Melbourne City vs Sydney FC: A-League live scores, blog

MATCH REPORT A convincing win for Sydney FC here at AAMI Park, with the 3-0 scoreline a fitting one. Almost from the first minute Sydney managed this game to perfection, taking control of both wings while closing down the middle of the park. Marquee striker Adam leFondre continued his fantastic A-League start, showcasing his guile and class by scoring two of Sydney's goals. Both goals were taken on the end of some excellent team build-up, and he generally made life hell for the City centrebacks, popping up on both flanks at times and also making runs off their shoulders. The early damage was done by Zullo and Ninkovic on the left, with Riley McGree - notionally City's right midfielder - not providing any defensive cover. Indeed City's tactical approach to this game was confusing from the start and invited Ninkovic and Zullo into miles of space to work in. Despite this the opening goal game from Sydney's right, where Grant and Retre combined to tap the opener past Galekovic. Indeed Grant and Retre combined brilliantly for most of the night. Grant was a constant threat for the full 90 with his muscular runs, and Retre was having the game of his life as the overload option, scoring the first goal and setting up the second. City's lack of defensive pressure on both wings allowed Sydney to easily play through their lacklustre press, and also let Brillante and O'Neill have a cruisy night in the middle of the park. Both sat quite deep - especially in the second half - and choked any space that City would have hoped to play though. Indeed with their legs weary after the midweek FFA Cup final, Sydney opted to give the ball to City in the second half with the confidence that wouldn't have many real threats posed. Besides a weak Dario Vidosic header from a free kick - which really should have equalised - City were toothless and ineffective all night and allowed Sydney to slow the pace of the game down. The stats flatter City, who had 60% possession, 200+ more passes and 9 shots. But a lot of this work was done by the back 4, hoping in vain for a passing lane to open up to Fornaroli. Sadly, this just didn't happen. Confounding matters for City were the number of key men who had poor games. Luke Brattan, their most experienced and arguably most talented midfielder, was non-existent and taken off after an hour. Dario Vidosic was busy and should have scored, but offered nothing of real substance and Baccus offered precious little on the ball. McGree worked hard but looked down on form and confidence. Last season this Joyce's City team relied heavily on Daniel Arzani in transition to make things happen. It seems that job this year is Riley McGree's.... who is a bright talent but not one as incandescent as Arzani (who all our fingers are crossed for). McGree had no support in the middle tonight and Joyce needs to find a structure that doesn't rely so heavily on one player to make things happen. MAN OF THE MATCH was a walk up for Paolo Retre until he was hooked with half an hour left! Despite only playing 2/3rds of the game he still gets a podium finish for best afield. leFondre's brace probably nudges him ahead as MOTM, marginally ahead of Rhyan Grant who also had one of his best games for Sydney. Honourable mentions to literally every other Sydney FC player (although Alex Wilkinson did commit a couple of regrettable defensive efforts in the second half).

11,034 was the attendance tonight..... and many of those will go home disappointed City fans.

It has been a pretty poor game from City. They didn't create a lot and got tactically outmuscled by Steve Corica.

Sadly this game isn't a good one to read for Sydney - City were pretty bad tonight.

FULL TIME and it's a stroll for Sydney in the end 3-0.

LeFondre has been kicked around the park tonight, but has scored twice and has terrorised the City back 4 all night. He's a tremendous asset to this league.

92' - AND IT'S ANOTHER GOAL FOR SYDNEY! GUESS WHO it's Adam leFondre. It's a brilliant long ball down the right from Grant to DeSilva who finds Lokolingoy on the box. He turns and puts it across goal clumsily, but a complete non-effort from DeLaet allows Ninkovic to win the ball on the far post, tee it up brilliantly for leFondre who taps it in. It's a brilliant goal against a City who have basically given up.

There'll be 4 EXTRA MINUTES

There's another late substitute for Sydney. Zullo comes off after a fantastic first half and Aaron Calver is on

We amble toward the 90' with two tired teams.

City have probably had 60%+ possession in this second half (they're up to 60% on the match), and have had nearly 200 more passes, but they've mostly been in the middle third. They've had 9 shots and 2 on target but despite Vidosic's weak header and that last Schenkeveld effort which he was inches offside for, they haven't caused Sydney too many heartaches.

Sydney calls another SUBSTITUTION and it's as you'd predict. Brosque earns his tea and biscuits and Lokolingoy is on.

Sydney have played this second half like a team which, ingeniously, knows it's exhausted. They did their hard work in the first half and have closed up this second.

We're approaching fulltime and on Alex Brosque heart-attack watch. Surely he'll be calling for a substitution after the amount of work he's done in the last 3 weeks.

83' - Another dangerous free kick won for City, but McGree's 40 yarder sales miles OVER the bar.

81' - WHAT A CHANCE MISSED! Schenkeveld! Well it's luckily called offside... Lucky for him that it won't go down as one of the worst misses you'll see. Berenguer's floater from the free kick finds Schenkeveld on his own for the simplest of headed tap-ins... but he sprays it wide. That was Yakubu esque.