Sydney FC have corrected a slight wobble in their A-League season with a 2-0 defeat of depleted battlers Newcastle, but will have to raise the bar further against Melbourne City next weekend.
» Re-live all the action with our live blog
Two second-half moments of brilliance from Milos Ninkovic and substitute Bernie Ibini ensured the Sky Blues remained unbeaten and extended their lead at the top of the table to six points.
Both sides had a woeful number of turnovers but the injury-ravaged Jets, who have now added Ben Kantarovski (knee) to their ever-growing treatment table, are now winless in seven games.
Mark Jones’ side showed promise on the counter-attack and Andrew Hoole found space on the right flank, but the former Sky Blues winger was too often without support for it to manifest into anything meaningful.
Sydney coach Graham Arnold had clearly hoped a shake-up to his starting XI would be the difference following two draws and Wednesday’s FFA Cup final loss.
Four changes is the most Arnold has made all campaign and it was telling two of the victims were marquees Bobo and Filip Holosko, who’ve struggled to maintain their searing early-season form.
Skipper Alex Brosque, David Carney and youngster George Blackwood led the attack but it was none of that trio who shone.
First-time starter Milos Dimitrijevic was arguably Sydney’s strongest performer despite having played just 12 minutes of A-League football this season.
Dimitrijevic delivered a lovely through ball for Brosque early on and laid off the pass for Ninkovic’s 63rd-minute goal, though could not take credit for the marauding solo effort of his fellow Serb, who eased past three defenders and drilled home his fifth goal of the season.
As Arnold started to ring the changes more began to happen, and Ibini’s introduction proved the most fruitful.
Running out of space just wide of the penalty area, the 24-year-old used some slick footwork to weave around two Jets defenders before beating another and making two attempts at Jack Duncan’s goal, the second nestling into the corner.
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
Even though St.Pauli ultimately lost a high-scoring affair, Jackson Irvine was a standout, as well as scoring a late goal.
Mathew Leckie played a pivotal part in Melbourne City claiming an 8-nil win; playing a role in several of his team's goals.
The loser of the Sydney Derby will be under immense pressure entering the final three matches of the season.
A good performance from Michael Ruhs, scoring twice to beat Macarthur and doubling his season goal tally in the process.
Phillip Cancar’s rather comical and momentarily delayed dive in the 36th minute of Newcastle Jets 3-1 win over Sydney FC on Sunday was a…
Anthony Caceres is a player with immense talent and has a fantastic work rate, broke the deadlock against the Mariners in the 74th minute.
