Sydney FC has handed ladder leaders Melbourne City a first defeat of the season with a first A-League win at Allianz Stadium.
The comeback victory came after Socceroo Jamie Maclaren gave the visitors the lead from the penalty spot before Joe Lolley equalised and Adam le Fondre secured a 2-1 win.
Sydney FC 2 (Lolley 23’, Le Fondre 61’) Melbourne City 1 (Maclaren 21’ pen)
Moments That Mattered:
WOOD DENIED BY POST 2’ – A lovely turn from Max Burgess on the left touchline allows Patrick Wood to fashion a chance and cut in from the left inside the box before rifling a shot off the right post. Glover was completely beaten however the upright spares City’s blushes and the score remains 0-0.
MACLAREN GOAL PENALTY – 21’ – Andrew Nabbout’s first touch from a cross field ball hits the hand of Sydney FC skipper Luke Brattan. The subsequent spot kick is converted to Redmayne’s right with the Sky Blues keeper diving the right way but not being able to get a strong enough hand to the shot.
INSTANT SKY BLUE RESPONSE – 23’ – A cross from the left flank is met by Paulo Retre but his header and subsequent follow up are saved. The ball finds itself at the feet of Joe Lolley who fires home from close range to the right of the six yard box. Glover has no chance and the Englishman tucks it away for his 3rd of the season.
WOOD HAS SHOT CLEARED OFF LINE – 45’- Anthony Caceres’ mazy run into the box gives him a chance to cut the ball back to Patrick wood. While the keeper is nowhere to be found Wood’s shot is cleared off the line by Jordan Bos
LE FONDRE GIVES SYDNEY THE LEAD – 61’- A left wing free-kick is cleared and falls to Joe Lolley on the right side of the edge of the box. His shot is hit low and hard, but knocked on by Le Fondre. This original shot is saved but the Sky Blue number 9 follows in with a header that Glover is unable to keep out
What They Said: Steve Corica: “It was a fantastic performance, a great result and I think after the Celtic game the boys had a great belief in what they can do.
“I think we showed it again tonight, you know City are top of the table for a reason, and I think we showed tonight that we can have lots of good moments in these games.
“We probably had a lot more shots than them and defended well, and it’s good that Adam (Le Fondre) came on and scored one.”
Match Report:
Both teams started the game eager to get the better of their opposition in every tackle, pass, interception, and shot. The Cove were in full force as Steve Corica’s Sydney FC took on an in-form Melbourne City in an end-to-end, exciting game at Allianz Stadium
From the first whistle both teams pushed forward, however a lot of the early success in the attacking third would come from Sydney FC with Patrick Wood hitting the upright within two minutes.
The game became a free-flowing show of attacking flair, culminating in City being awarded a penalty in the 21st minute. All eyes were on Jamie Maclaren as he stepped up to the ball, and dispatched it.
With Sydney FC needing a quick response, they quickly shifted into attacking gear, and within two minutes of conceding they had progressed into the City defensive third.
A pinpoint cross from the left wing found Paulo Retre, and although he couldn’t turn the ball home, Joe Lolley smashed it into the net from close range.
Sydney FC stood strong in defence over the course of the first half, with debutant Jack Rodwell looking composed on the ball, part of a defensive line looking hard to break down from open play, and they continued to attack with Pat Wood having a shot cleared off the line
The second half played out in a tightly contested fashion however the breakthrough would come from Adam Le Fondre when his follow up effort found the back of the net. Sydney FC had the advantage.
The goal instilled a confidence into the Sydney FC squad who brilliantly kept their defensive shape and kept the Melbourne City chances to a minimum.
The exception was when Marco Tilio’s effort hit the crossbar as City were limited to few chances and were forced to take efforts from long range or tough angles.
Sydney FC held out until the end and it finished 2-1, a great result coming off the back of the international break. It was a cohesive and well executed performance from the Sky Blues, giving Sydney FC high confidence going into next week’s fixture against the Central Coast Mariners.
Sydney FC: 1. ANDREW REDMAYNE (GK), 2. JAMES DONACHIE, 6. JACK RODWELL (29. AARON GURD- 45’), 8. PAULO RETRE, 10. JOE LOLLEY (19. ADRIAN SEGECIC- 81’), 12. PATRICK WOOD (9. ADAM LE FONDRE- 58’), 17. ANTHONY CACERES (25. JAIDEN KUCHARSKI- 90’), 18. DIEGO CABALLO, 22. MAX BURGESS, 23. RHYAN GRANT, 26. LUKE BRATTAN
Unused Subs: 20. TOM HEWARD-BELLE (GK), 27. ADRIAN VLASTELICA, 28. JAKE GIRDWOOD-REICH,
Yellow Cards: Luke Brattan
Red Cards: None
Melbourne City: 1. THOMAS GLOVER (GK), 3. SCOTT JAMIESON, 4. NUNO REIS, 6. THOMAS LAM (16. TARAS GOMULKA 88’), 7. MATTHEW LECKIE (22. CURTIS GOOD 67’), 8. RICHARD VAN DER VENNE, 9. JAMIE MACLAREN, 14. VALON BERISHA, 15. ANDREW NABBOUT (23 MARCO TILIO 67’), 25. CALLUM TALBOT (2. SCOTT GALLOWAY 82’) 38. JORDAN BOS
Unused Subs: 33. MATTHEW SUTTON (GK), 34. ARION SULEMANI, 35. RAPHAEL BORGES RODRIGUEZ
Yellow Cards: Berisha (9’) Maclaren (57’) Lam (60’) Glover (90)
Red Cards: None
Venue: ALLIANZ STADIUM
Referee: ADAM KERSEY
