Sydney FC have made it clear they’re the top dogs in the A-League with a massive 4-goal win over Melbourne City.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
Melbourne City 0
Sydney FC 4
Melbourne City stand toe to toe with their biggest obstacle to A-League glory at AAMI Park. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:50pm (AEDT).
A-League fans have waited a while for this rematch and Melbourne City come into this clash in better form than the last time they met the champions.
Despite falling behind frequently and still experiencing some defensive frailties, the home side haven’t been beaten for some time and look to maintain that record against a Sydney team with plenty on their minds.
With the ACL about to begin and Graham Arnold looking to establish his team as one of the best in all of Asia, the biggest danger that the visitors face is losing the edge that has seen them put all-comers to the sword so far this season; except the Mariners of course.
With diligent preparation and attention to detail, Arnold has built a powerhouse and now comes the acid test, with City ready to pounce at any sign of distraction or weakness.
With the return of Bruno Fornaroli and a firing Marcin Budzinski, City look to have coped well with the loss of Ross McCormack.
Sydney are still riding a wave of luck without injury and suspension and will need their main men firing to knock off an ever improving City team.
Another masterclass from Ninkovic and Mierzejewski or a counter attack from City that sees Sydney FC look less scary to the entire competition?
While tempted to predict a draw and with personal feelings in the game, this is a hard one. I think Sydney will win despite the pressure of the upcoming week.
Melbourne City 1, Sydney FC 3
Catch all the action on The Roar, live coverage from 7:50pm (AEDT).
TV
This match will be broadcast by via free-to-air TV on channel One, and on Fox Sports 501.
Live stream
You can live stream Foxtel’s coverage of the match by using the Foxtel App if you already have a Foxtel TV subscription, or Foxtel Now if you don’t.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
And I’ll say it again if I have to?
Kangajets
Guest
Good point
Stuart Thomas
Expert
O'Neill as well. Guys who sit in the hole all day rarely get recognised.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
If you are a Sydney FC fan, enjoy this. You are watching, potentially, the best team we have ever seen in the A-League and Sydney threaten to become an even more dominant force than the Brisbane Roar teams that swept all before them under Ange Postecoglou. The only thing missing for the Sky Blues is another title and after the performance they put on at AAMI Park against an in-form Melbourne City, it would be hard to suggest that another toilet seat isn't on the cards. Numbers are one thing, but the manner in which the sky blues were able to dominate the home team after some good early play from City was astonishing. Alex Brosque ran all night and Bobo's first goal came from the penalty spot in the 32nd minute after Brosque was brought down on one of those runs. Milos Ninkovic will show his grandkids the second goal after again producing the sublime to double the lead and seemingly break the hearts of City. Valiant in the first half and playing up-tempo football was a credit to Melbourne yet it may have backfired on them as the chasm between the two teams became wider and wider as the minutes ticked on and a more conservative approach to the first period may have been a more prudent play. The clinical nature of the third goal for Bobo after brilliant work down the left from Zullo, summed up the effectiveness of Sydney and the furious defenders standing forlorn and frustrated was clear evidence of the precision the sky blues had used to tear them apart. Deservedly, Adrian Mierzejewski found the net late in the game and seemed to send a signal to a few of the City defenders after scoring, feeling that he may have been targeted unfairly at times. There was some real passion in the contest and it did appear that Sydney made a concerted attempt to match the physicality of City. In fact, they matched it easily and imposed themselves on the home team throughout the last hour of the game. Sydney march on and City will lick their wounds knowing a chance has slipped by. The race for the top four spots is well and truly alive yet the Premiers Plate is done and dusted for season thirteen. Sydney FC will finish atop the league for the second year running. Melbourne City 1 Sydney FC 4
Nemesis
Guest
Your team is filled with cynical foulers & thuggish players: Kantarovski, NTS, O'Donovan, Georgievski (I know because I've watched him playing at MV longer than you have watched him at Jets). Your captain is the player with the most Red Cards in the history of ALeague - 9 Red Cards & 49 Yellow Cards.
JJ
Guest
Mierzejewski man of the match. Absolute crap. Zullo 100%. Fox favoritsm. They hardly ever get those Alex Tobin points correct.
perry cox
Roar Guru
That was an utter dismantling. There's only three teams left in this comp - Sydney, daylight, and the Jets.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Full Time 90' - Thanks for being on board for the call and the match report will follow in ten minutes. Make sure you join me for the W-League semi-final tomorrow which should be a highly competitive clash. Melbourne City: 0 Sydney FC: 4
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Full Time 90' - Full-time in Melbourne and Sydney FC have done the job on Melbourne City at AAMI Park.
Melbourne City: 0 Sydney FC: 4
Stuart Thomas
Expert
96' - A huge clash, a huge statement and some serious questions for the losers tonight.
Melbourne City: 0 Sydney FC: 4
Stuart Thomas
Expert
95' - About to enter the final minute.
Melbourne City: 0 Sydney FC: 4
Stuart Thomas
Expert
94' - Despite Sydney's dominance, Redmayne has played a terrific game.
Melbourne City: 0 Sydney FC: 4
Stuart Thomas
Expert
93' - Jamieson with a late chance and Redmayne throws a hand that deflects the ball away at the last minute.
Melbourne City: 0 Sydney FC: 4
Stuart Thomas
Expert
91' - Six minutes of added time.
Melbourne City: 0 Sydney FC: 4
Stuart Thomas
Expert
90' - Only added time remains as the game comes to its conclusion with two very different emotions felt by the combatants.
Melbourne City: 0 Sydney FC: 4
Stuart Thomas
Expert
88' - Fornaroli looks good and is creating some chances.
Melbourne City: 0 Sydney FC: 4
Kangajets
Guest
Brattan with a crude challenge on Adrian And he gets booked. ..
Stuart Thomas
Expert
87' - City bust clear only to be denied by Redmayne again.
Melbourne City: 0 Sydney FC: 4
Stuart Thomas
Expert
87' - very lucky to have seen this team play over the last two years and I mean all of us. Now Asia awaits. Not sure what they are capable of?
Melbourne City: 0 Sydney FC: 4
Pauly
Guest
Where were you in 2008 and 2014?