Roar Guru
Sydney FC rocketed home despite conceding the first goal in their match against Perth, ultimately victorious 4-1.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
Perth Glory 1
Sydney FC 4
Ladder leaders Sydney FC are looking to extend their six-point lead at the top of the table when they take on Perth Glory at nib Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 10pm (AEDT).
After starting the season with a six-game winning streak, the Sky Blues have drawn three of their last four games, but if last week was any indication, it is not a loss of form.
Sydney dominated in their 1-1 draw against second-placed Melbourne City, even though they had to wait until an 80th-minute penalty from Bobo to reply to Fernando Brandan’s 25-metre strike in the first half.
The Sky Blues had 16 shots on goal to City’s five and controlled the game from the start. Even more impressive was that their dominance continued even after being reduced to ten men for the last 20 minutes of the match, courtesy of a second yellow card to Josh Brilliante.
Perth Glory will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing loss at home to the Newcastle Jets last week, where they blew an early lead to lose their first game at home to the Jets in 11 years.
In an entertaining match, the Glory opened the scoring with an excellent Nebojsa Marinkovic strike, only to see the Jets claw one back in the 21st minute and then go ahead early in the second half courtesy of an own goal by Glory’s Milan Smiljanic.
It would have left manager Kenny Lowe further frustrated in what has been a season of inconsistency from his team. Glory have won only one of their last seven games and Lowe will be hoping the challenge of taking on the league’s best team will shake his team out of its lethargy.
Prediction
Last time these two teams met, a month ago at Allianz Stadium, Sky Blues midfielder Milos Ninkovic dominated the game, scoring two goals and giving away another as Sydney steamrolled the Glory 4-1.
But it could have been a different story if striker Andy Keogh had been able to convert any of his three excellent chances in the first ten minutes.
Keogh can’t afford to be wasteful again, as the Sydney defence will not offer many chances, having conceded just four goals in ten matches. Things will only be tougher with Diego Castro still out injured – Perth has really missed his creativity in attack.
Perth has been suspect down back as well and it’s hard to see how they will contain the likes of the Sky Blues’ Bobo, Ninkovic and Alex Brosque.
Sydney 2-0