A Bruno Fornaroli hat-trick has defeated a Sydney FC team playing in their fifth game in 15 days.
Sydney FC 0 def by Melbourne City 3 (Fornaroli 41’, 71’, 82’)
Fornaroli scored just before half time before netting twice in the final quarter against the Sky Blues who were missing five key players through injury and suspension.
Graham Arnold’s men now have a full week to prepare for Wellington at home next Saturday night.
What They Said
Graham Arnold: “Overall I thought we were as good as them but the only difference was one player. Fornaroli could put the ball in the back of the net and we couldn’t. We had our chances but couldn’t score and that was the difference.
“I know Alex Wilkinson well and I know he wouldn’t have caught Holosko who would have been through one on one.” [On cynical Kisnorbo tackle.]
Matt Simon: “I think we played pretty well in patches. We set up differently tonight, we started the game well but took the sucker punch just before half time and it’s pretty disappointing to finish 3-0.”
Goals
41’ FORNAROLI GOAL – City hit the Sky Blues on the counter and the balls falls to Fornaroli in the box who volleys home.
71’ FORNAROLI GOAL – Fornarloi doubles his tally as he fires it in on the turn after being played in by Novillo.
82’ FORNAROLI GOAL – Fornaroli makes it 3 as he fires in at the fast post off Zullo’s cross.
Key Moments
8’ HOLOSKO GOAL DISALLOWED – Abbas picks out Simon who heads it to Holosko who volleys home but he’s offside.
9’ MALIK CHANCE – Fornaroli crosses it in and finds Malik but he scuffs the shot and the Sky Blues clear.
12’ ABBAS CHANCE – Hoole charges forward and releases Holosko who squares to Abbas but his shot is held.
16’ ABBAS CHANCE – Hoole’s cross is flicked on to Abbas in the box but he rushes the shot and it’s wide.
20’ HOLOSKO CHANCE – Holosko finds time and space outside the box to shoot, but his effort is always rising over.
39’ KISNORBO FOUL – Holosko breaks with only one defender to beat as Kisnorbo pulls him down. Only a yellow card.
44’ HOLOSKO HEADER OFF THE POST! – Abbas whips it to the back post and @filiade heads it into the post under pressure!
49’ JANJETOVIC SAVE – Fornaroli springs the offside trap but Janjetovic stands tall to deny him.
60’ MOOY SHOT – Great stop from Janjetovic as he gets down low to parry Mooy’s driven effort from outside the box.
Team News
Sydney FC 0 def by Melbourne City 3 (Fornaroli 41’, 71’, 82’)
Sydney FC Head Coach Graham Arnold was forced into a number of changes due to injury and suspension. David Carney, Seb Ryall, Rhyan Grant and Jacques Faty were all suspended while Alex Brosque was missing due to a hamstring injury. Zac Anderson, Andrew Hoole, Milos Dimitrijevic, Filip Holosko, Ali Abbas and Matt Simon all came into the team with Shane Smeltz, Rob Stambolziev and Mickael Tavares dropping to the bench.
Ground: AAMI Park
Referee: Jared Gillett
Sydney FC: 1. Vedran JANJETOVIC (gk), 4. Zac ANDERSON, 5. Matt JURMAN, 7. Andrew HOOLE, 8. Milos DIMITRIJEVIC, 10. Milos NINKOVIC, 13. Brandon O’NEILL (27. Mickael TAVARES 74’), 18. Matt SIMON (9. Shane SMELTZ 70’), 21. Filip HOLOSKO, 22. Ali ABBAS (6. Rob STAMBOLZIEV 62’), 25. Aaron CALVER.
Subs not used: 20. Ivan NECEVSKI (gk), 16. Riley WOODCOCK.
Yellow cards: Hoole 80’, Jurman 88’.
Red cards:
Melbourne City: 1.Thomas SORENSEN (gk), 2.Alex WILKINSON, 5.Ivan FRANJIC, 8.Aaron MOOY, 9.Harry NOVILLO (18.Paulo RETRE 89’), 19.Ben GARUCCIO, 23.Bruno FORNAROLI, 24.Patrick KISNORBO, 25.Jacob MELLING (27.Nick FITZGERALD 45’), 29.Anthony CACERES (11.Michael ZULLO 70’), 33.Osama MALIK
Subs not used: 20.Dean BOUZANIS (gk), 4.Connor CHAPMAN.
Yellow cards: Malik 37’, Kisnorbo 39’, Garuccio 73’.
Red cards: None.
