Sydney FC are within touching distance of the Hyundai A-League Premiers Plate after a 1-0 win over Melbourne Victory took them eleven points clear at the top of the ladder.
Summary
Sydney FC 1 (Bobô 50’) def. Melbourne Victory 0
Sydney FC are within touching distance of the Hyundai A-League Premiers Plate after a 1-0 win over Melbourne Victory took them eleven points clear at the top of the ladder.
The Sky Blues could wrap up the title as early as next weekend which would make them the fastest winners of the Plate in A-League history.
Graham Arnold’s men produced a host of chances against 2nd placed Melbourne Victory and took a deserved lead five minutes after half time as Bobô rounded off a clinical counter-attack.
That goal proved enough, however the score-line could have been a lot bigger with the Sky Blues creating many more opportunities on their way to completing a clean sweep of wins over their arch-rivals this season – the first time either team has managed three wins against the other in 12 years of the A-League.
Next Friday night Sydney FC meet Central Coast Mariners at Allianz Stadium knowing a win would clinch the title, providing Victory failed to win at home to Perth Glory the following evening.
What They Said
Graham Arnold:
“I thought we started a little bit slow, both teams took some time to get used to the pitch. At the end of the day, I thought second half was our best performance of the season.
“We totally dominated Melbourne, we didn’t give them any time on the ball and the boys did well. We just kept the ball better, we got used to the surface better. Initially it was a bit of a dogfight in midfield.
“I thought we were very good. Once you get your creative players Ninkovic, Brosque and Bobô on the ball in that kind of form, it was pleasing to see.
“They had two or three chances to be honest, but we had some fantastic chances and the only small negative was that we didn’t kill them off, get the second and go for the third.
“There’s still 15 points to go, we’re in a great position, our destiny is in our own hands.”
Goals
50’ BOBÔ GOAL – A sweeping Sydney counter sees Bobô arrive unmarked at the back post to tap home Holosko’s cross.
Key Moments
6’ HOLOSKO CHANCE – Holosko is put through on goal but his heavy touch around Thomas forces him wide and the ensuing cross is cleared.
14’ BOBÔ CHANCE – O’Neill swings in a devilish ball that just evades Bobô’s outstretched leg.
19’ VUKOVIC SAVE – Rojas is played in behind the Sydney defence and squares the ball across to Ingham who’s shot is saved by Vukovic, denying a certain goal.
29’ HOLOSKO CHANCE – Ninkovic crosses the ball into the box but Holosko fails to put it past Thomas.
31’ BROSQUE CHANCE – Bobô plays Brosque into the box but his shot loops just wide of the far post.
32’ BOBÔ CHANCE – Zullo’s cross glances past both Bobô and Holosko with neither one of them able to provide the end product.
38’ GRANT CHANCE – Holosko tees up Grant on the edge of the box who fires a long-range effort that forces Thomas to make a diving save.
40’ BROSQUE CHANCE – Ninkovic releases Brosque whose first-time shot forces Thomas to tip the ball out and away.
58’ NINKOVIC CHANCE – Ninkovic collects the ball on the edge of the box, turns and produces a curling effort that calls Thomas into action.
60’ NINKOVIC CHANCE – From 30 metres out, Ninkovic fires a venomous volley that just grazes the top of the bar.
66’ BOBÔ CHANCE – O’Neill whips a dangerous ball in towards Bobô that the defender can only block away for a corner.
75’ O’NEILL CHANCE – Following a Sydney corner, O’Neill’s volley is hit wide.
75’ GRANT CHANCE – Ninkovic plays Grant one-on-one against Thomas, but his shot is saved.
78’ BROSQUE CHANCE – Brosque drives towards goal but his shot thrashes into the side netting.
86’ BROSQUE CHANCE – Grant wins the ball inside the penalty area and cuts the ball back to Brosque, but his shot is saved.
90+1’ SIMON CHANCE – Simon cuts inside the box before firing a dangerous effort just wide of the far post.
Team News
Sydney FC 1 (Bobô 50’) def. Melbourne Victory 0
Head Coach Graham Arnold named an unchanged line-up following his side’s 3-1 win over Melbourne City last weekend.
Ground: Allianz Stadium
Referee: Peter Green
Attendance: 13,310.
Sydney FC: 20. Danny VUKOVIC (gk), 4. Alex WILKINSON, 5. Jordy BUIJS, 6. Joshua BRILLANTE, 7. Michael ZULLO, 9. BOBÔ (18. Matt SIMON 84’), 10. Milos NINKOVIC (17. David CARNEY 89’), 13. Brandon O’NEILL, 14. Alex BROSQUE (c), 21. Filip HOLOSKO (11. Bernie IBINI 72’), 23. Rhyan GRANT.
Subs not used: 1. Andrew REDMAYNE (gk), 8. Milos DIMITRIJEVIC.
Yellow cards: Zullo 9’, Holosko 16’.
Red cards: None.
Melbourne Victory: 20. Lawrence THOMAS (gk), 2. Jason GERIA, 4. Nicholas ANSELL, 5. Daniel GEORGIEVSKI (13. Oliver BOZANIC 77’), 6. Leigh BROXHAM, 7. Marco ROJAS, 8. Besart BERISHA, 10. James TROISI, 17. James DONACHIE, 21. Carl VALERI (c), 23. Jai INGHAM (14. Fahid BEN KHALFALLAH 64’).
Subs not used: 40. Matthew ACTON (gk), 11. Mitchell AUSTIN, 16. Rashid MAHAZI.
Yellow cards: Troisi 86’.
Red cards: None.
Sydney FC Finals Run Flexi now available, from $40 for Juniors and $75 for Adults. Visit www.sydneyfc.com/finalsrunflexi
