Brisbane Roar vs Sydney FC: A-League live scores, blog

That's all from me folks... Have a fantastic weekend and I'll catch you in the A-League real soon!

MATCH REPORT | Sydney FC get the 3 points tonight, after a nervy and mostly unconvincing display at Suncorp. Sydney rode their first minute opener, and their luck, for far too much of this game – but their quality rose to the top in the final 15 minutes when LeFondre teamed with substitutes Reza Ghoochannejhad and Siem de Jong to put the result beyond doubt. The first goal came from Aaron Calver, soon to depart for Western United, who found hemispheres of space to power a header in from close range from a free kick. The Brisbane defence were still in the dressing room, but that goal shook the Brisbane front three of Bautheac, Babalj and Wenzel-Halls awake as they created multiple good chances in the proceeding 10 minutes to try and get the Roar back into the game. After those first rapid 10 minutes the game turned into a slow tactical chess game, with the low block of Brisbane’s back 5 putting a wall in front of the Sydney forward third, choking chances and passing lanes for the Sky Blues at every turn. And, when Sydney did find possession inside the Brisbane box they were slow to react and often took those extra touches they could ill afford in a crowded box. In the second half things opened up, and Brisbane lifted their tempo and work rate. Olyroo hero D’Agostino and Henrique came on, and the Roar switched to a standard 4-4-2 to get men forward. And that they did, with Bautheac profiting off of D’Agostino’s enterprise and instinct around goals. His tap-in from D’Agostino’s cross was well-earned, and the 1-1 scoreline seemed an adequate reflection of the game to that point. But Sydney’s riches on the bench always posed to be the difference in this game – and they certainly did. DeJong and Reza are both just that step-up in class from Brosque and Caceras (the men they replaced) – and it showed almost immediately. Reza’s cut back setting up de Jong who found the upright and then LeFondre on hand to tap it in. Then, approaching fulltime, deJong got on the scoresheet himself with an audacious piece of play reminiscent of Ned Zelic (from the other side) against his countrymen 25 odd years ago. On a tight angle, he feinted to pass left but poked it past Young’s right and into the open net. It was a fantastic piece of improvisation that underlined the home truth that forward class makes all the difference in this league. In the stats Sydney look like deserving winners – and that they were in the end – with 20 shots to 13 and 7 on target (to 4). Brisbane had more of the ball in the second half, but Sydney’s 56% possession was a suitable indicator of Sydney’s control of the game, despite Brisbane making them really work for it – especially in the first 75 minutes. MAN OF THE MATCH was probably Matt McKay. Ninkovic in his 100th game did some excellent things on the ball but didn’t create the weight of chances we expect from Milos. No Sydney player really stood out – beside the cameo at the end from Reza – but McKay was an ever present in the well organised Roar defence, marshalling his line and then getting forward in possession to support the midfield. Between minutes 2 to 76 the Roar defence was extraordinarily organised and kept them in the game; largely off the back of McKay’s organisation on the field and ability to read and intercept the ball.

FULL TIME. Sydney win this one 3 - 1, after a very nervy 15 or so minutes where the Roar got right back into this game.

It's been a frenetic couple of minutes! There'll be 3 EXTRA MINUTES and they're all almost up

92' - DeJong gets another chance after a Roar turnover, but blasts his shot OVER THE BAR [Sydney 3-1]

92' - O'Neill with men before him to poke a pass to takes it on himself and puts it WIDE [Sydney 3-1]

90' - Wenzel-Halls has a go now, and tries to curl one from outside the box on his right, but he can't quite place it the right side of the upright [Sydney 3-1]

89' - DeJong SCORES! It's MAGIC stuff from the byline! It's a perfect misdirection on Young, who comes off his line to close down a passing lane, but DeJong pokes a no-look ball past him and IN! That was extraordinarily clever from the Dutchman! [Sydney 3-1]

89' - Reza tries a long curler from outside the box but Young SAVES [Sydney 2-1]

88' - Brisbane make their final CHANGE. Lokolingoy is ON and Leck goes OFF after running himself into the ground [Sydney 2-1]

87' - Leck puts in an excellent long cross but it's JUST too high for D'Agostino, who jumps theatrically for it anyway [Sydney 2-1]