Sydney FC
4
Match Complete
Newcastle Jets
1
| 74' |  | N. Boogaard | ||
| K. Barbarouses |  | 65' | ||
| J. Koutroumbis | | 51' | ||
| A. L. Fondre | | 42' | ||
| 29' | | A. Thurgate | ||
| 9' | | M. Millar | ||
| M. Ninkovic | | 6' |
| 17 | Shots | 9 | ||
| 6 | On Target | 4 | ||
| 3 | Fouls | 10 | ||
| 5 | Corners | 3 | ||
| 0 | Offsides | 5 | ||
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 | ||
| 0 | Yellow Cards | 2 |
Sydney FC are reeling after being sucker-punched in last week’s derby, and will be eager to get back on the winner’s list against the Newcastle Jets in their Round 4 A-League clash at Leichhardt Oval on Friday evening, 7:30pm (AEST). Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match.
Last season’s champions went down 1-0 to the Western Sydney Wanderers in Round 3 in controversial circumstances, in a loss that perplexed pundits, players, supporters and stretched the limits of our geometric imagination.
Mitch Duke’s 19th-minute winner turned out to be enough to sink the Sky Blues, who were bitterly disappointed that Kostas Barbarouses’ 51st-minute header was not paid, when it appeared to the blue side of the stadium (and the Fox commentary box) to have crossed the goal line.
The result in the derby was a stark reminder for Steve Corica that this can be an unforgiving league. Despite having the best of open play and starting the season strongly with two straight wins, defensive errors are often the difference in these high-pressure games.
It was Paulo Retre’s error to allow Daniel Georgevski to win possession and cross for Duke to score that was the difference in Round 3.
Sydney FC had 20 shots to 10 in this game, including four on target (to two) but ultimately none of them that ‘officially’ crossed the line to claw back a result.
Newcastle, Sydney’s opponents in this game, will be looking to properly kick off their season after a spluttering start. They’ve had a draw, a bye and a Round 3 loss to Adelaide to start the year and now find themselves in ninth place.
Last week’s loss turned on a couple of pieces of magic from Adelaide’s Riley McGree, which was hugely symbolic of Newcastle’s lot in this league.
Despite having more shots than the Reds (18 to 12) and twice as many on target (eight to four), they are generally a team of doers with a lot demanded from a couple of creative sparks, like Dimi Petratos.
Manager Ernie Merrick will be pleased that Panamanian import Abdiel Arroyo got on the scoresheet against Adelaide, but the pre-season loss of Wes Hoolahan through injury has left Newcastle’s plans a little threadbare.
Against well-balanced teams with multiple forward options – like Sydney – Newcastle will find shootouts tricky to win.
This game could see the return of Trent Buhagiar for Sydney after a season-ending ACL. The Olyroo – who is reportedly quicker over 20m than Usain Bolt – will be itching to get back onto the park (presumably off the bench) to offer yet another weapon for Steve Corica.
With an AFC U23s tournament and Olympics around the corner, he will definitely be one to watch out for this season.
Prediction
Sydney should find the going a little easier this week, and have enough mettle for a thin Newcastle side. Newcastle are a well-drilled side but their lack of pace in the back four and centre of midfield could be exposed by the runs of Adam LeFondre and Barbarouses, and the trickery of Milos Ninkovic et al.
Sydney FC 2 – Newcastle Jets 0
Fadida
Roar Rookie
Incredible
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
Hey save your thanks until after the 2am kick off in the Gloucestershire derby in League Two!
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
Good get :thumbup:
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
Whatever your sporting passions, have great weekends (and long ones in Victoria), and I'll catch you guys next week
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
There's an 11pm Sunday night kick off between Charlton Athletic and Preston North End - two over achieving clubs in the Championship... that one could tickle Victorians reading this who probably have Monday off for Cup eve. A late one in the company of Lee Bowyer and his men is my defintion of good fun... but I live a very sheltered life.
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
Thanks for your time tonight. Remember: the Berlin derby is on sunday morning AEST. The first one since the 70s. Union Berlin v Hertha Berlin. That's probably the pick of the fixtures (that jumped out to me at least). There's a Gloucestershire derby between Cheltenham Town and Forest Green Rovers in League Two that is probably getting a bit niche for readers.
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
MATCH REPORT. A quite comfortable win for Sydney tonight against the Newcastle Jets in a game that promised a lot in the first half but ultimately petered when Sydney drove their lead home. 3 goals of extremely high quality, plus an own goal (forced by a clever shot from McGowan from a corner) made the difference in tonight’s game where both sides missed nearly as many good chances as they created. Goals from Milos Ninkovic (a tap-in from a sublime Luke Brattan cross), Adam leFondre and Kostas Barbarouses added to the own goal from John Koutroumbis, took the game away from Newcastle who will be bitterly disappointed with their second half. Newcastle were fortunate to equalise from Matt Millar’s header in their first real attack, and went on to create a handful of decent chances and could have taken the lead, despite having vastly less possession. Indeed Jason Hoffman alone was guilty of at least 3 poor efforts, including an airshot on a fairly simple tap-in to make it 2-1 in the Jets favour. But he missed (everything), and that was really the story of the game. Newcastle were happy in the first half to sit back and counter, but ultimately and conspicuously tonight lacked the quality required in the final third to challenge a top club like Sydney. Despite trailing 2-1 at the break, manager Ernie Merrick would have been reasonably comfortable with his side’s output, and would have hoped to hold on a little longer before making an attacking change. However, his decision to remove the (admittedly underperforming) Angus Thurgate for defensive midfielder Ben Kantarovski at halftime proved problematic when they conceded the Koutroumbis own goal in the 51st minute, and then needed to play on the front foot to get back into the game. And while Newcastle created some meaningful chances, the question of who would put them away remained, and Sydney simply coasted for the rest of the game. They added a fourth from Barbarouses – his first for the club – and then let Newcastle have a little more of the ball with fewer front players on the field to capitalise on that possession. By the end of the match this was one of Steve Corica’s more comfortable matches, and leaves the winless Newcastle Jets in no-man’s-land. MAN OF THE MATCH goes to Luke Brattan. He and O’Neill are building a solid partnership now, and his range of passing is multiple rungs above his predecessor Josh Brillante. Brattan’s ability on the ball, evidenced by the assist for the opener, could catapult Sydney to even higher heights than they achieved last season and could also prove the difference in trickier Champions League fixtures. His ability to spring the front 2 could be invaluable come the start of the ACL season.
Fadida
Roar Rookie
Before
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Thanks Lucas :thumbup:
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
The stats are very sky blue. 60% possession for Sydney - despite the Jets trying to play more football in the second half - and 17 shots to 9. On target efforts are a little closer (6 to 4), and Newcastle did make some good chances but lacked the requisite quality up front to put those chances away
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
2 goals in both halves were enough to ensure a victory that got easier as the night went on. The opener from Ninkovic was nullified by Millar's header from a corner, but from there it was a story of missed chances for Newcastle, and excellent skill from strike partners leFondre and Barbarouses to take the game beyond the Jets. Sydney's third goal, just after half time - and own goal from Koutroumbis - made it tough for Newcastle, and they barely put up a yelp in the second half.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
It’s been the story of the night for Jets. Couldn’t score in a house of ill repute - so as to say :silly:
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
FINAL WHISTLE. Sydney FC wins this comfortably 4-1
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
Before or after Hoolahan's injury?
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
90+4' - SHOT HIGH and WIDE from Petratos. He blasted that into row ZZZ when a pocket of space opened for him. | Syd 4 - Jets 1
Fadida
Roar Rookie
Pre season I picked the Jets for the spoon. I win Sadly
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
I can still remember where I was, about 10 years ago, when I read of Bayern Munich's interest in Ben Kantarovski
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
There will be 4 ADDITIONAL MINUTES
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
We're approaching the 90 now, and the 45th minute of a regrettable second half. Sydney have scored twice in this half despite playing it in second gear, and Newcastle are just toothless up front.
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
89′ – SHOT WIDE by Fitzgerald. The journeyman gets his head on the end of a good cross from Ridenton, but he mistimes the jump and puts it his effort wide from about 6 yards out | Syd 4 – Jets 1