Sydney FC has continued its early season scoring spree, taking an impressive 5-2 victory over a ten man Perth Glory at the Sydney Football Stadium.
Sydney FC has continued its early season scoring-spree, taking an impressive 5-2 victory over a ten man Perth Glory at the Sydney Football Stadium.
The Sky Blues added to the three goals they scored last week against the Central Coast, with FC-s front men finding the net five times to send a warning to their rivals for the season ahead.
In an ominous sign for Sydney’s future opponents, Coach John Kosmina believes his team has plenty of room for improvement, despite easily disposing of Perth.
“We were given a lot of goals on a plate but we ended up not finishing the meal, we should have killed them off,” Kosmina said.
The match also marked the first appearance this season of Sydney FC captain Tony Popovic and the debut of marquee signing John Aloisi, who played a pivotal role in the team-s final goal of the game.
The home side made a dream start with Alex Brosque intercepting Dino Djublic-s back pass, moving into the box and calmly slotting the ball low passed Glory keeper Frank Juric, after only two minutes.
With both teams willing to press forward, the ball moved end to end with Perth awarded a free kick close to the sideline after Amaral was brought down.
The Glory midfielder then sent the ball into the box and striker Eugene Dadi found himself free and headed home the equaliser in the 12th minute.
Sydney FC continued to move the ball into the attacking third and when Steve Corica was brought down in the box by Pellegrino the hosts were awarded a penalty.
The match was then turned on its head with the visitors reduced to ten men after Glory-s Djublic was shown red for an incident after the ruling.
As Djublic was heading back to the sheds, Corica coolly netted the spot kick to restore the home side-s lead.
From then on it was tough for Perth and Sydney made them pay in the 39th minute, with Mark Bridge scoring his first goal for Sydney and extending the advantage to two.
When Shannon Cole-s patience was rewarded on the far post close to the break, Sydney was up by three, and the scoreline was starting to look embarrassing for the Glory.
But the visitors dug deep in the second stanza and almost reduced the deficit after the restart, but for a brilliant save from Clint Bolton.
Sydney continued to attack with no reward, but Perth did get one back in the 67th minute, when Simon Colosimo was called for a foul on Dadi and the referee pointed to the spot.
Having entered the fray prior to Perth-s second goal, marquee man, John Aloisi didn-t have to wait long for his first touch, almost providing for Corica, who would-ve added a second to his name but for some brilliance from the Perth keeper.
Aloisi then almost scored himself, with his header forcing another great save from Juric, and Corica-s follow up blocked by Nikolai Topor-Stanley.
The chances continued to fall for Sydney, and after a barrage of attempts, FC finally managed to score its fifth and final goal with Aloisi applying all the pressure, and almost adding his name to the scoreboard, only to see the ball deflect in off a defender.
With Sydney yet to taste defeat, stand in skipper, Steve Corica was excited about his side-s scoring form following the 5-2 victory.
“I think this is the best start we have had in an A-League season,” said Corica. “Our confidence is high, and after two wins and a draw, why wouldn-t it be?”
Sydney FC will now enjoy a week off, along with the rest of the Hyundai A-League, before resuming its campaign against Newcastle in two weeks time.
Match Details
Sydney FC 5
Perth Glory 2
Sydney FC
1.Clint BOLTON (gk), 2. Iain FYFE, 4. Simon COLOSIMO, 5. Mitchell PRENTICE, 7. Rob MIDDLEBY, 10. Steve CORICA (c) (26. Dez GIRALDI 83-), 12. Shannon COLE (23. John ALOISI 66-), 14. Alex BROSQUE, 15. Terry MCFLYNN, 17. Jacob TIMPANO (6. Tony POPOVIC 59-) , 19. Mark BRIDGE.
Substitute not used: 20. Ivan NECEVSKI (gk).
Yellow Cards: nil
Red Cards: nil
Goals: Brosque2-, Corica 21-P, Bridge 39-, Cole 43-, Topor-Stanley O/G 88-.
Perth Glory
2. Nikolai TOPOR-STANLEY, 3. David TARKA, 4.Jamie COYNE (c), 6.Dino DJULBIC, 9.Adrian TRINIDAD (13.Nikita RUKAVYTSYA 46′), 10.AMARAL, 11.Scott BULLOCH, 14.Eugene DADI (24.Anthony SKORICH 85-), 16.Adriano PELLEGRINO (7. Nick RIZZO 85-) 17.James DOWNEY, 20.Frank JURIC (gk).
Substitutes not used: 1. Jason PETKOVIC (gk).
Yellow Cards: Pellegrino 20-, Djublic 20-.
Red Cards: Djublic 20′.
Goals: Dadi 12-/ 67-P.
Referee: Peter Green
Crowd: 11,734
