Sydney FC claimed revenge over John Aloisi’s Western United with an emphatic 3-0 win at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium on Saturday night.
United struggled to create chances for most of the evening, and the second half began to resemble a training run for the home side.
Milos Ninkovic, The Dreamboat, scored the first goal of the game 23 minutes into the first half after some nick work from Mustafa Amini and Rhyan Grant.
Luciano Narsingh then got off the mark with his first goal for the club from a Ninkovic assist in the 58th minute.
Amini capitalised on United’s poor attempt to play out from the back to seal the win in the 68th minute.
It was a much-needed result for the Sky Blues in the race for finals football. Steve Corica’s side currently occupy a spot inside the top six but have played numerous more games than the sides immediately below them.
It was also their second win a row, after the 2-0 result against Perth Glory last Saturday.
Sydney will now travel up the M1 on Friday night to take on the Newcastle Jets at McDonald Jones Stadium. Getting three points from that clash is certainly realistic and would be another important boost for the side’s finals aspirations.
First half key moments
In just the second minute of play, James Donachie’s penchant for mistakes was again exposed after he failed to deal with a through ball. Aleksandar Prijovic finished the move with a classy strike but Donachie’s blushes were saved by the linesman’s flag, with the Serbian just a fraction offside.
In the 23rd minute, Sydney opened the scoring after a nice move. It began with Grant, who played a give-and-go with Amini. Finding himself in a couple of yards of space inside the area, Grant then delivered first-time across the box to Ninkovic, who expertly dispatched his volley past Jamie Young and off the left upright.
Second half key moments
After a shambolic attempt to clear their lines, it was Andrew Redmayne who spared Sydney’s blushes in the 51st minute, rising quickly and tipping Prijovic’s powerful header over the bar. Another inch or two closer to the corner and it would’ve been 1-all.
Luciano Narsingh opened his Sydney FC account and made it 2-0 in the 58th minute in front of The Cove after he finished a delectable through-ball from Ninkovic.
In the 68th minute, United, doing their best golden era Barcelona impression, sloppily gave away possession in their own area through Jerry Skotadis. Amini dispossessed the young centre-back just inside the 18-yard box and placed his shot into the bottom corner to make it 3-0 for the home side.
Player of the match
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What they said
“I’m very happy. I worked hard for it and it’s nice to score my first goal for Sydney,” said Luciano Narsingh after he opened his account for the Sky Blues.
Key stats
Sydney FC: 1. Andrew REDMAYNE, 2. James DONACHIE, 4. Alex WILKINSON (3. Ben WARLAND 84’), 6. Mustafa AMINI, 8. Paulo RETRE, 10. Milos NINKOVIC (22. Max BURGESS 73’), 14. Adam LE FONDRE (9. BOBÔ 73’), 16. Luciano NARSINGH (12. Trent BUHAGIAR 67’), 17. Anthony CACERES, 23. Rhyan GRANT ©, 25. Callum TALBOT (5. Connor O’TOOLE 84’).
Unused Subs: 20. Tom HEWARD-BELLE (GK), 21. Harry VAN DER SAAG
Yellow Cards: None
Red Cards: None.
Western United: 1. Jamie YOUNG, 4. Leo LACROIX, 5. Dylan PIERIAS (31. Adisu BAYEW 82’), 6. Tommy IMAI, 8. Lachlan WALES, 10. Steven LUSTICA, 11. Connor PAIN (9. Dylan WENZEL-HALLS 67’), 16. Rene KRHIN (27. Jerry SKOTADIS 67’), 17. Ben GARUCCIO, 19. Josh RISDON (44. Nikolai TOPOR-STANLEY 73’), 99. Aleksandar PRIJOVIC (38. Noah BOTIC 82’)
Subs: 37. Ryan SCOTT (GK), 42. Rhys BOZINOVSKI.
Yellow Cards: Lacroix 28’, Aloisi 30’
Red Cards: None.
Venue: Netstrata Jubilee Stadium
Referee: Daniel Elder.
Next game
Sydney will face Newcastle Jets at McDonald Jones Stadium next Friday at 7:45pm.