Alex Brosque put up an inspired performance in his 100th game for Sydney FC to help the Sky Blues maintain their 100% strike rate over the Glory this season with a 2-0 win at Parramatta Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Alex Brosque put up an inspired performance in his 100th game for Sydney FC to help the Sky Blues maintain their 100% strike rate over the Glory this season with a 2-0 win at Parramatta Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Goals from Shannon Cole and Brosque, fifteen minutes from time was enough to send the crowd wild and lift Sydney within four points of the top six with a game in hand.
“To get a goal is always good. A win for the team is more important especially with two teams battling into the top six. We kept calm, kept pressing and kept trying new things and sometimes it will take 90 minutes to do it,” said Brosque.
A back injury to top goalscorer, Bruno Cazarine, gave Mark Bridge a start in his comeback from injury while Scott Jamieson missed the game with a bad case of the flu.
The duo is expected back for next Saturday night-s crucial clash with the Melbourne Heart at AAMI Park with Nicky Carle not far from a return to the fold as well.
“It is a very tough game for us until we scored the first goal. We worked hard and tried to penetrate. It is not easy for both teams playing in these conditions,” said coach Viteszlav Lavicka.
Perth Glory, who was defeated 3-0 in the corresponding fixture four weeks ago, almost had a flying start in the first minute of play. A free kick outside the box was headed by the unmarked Michael Baird but skipper Terry McFlynn was well positioned to make a goal line clearance.
Sydney had their fair share of chances in the first half but Brosque and Bridge were not able to find the net following some brilliant work in midfield by Hirofumi Moriyasu.Sydney was forced to make a substitution in the 34th minute after Stephan Keller failed to recover from a head knock in an earlier clash. He is expected to be fully recovered for the Heart clash.
In the second half, Sydney FC had the better control of the midfield and their hard work finally was finally rewarded in the 75th minute, releasing the pressure gauge that had engulfed Parramatta Stadium.
Cole played a brilliant one-two with Brosque before slotting the ball into the bottom left corner to give Sydney a 1-0 lead. In a similar play five minutes later, Moriyasu set up a weighted through ball to Brosque who rounded off Tando Velaphi to cap off a memorable performance.
McFlynn echoed the sentiments as his coach, saying his team got the win through sheer hard work.
“Attitude, desire and the will to win is there and the goals are created from great passes of football,” he said.
Lavicka also singled out the influence Sky Blues youngsters Dimitri Petratos and Terry Antonis, both just 17 years old, had on the game.
“They both have amazing potential. They are picking up valuable experience with every game. They will play a big part in our future,” Lavicka said.
Match Details:
Sydney FC: 2 (COLE 75′, BROSQUE 81′)
Perth Glory FC: 0
Sydney FC line-up: 20. Ivan NECEVSKI (gk), 3. Stephan KELLER (2. Sebastian RYALL 34′), 5. Hayden FOXE, 6. Hirofumi MORIYASU, 8. Stuart MUSIALIK, 12. Shannon COLE, 14. Alex BROSQUE, 15. Terry MCFLYNN (c), 19. Mark BRIDGE (16. Terry ANTONIS 84′), 22. Sung-Hwan BYUN, 23. Rhyan GRANT (24. Dimitri PETRATOS 57′).
Substitutes Not Used:1. Liam REDDY (gk).
Yellow Cards: 6. Hirofumi MORIYASU 28′, 5. Hayden FOXE 73′, 15. Terry McFLYNN 79′.
Red Cards: Nil.
Goals: 12. Shannon COLE 75′, 14. Alex BROSQUE 81′.
Perth Glory line-up: 1. Tando VELAPHI (gk) , 2. Josh MITCHELL, 3. Jamie COYNE, 7. Jacob BURNS (C), 9. Robbie FOWLER, 10. Michael BAIRD (21. Mile STERJOVSKI 65′), 14. Steven McGARRY, 16.Adriano PELLEGRINO, 17. Todd HOWARTH (13. Tommy AMPHLETT 85′), 18. Brent GRIFFITHS, 19. Naum SEKULOVSKI.
Substitutes Not Used: 20. Aleks VRTESKI (gk), 24. Joshua RISDON.
Yellow Cards: 7. Jacob BURNS 71′.
Red Cards: 18. Brent GRIFFITHS 90′.
Goals: Nil.
Referee: Peter GREEN
Crowd: 6 654 at Parramatta Stadium, Parramatta.
