Sydney won another battle on Saturday night, as they edge closer to winning the war.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
Sydney FC 3
Melbourne City 0
After clinching the Premiers Plate, Sydney FC now host A-League darkhorse Melbourne City in a match between two sides that could face off again come the finals. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:50pm (AEDT).
Sydney continue to go from strength to strength, securing a 3-nil win away from home against the dangerous Perth Glory.
Not many teams have been able to go to Perth and win so convincingly but Sydney have done so twice now this season. Such results are testament to their unrivalled work ethic and clinical nature.
Having scored just under 50 goals this season, Sydney’s offensive arsenal is well complemented by a ridiculously stingy defence that has conceded only 11 goals all season. If we are looking at statistics alone, one could pencil in Sydney as champions already.
However, despite their dominance, Sydney cannot let hubris get the better of them, particularly against a City team that has caused them a fair share of trouble in the two matches they have.
Indeed, City should have secured three points against Sydney in the early rounds of the competition, only to let a 1-nil lead slip against a ten-man Sky Blue unit at ANZ Stadium.
Months later, City produced arguably their best first-half performance of the year, only to lose 3-1 after Manny Muscat was sent off for two stupid challenges during the opening 45 minutes.
City need to replicate that first-half effort if they are to stand a chance of beating Sydney FC, let alone winning the A-League title.
Midfielders Nick Fitzgerald, Nicolas Colazo, Neil Kilkenny and Luke Brattan need to work overtime and press Sydney aggressively in a bid to avoid the Sky Blues establishing control.
Too often, teams this season have let Sydney play, but on the few occasions that they have been pressed, the Sky Blues have found themselves against the wall, particularly against Melbourne Victory and Western Sydney Wanderers.
Prediction
City, despite their inconsistencies, remains a side that can win the competition. We have yet to see City produce a complete 90-minute performance and if they do so here, they are great value to produce the upset.
Anything less though and the Sydney FC juggernaut will roll on.
City to win 2-1
punter
Guest
Think it could be Mister Football.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
The better team won. That's all that needs to be said.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
What is the point of your two rants :( ???
punter
Guest
Whatever!!!!
Swanny
Guest
How does Melbourne city trying to buy a trophy differ from Sydney Fc or victory . They all are buying the cup . What's the difference
thomas_d_j
Guest
Any sanction for Graham Arnold for calling Josh Brillante over to the sideline at the 54 minute mark and instructing him (twice) to "get your yellow card!"? Well captured by the Fox Sports microphone. Brillante later did as he was told, grabbing an opponent's shirt and not letting go until the ref brandished yellow (Brillante's 8th for the season). Brillante now has a clean sheet going into the finals after he takes his one match suspension and misses the trip to Wellington.
Alan
Roar Guru
» Click here to read the full match report
Alfred
Guest
And for good measure, Timmy is just like many old players who think they still ok just because from time to time he jumps and heads a ball in. The fact is that Timmy would not be playing in the A league if he would have had any offers from an overseas outfit. He did not, but, being ambitious and thinking that he still has what he has not, he came to the A league, was able to extract money from the FFA and the FFA run by total football ignorants decided to give him more money to come. Has Timmy bolstered the membership in the Melbourne City? look at the crowds they are attracting!!! I rest my case The fact is that Timmy is only good as a sub and for about 30 minutes tops, is that worth more than Million? I do not think so, but, just like many others before him, they "say"that they come to the A league to do us a favour!! WHATTTT, are you kidding, the only one that is getting a favour is Timmy, from us the ones who pay to see games. Just like Harry Kewell when he came to the A league because nobody else anywhere else wanted him, he still wanted the extra million, although they should not be short of money, but they are selfish. How many good aspirant young men could be given a go if the salary that Timmy is getting was kept just to give the young ones an opportunity?? The fact is that Timmy already got his wish, he should at the end of the season call it quits and leave the space for someone like Timmy 15 years ago. We do not want to see an old player just trotting around, fouling everybody with hardly any use of the ball, thank you
Alan
Roar Guru
FULLTIME Sydney 3 City 0
Alan
Roar Guru
Great cross comes in for Bobo who makes no mistake from close range as the Brazilian heads the ball truly into the back of the net! Sydney just too clinical and too intense for City tonight. Another reality check for City. Sydney 3 City 0
Alan
Roar Guru
GOAL SYDNEY Sydney 3 City 0
Alan
Roar Guru
CHANCE CITY City again produce some good play. Chipped pass is superb for Arzani who waits too long to deliver a dangerous low ball into the area. Sydney clear just in time. Sydney 2 City 0
Alan
Roar Guru
Sydney attack down the right again. O'Neill with a nice ball for Bobo whose first time effort is deflected out for a corner! City with a chance to counter now Sydney 2 City 0
Alan
Roar Guru
CHANCE SYDNEY' Sydney 2 City 0
Alan
Roar Guru
86' - Despite this defeat, City are still in with a shot of winning the title. Sydney's first goal was just a product of a poor error from Muscat as he misjudged the long throw. City just have to avoid making those stupid mistakes. Get that out of their system and they can make a statement when it counts... Sydney 2 City 0
Alfred
Guest
Well so far the prediction is wrong, the Sydney train marching on so far. I said it before, Melbourne Heart, oooppps City has something that not many other teams in the competition have and that is, they attempted to buy trophies, that strategy sometimes backfires and I think that unless their fortune changes, they are suffering from a club that is being shifty from the start. As Melbourne Heart, they attempted to steal Melbourne Victory support and they could not do it, then they attempted to screw the whole competition by buying all the so called "good players" from the A league and put them all together like if that is a recipe for winning, and so far they have been a flop. They back stabbed the real coach they had in Aloisi and that was done by vanSchip himself, very much stabbing Aloisi and taking control, and in theory they received lots of money to spend, new club, new team, new coach, the most expensive group of players ever in the competition and so far they have won the MICKY MOUSE competition called the FFA Cup, the one where all the teams are just starting to gel together, where many of the teams are amateurs playing the big boys, yes, the won that one but anybody who has just a little nouse will tell you, you can not assemble the most expensive group of players, put them all together and give them all different salaries and expect them to perform all at the same level, in particular when some of the players have inflated egos. I hope that this experiment fails because this club was shifty from the start and so far with the expensive group of players, expensive club head quarters, good women team blah blah blah and I forgot the mickey mouse cup already won, they are still a bunch of opportunists who do not understand the chemistry of the A league. If Melbourne City wants to succeed they better go somewhere else like Tasmania, Geelong, New Zealand or Canberra because there is only one team in Melbourne
Alan
Roar Guru
83' - Genreau with a low drive but Vukovic saves easily down to his right. Better build-up play from City in the area. Caceres with a good run. Not enough of that in the second half. Sydney 2 City 0
Alan
Roar Guru
81' - City still to truly test Vukovic in the second half. Credit to Sydney's organisation at the back. City have asked questions with the ball, but their defence is really holding them back.. Sydney 2 City 0
Alan
Roar Guru
CHANCE SYDNEY City asleep at the wheel again but Bouzanis with a good glove, gets to a dangerous cross and stops Sydney from scoring no. 3 Sydney 2 City 0
Alan
Roar Guru
Cahill replaced by Arzani. The Socceroos legend...the greatest of them all has had a frustrating evening. Sydney 2 City 0