MUSIALIK, 10. Steve CORICA (c) (2. Sebastian RYALL 91′), 12. Shannon COLE, 14. Alex BROSQUE, 15. Terry MCFLYNN, 19. Mark BRIDGE (9. John ALOISI 79′), 22. Sung-Hwan BYUN.
Substitutes Not Used: 20. Ivan NECEVSKI (gk).
Yellow Cards: 4. Simon COLOSIMO 53′, 14. Alex BROSQUE 87′.
Red Cards: Nil.
Goals: 10. Steve CORICA 49′.
Adelaide United FC Line-up: 1. Eugene GALEKOVIC (gk), 3. ALEMAO (16. Inseob SHIN 75′), 4. Ian FYFE, 5. Daniel MULLEN, 7. Lucas PANTELIS (c) (13. Travis DODD 46′), 9. CRISTIANO, 14. Scott JAMIESON (10. Adan HUGHES 46′), 17. Michael MARRONE, 18. Fabian BARBIERO, 19. Mathew LECKIE, 21. Mark RUDAN.
Substitutes Not Used: 20. Mark BIRIGHITTI.
Yellow Cards: Nil.
Red Cards: Nil.
Goals: Nil.
Referee: Chris BEATH
Crowd: 11 741 at the Sydney Football Stadium.
