Sydney FC have won back to back games to move up to third on the ladder, winning 2-1 against a plucky Wellington Phoenix at Netstrata Jubilee Oval.
Sydney FC 2 (Barbarouses 32’, 64′) Wellington Phoenix 1 (Davila 90+3’)
Sydney FC have won back to back games to move up to third on the ladder, winning 2-1 against a plucky Wellington Phoenix at Netstrata Jubilee Oval.
Moments That Mattered:
- REDMAYNE SAVE – 2’ – Wellington break quickly with Lewis getting in behind to try his luck against Redmayne but the keeper comes out on top, palming away.
- REDMAYNE SAVE – 3’ – A goal mouth scramble is eventually gathered by Redmayne after a nearly moment for the away side.
- BARBAROUSES GOAL – 32′ – Baumjohann threads the needle perfectly to find the Sky Blues’ forward who finishes from a very acute angle, knocking the post and trickling in past the Nix keeper.
- DAVILA CHANCE – 48’ – Wellington nearly grab an equaliser just after the restart after Wellington’s Mexican star sees his shot cannon off the post.
- BARBAROUSES GOAL – 64’ – Swibel nods on the goal kick from Redmayne for Barbarouses to take on the bounce and blast the ball into the net just inside the box.
- DAVILA GOAL – 90+3’ – Wellington claw back one goal after a wicked deflected shot from Davila just gets past a wrong-footed Redmayne.
- FENTON HITS THE BAR – 90’ + 5’ – Fenton glances the bar with a header from a free-kick as the Nix almost steal a point late on.
Sydney FC dealt with an early Wellington attacking onslaught as Redmayne gave the side time to settle into the contest with some crucial saves.
Despite the plucky early period for the away side, they were made to pay at the half hour with Baumjohann showing the best of his play making abilities, splitting the Nix defence to Barbarouses who spun and finished from an extremely acute angle.
The second half started with yet another flurry from Wellington, coming close to equalizing were it not for the crossbar just after the restart.
However, a mirror situation of the first half ensued as Barbarouses netted his brace, bringing down a nod on from Swibel brilliantly, before blasting past Marinovic to double the Sky Blues advantage.
An unfortunate injury to second half substitute Chris Zuvela meant the side finished the last ten minutes with ten men.
This spurred Wellington on to push in search of a way to get back into the contest which belatedly came in additional time through a heavily deflected shot from Davilla.
A nearly moment right at death almost earned Wellington a point with another chance hitting the crossbar.
In the end, Steve Corica’s men saw out the game and climbed to third on the ladder with a number of games in hand to still play.
Sydney FC now turn their attention to attention to away fixture at AAMI Park against Western United.
What they said:
Steve Corica: “Kosta has worked extremely hard for the team but as a striker you need to score and that’s definitely good for his confidence, I’m delighted for him.
“It was a really good ball from Alex, he played really well tonight.
“Chris (Zuvela) will get scans when we can in the next couple of days but it doesn’t look good.
“He felt something go in his knee, it’s the opposite knee to the one he did the last time so we will wait and see but he’s really upset and we are upset for him.”
Sydney FC: 1. Andrew REDMAYNE (GK), 4. Alex WILKINSON, 5. Alexander BAUMJOHANN (17. Anthony CACERES 81’), 6. Ryan McGOWAN, 10. Milos NINKOVIC (19. Chris ZUVELA 81’), 11. Kosta BARBAROUSES, 16. Joel KING, 23. Rhyan GRANT, 26. Luke BRATTAN, 28. Calem NIEUWENHOF (8. Paulo RETRE 63’), 33. Patrick WOOD (27. Jordi SWIBEL 60’)
Subs: 20. Tom HEWARD-BELLE (GK), 3. Ben WARLAND, 25. Callum TALBOT.
Yellow Cards: Luke BRATTAN 27’, Calem NIEUWENHOF 34’, Kosta BARBAROUSES 41’, Rhyan GRANT 61′
Red Cards: None.
Wellington Phoenix: 1. Stefan MARINOVIC, 3. Luke DEVERE, 5. James McGARRY (16. Louis FENTON 81’), 6. Tim PAYNE, 8. Cameron DEVLIN (12. Matthew RIDENTON 43’), 9. David BALL, 10. Ulises DAVILA, 14. Alex RUFFER, 17. Tomer HEMED (7. Reno PISCOPO 45’), 21. Joshua LAWS, 23. Clayton LEWIS (15. Mirza MURATOVIC 60’).
Subs: 20. Oliver SAIL (GK), 4. Atawhai HUDSON-WINONGI, 18. Ben WAINE.
Yellow Cards: Alex RUFER 29’, David BALL 90+7′.
Red Cards: None.
Venue: Netstrata Jubilee Oval
Referee: Chris Beath
