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.
Realfootball
Guest
A nice metaphor, Stuart. I would suggest, however, that Brisbane is more like a cab sav that has been kept several years past its drink by date, and the cellar master can't tell a wine that's over the hill from one that has matured.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
"I thought there was a surprising difference in the quality of execution of attacking moves in the game exemplified by the third goal." Pretty much agree 100%.
Kangajets
Guest
Ha ha Karlo Having played a lot of sports. I love the physicality of afl and rugby league. But in football, you can be physical without the routine rubbish that Sydney get away with . Honestly, I get why lots of Australians don’t like “ soccer “ If Sydney tried this rubbish in any other sport they would be sorted out so quickly , but soccer players can bul/y cause referees are too timid and Melbourne City were too timid too fight back .
perry cox
Roar Guru
I love you Kanga. Don't ever change mate: "Sydney were very good in defence and attack and brilliant at rubbish tackles." Haha.
Buddy
Guest
I thought there was a surprising difference in the quality of execution of attacking moves in the game exemplified by the third goal. The neat transition that took the ball wide on the left side had me wondering about MC defensive frailties but the cross and the header were beautifully executed. The cross landed right on the spot, neat header although the first defender had moved forward perhaps to cover the post? It was just clinical and you could sense it was going to happen as the quality was all there going forward. By contrast, when MC attacked in similar positions, either the ball went over the goal line, the cross was over hit or the defence just tidied up, they looked pedestrian in comparison. When they went through the middle, there didn’t seem to be a plan as they consistently got swallowed up around the edge of the penalty area by sheer weight of numbers. It struck me as being a lesson in effective vs non effective attacking styles and it was most enjoyable to watch. Great to see Fornaroli back. I have missed the Foxsports commentary team drooling over him and competing to see how many times they can say his name in a minute! Seriously, glad to see him back fit and well, let’s hope we get to see him back in form very quickly, followed by Ronny Vargas.
Kangajets
Guest
Sydney were very good in defence and attack and brilliant at rubbish tackles . Is Roy Keane Sydney tacking coach I won’t sugar coat it , it’s a form of ch//ting that Sydney get away with . I can’t understand why opponents don’t square up to the Sydney thugs and get back in their face . I would think they would be mentally tough enough to get stuck back in. The refs won’t stop them . So it’s time the other teams start the rubbish tackling back on Sydney I really hope Arnold doesn’t get the Roos job, or we will have to hack opponents Kevin Muscat style Other then that Wilshire should been sent off early Zullo played well Ninchovic goal was very good Bobo is a class finisher Sydney now have to see if they can kick all the Asian teams out of the game now . Bring on the backlash from Sydney fans who see no evil, hear no evil
Stevo
Roar Rookie
No argument from me, SFF were deserved winners. They made it extremely difficult to penetrate their defence and efficient on the counter attack. Highlights for me were seeing Arzani weaving his way through the SFC defence in the first half and Bruno coming on in the second. I’d say that it was a pretty good game for the neutral.