Summary
Sydney FC 6 (O’Neil 21’, Mierzejewski 58’, Brosque 62’, Bobô 67’ pen, 90’, 90+5’ pen) def. Perth Glory 0
Sydney FC has ended 2017 emphatically, hitting Perth Glory for six in an extremely entertaining night at ‘Fortress Allianz’.
Arnie’s men dominated proceedings, creating a hatful of chances with their attacking brand of football on display.
After Brandon O’Neill opened the scoring in the first half the Sky Blues netted five of their six goals after the break, with Bobô hitting his second hat-trick in a week, to become the first Sydney FC player to notch more than one for the club.
Adrian Mierzejewski scored his seventh goal in six games while Alex Brosque struck his third of the season.
The ‘Record Breakers’ 2017 statistics are something to behold having accumulated 91 points from possible a 105 in the Hyundai A-League with 61 goals scored in 35 games, including 18 in the last four matches.
The Sky Blues are now a record equalling 23 games undefeated at home.
Sydney FC will look to start off 2018 in the same fashion when they play their top of the table clash against Newcastle Jets on Wednesday 3rd January.
What They Said
Graham Arnold: “I challenged the boys this week, I told them we would win 6-0 and you have to believe it. We threatened to do it and now there’s more cohesion and we’re being clinical.
“They’ve got a lot more in them and once the space is open in a game, we’re lethal.”
“I’m so proud of them. In 2017 we’ve 91 points out of a possible 105, 61 goals and not even including the FFA Cup games; that’s pretty special.
“I know Adrian will get better and better. He’s still getting used to the physicality and pace of the league and he himself has said he has so much more to give.
“I thought Ninkovic was also outstanding tonight and when those two (Mierzejewski) link-up with our attack, it’s dangerous.
“Bobô is such a wonderful person and he’s just so thankful for the great service he gets and he knows the team is the most important thing.”
Goals
21’ STROLLED IN O’NEILL – Brilliant working back from Brosque leads to a Mierzejewski breakaway. He finds Ninkovic with a delightful pass for a 2v1 scenario against Reddy. The midfield maestro takes the unselfish option and sets O’Neill up for the easiest of goals.
58’ THAT ONE COUNTS MIERZEJEWSKI – After his disallowed goal two minutes earlier, the ball is shifted from left to right to find Mierzejewski as he gets his defender off balance and sees his deflected shot find the net.
62’ GLANCING HEADER BROSQUE – Zullo whips in a ball to a tightly marked Brosque as he just gets in front to delightfully guide his header into the bottom right.
67’ PENALTY BOBÔ – The Brazilian nearly has his shirt ripped by a Glory defender. It’s spotted by the official, he points to the spot and Bobô makes no mistake, sending the keeper the other way.
90’ ABSOLUTE STUNNER BOBÔ – The golden boot leader grabs his second of the night with a contender for ‘goal of the season’. Mierzejewski plays a reverse ball to the Brazilian who controls it with his knee and volleys it over his shoulder with his back to goal to find the net.
90+5’ BACK-TO-BACK HAT-TRICKS BOBÔ – Bobô is brought down after rounding Reddy and another penalty is awarded. Bobo seals two hat-tricks in seven days as his shot hits the bottom right post and trickles into the net for the last kick of the game.
Key Moments
5’ HEADER BOBÔ – Wilkshire whips in a dangerous cross to the back post that is met by a powerful header from Sydney FC’s striker only to be tipped over by Reddy.
26’ STINGING EFFORT BRILLIANTE – Brillante intercepts a pass deep in Glory’s half to unleash from 20 + yards, stinging the palms of keeper Reddy who parries it away.
30’ CHANCE BOBÔ – Ninkovic and Zullo play a one-two with the latter the providing a pinpoint ball for the Sky Blue forward who’s near post shot is dealt with by Reddy.
33’ PINBALL IN THE BOX NINKOVIC – Zullo plays a cross to the back post which is just kept in and sent to the opposite post for Brosque. He heads it to Ninkovic in the centre with the midfielder just missing the target.
55’ VAR DISALLOWED GOAL MIERZEJEWSKI – Ninkovic slips an inch perfect past to Mierzejewski who rounds Reddy and buries but the VAR adjudges the Pole was in an offside position.
61’ OFF THE BAR NINKOVIC – Bobô heads back behind him from a cross to find Ninkovic who takes a touch in traffic to set and smacks his effort against the upright.
72’ OFF THE POST AND SAVED REDMAYNE – Italiano’s effort takes a deflection off Wilkinson’s foot to hit the bar that Redmayne tidies up easily.
76’ ACUTE ANGLE MIERZEJEWSKI – Short corner is played as Mierzejewski thumps an effort just inside of the byline, forcing Reddy to tip over the bar.
81’ LONG RANGE EFFORT WILKSHIRE – The Sky Blues’ midfielder tries his luck from some 25 yards out only for Reddy to just parry it away.
84’ VOLLEY MIERZEJEWSKI – A cross is whipped in by Zullo and eludes a number of players to find the Pole just inside the box as Reddy deals with his volleyed shot.
90’ ALMOST FOR LOKOLINGOY – Mierzejewski bears down on the Perth defence and offloads to the NYL prodigy who fires his shot at Reddy to just parry it wide.
Team News
Sydney FC 6 (O’Neil 21’, Mierzejewski 58’, Brosque 62’, Bobo 67’ pen, 90’, 90+5’ pen) def. Perth Glory 0
Ground: Allianz Stadium
Attendance: 13,332
Referee: Jonathan Barreiro
Sydney FC: 1. Andrew REDMAYNE (gk), 4. Alex WILKINSON, 5. Jordy BUIJS, 6. Joshua BRILLANTE, 7. Michael ZULLO, 9. BOBÔ, 10. Milos NINKOVIC (21. Charles LOKOLINGOY 82’), 11. Adrian MIERZEJEWSKI, 13. Brandon O’NEIL, 14. Alex BROSQUE (17. David CARNEY 73’), 26. Luke WILKSHIRE (8. Paulo RETRE 88’)
Subs Not Used: 30. Thomas HEWARD-BELLE (gk), 22. Seb Ryall.
Yellow Cards: None.
Red Cards: None.
Perth Glory: 33. Liam REDDY (gk), 2. Alexander GRANT, 5. Jacob POSCOLIERO, 6. Mitchell NICHOLS, 9. Andrew KEOGH, 14. Chris HERD (26. Jacob ITALIANO 57’), 15. Brandon WILSON (24. Callum TIMMINS 82’), 16. Joseph Mills, 17. Diego CASTRO, 18. Andreu GUERAO, 29. Jeremy WALKER.
Subs Not Used: 13. Nicholas FEELY (gk), 19. Joseph KNOWLES, 27. Riley WARLAND.
Yellow Cards: 16. Joseph Mills 34’, 5. Jacob POSCOLIERO 66’
Red Cards: None.
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