Newcomers Melbourne Heart have beaten Sydney FC 1-0 in an action packed A-League match at the Sydney Football Stadium on Thursday night.
The Heart were fielding three former Sydney players, Simon Colosimo, Clint Bolton and John Aloisi, and with both teams needing a win to stay in finals contention, it was always going to be a fiery clash.
In the end it was Adrian Zahra who sealed victory for the Heart with a late goal, lifting his team to fifth on the ladder, while Sydney’s hopes of making the top-six were further depleted as they drop to last.
The Heart’s Wayne Srhoj got the action started just after kick-off earning a yellow card only 16 seconds into the match for a tackle on Bruno Cazarine.
A goal looked to be on the cards early with 18-year-old striker Dimitri Petratos creating the first chance for Sydney.
Aloisi returned fire with a wayward header at the other end of the stadium for the Heart.
South Korean import Sung-Hwan Byun was sensational with supply for the Sky Blues, sending one of many crosses into the box to Stephan Keller who misfired in the 17th minute.
Then Melbourne’s Rutger Worm threatened with a deflected long range effort forcing a save from Sydney shot-stopper Liam Reddy, who was back in goals for the first time since October.
Reddy was kept busy when Josip Skoko tried to put the visitors in front just before the break with a missile from 30 metres out.
The Heart again looked like they would take a lead into halftime when Worm fired again. Reddy’s clearance fell to Aziz Behich who’s shot sailed just over the cross bar a minute before the break.
A desperate Sky Blues came out firing in the second half with Japanese import Hirofumi Moriyasu and Keller creating chances early.
Mark Bridge had a golden opportunity for Sydney when he came face to face with former teammate, Heart gloveman Bolton, who denied the home side a goal.
Nicky Carle, in his first match back from injury, was then brought on an hour into the match for Scott Jamison, igniting the hopes of the 6639 fans in the stands.
But ‘Saint Nick’ couldn’t deliver the Sydney faithful the early Christmas present they so desperately wanted.
It was Zahra who finally broke the dead-lock, sealing victory for the visitors in the 85th minute.
Sydney coach Vitezslav Lavicka cut the figure of a dejected man yet again post-match.
He was at a loss to explain how his team came away with nothing after one of their better, more lively performances of the season.
“It was another disappointment, of course,” Lavicka said.
“We wanted to give a Christmas present for Sydney FC fans, we wanted to pick up points, we wanted to get a win, and we didn’t.
“It’s frustrating for all of us but I have to say that we’ve improved our team’s performance.
“But without the goals and without the points there’s no chance that we can climb up the ladder.”
Melbourne Heart coach John van `t Schip was happy to take home the three points but conceded Sydney looked the stronger team at points during the match.
“I can understand that (Sydney feel robbed),” van `t Schip said.
“But on the other hand we have had a lot of games this year where it has gone the other way so I think it’s about time that it fell our way.”
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