Hyundai A-League Champions Sydney FC have gone eleven points clear at the top of the ladder with a comprehensive 3-0 win against Brisbane Roar.
Summary
Sydney FC 3 (Bobô 18’, Mierzejewski 50’, Carney 86’) def. Brisbane Roar 0
Hyundai A-League Champions Sydney FC have gone eleven points clear at the top of the ladder with a comprehensive 3-0 win against Brisbane Roar in sweltering conditions up north.
The Sky Blues took the lead through Bobô’s 15th goal of the campaign, equalling his tally from his maiden season last year and becoming the fastest player in A-League history to get to that number.
Arnie’s men secured the three points in the manager’s 100th A-League game in charge of the club, following a quality strike from Adrian Mierzejewski and a late goal from substitute David Carney.
The win beats the mark for the best start to a Hyundai A-League season with Sydney FC moving to 38 points from 15 games with 12 wins, two draws and one defeat, moving them past their own record set last year.
The Sky Blues will be on the road again as they take on Adelaide United at Coopers Stadium on Sunday night.
What They Said
Graham Arnold: “I thought it was a convincing result and we could have killed the game off at half time.
“Those three (Mierzejewski, Ninkovic and Bobô) as well as Jordi Buijs are quality players. We do a lot of work around recruitment and make sure we get the right ones.
“It’s about us and our standards. We were ruthless at times tonight and we have the quality to open up teams.”
Josh Brillante: “The training makes us better. There’s pressure from the boys on the bench to push the starting XI so we have to perform.”
Adrian Mierzejewski: “The most important is the team performance and getting the three points. We are looking forward to the next game.”
Goals
18‘ EARLY BIRTHDAY PRESENT BOBÔ – Mierzejewski finds Ninkovic who drills his volley across the face of goal to find Bobô on the back post who fires home from close range.
50’ FINESSED INTO THE NET MIERZEJEWSKI – Great build up play leads to Mierzejewski with the ball 25 yards out. No one closes him down and the Pole punishes Brisbane with a beautiful side-footed effort into the bottom left.
86’ PING PONG CARNEY – Brillante skips past his opponent to find Brosque whose initial shot is deflected before trying the acrobatic overhead kick from close range. Roar look to have dealt with it but the substitute is there to finish off the move.
Key Moments
12‘ ON THE BREAK BOBÔ – Mierzejewksi plays Bobô in on goal following a swift counter attack but the Sydney FC forward drags his effort wide of the left hand post.
26’ GLANCING HEADER BROSQUE – Alex Brosque nearly doubles the lead after his header from a Mierzejewski corner just evades the goal.
28’ ANOTHER HEADED CHANCE NINKOVIC – Another fantastic delivery from Mierzejewski sees the Johnny Warren medalist’s header go just over the bar with immense pressure from Young.
37’ GREAT SAVE REDMAYNE – Brisbane intercepts a Buijs pass to break quickly through Maccarone. The Roar striker’s shot from just inside the box is dealt with by Redmayne as he dives down strong to his right.
60’ VAR DISALLOWED GOAL MIERZEJEWSKI – Brosque plays the midfield maestro in on goal with a deft back heel. Mierzejewski finishes well to Young’s right but Brosque is adjudged to be offside when playing the ball through.
63’ ALMOST MIERZEJEWSKI – Adrian rounds the keeper after getting in behind the Roar defence again to be one-on-one with Young but the keeper just gets a tackle in at the last moment.
83’ LAST DITCH WILKINSON – Bautheac skips past a defender to drill a ball towards Maccarone. Brisbane’s forward looks certain to score until the Sky Blues centre-half intervenes at the last moment.
84’ VOLLEY BRILLANTE – Simon nods back a Mierzejewski cross into Brillante who shows great technique in getting over the ball to direct his firm shot on target but Young
Team News
Sydney FC 3 (Bobô 18’, Mierzejewski 50’, Carney 86’) def. Brisbane Roar 0
Graham Arnold recalled Alex Brosque to the starting line up with David Carney dropping to the bench at the expense of Charles Lokolingoy.
Ground: Suncorp Stadium
Referee: Kris Griffiths-Jones
Sydney FC: 1. Andrew REDMAYNE (gk), 4. Alex WILKINSON, 5. Jordy BUIJS, 6. Joshua BRILLANTE, 7. Michael ZULLO, 9. BOBÔ (18. Matt SIMON 75’), 10. Milos NINKOVIC (17. David CARNEY 82’), 11. Adrian MIERZEJEWSKI, 13. Brandon O’NEILL, 14. Alex BROSQUE (8. Paulo RETRE 90+5’), 26. Luke WILKSHIRE.
Subs Not Used: 30. Thomas HEWARD-BELLE (gk), 22. Seb RYALL.
Yellow Cards: 6. Joshua BRILLANTE 38’, 18. Matt SIMON 83’, 26. Luke WILKSHIRE 85’, 13. Brandon O’NEILL 90+4’
Red Cards: None.
Brisbane Roar: 21. Jamie YOUNG (gk), 2. Dane INGHAM, 3. Luke DEVERE, 4. Daniel BOWLES, 5. Corey BROWN, 7. Thomas KRISTENSEN (16. Mitchell OXBORROW 68’), 8. Jacob PEPPER, 9. Massimo MACCARONE, 14. Fahid BEN KHALFALLAH, 33. Petros SKAPETIS (22. Eric BAUTHEAC 64’), 36. Daniel LECK (25. Rahmat AKBARI 80’)
Subs Not Used: 31. Brendan WHITE (gk), 19. Jack HINGERT.
Yellow Cards: 8. Jacob PEPPER 64’, 5. Corey BROWN 69’
Red Cards: None.
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