An injury time penalty from Karol Kisel has given Sydney FC a 3-2 win after a stunning second half comeback against Gold Coast United.
The home side showed courage and character to overcome a two goal deficit after the visitors had taken a 2-0 second half lead.
An injury time penalty from Karol Kisel has given Sydney FC a 3-2 win after a stunning second half comeback against Gold Coast United.
The home side showed courage and character to overcome a two goal deficit after the visitors had taken a 2-0 second half lead.
Gold Coast went in front against the run of play on 22 minutes.
A corner from the visitors right was met by a powerful header from unmarked centre half Kristian Rees, giving Reddy little chance in the Sydney goal.
Further pressure from the home side followed but Sydney were unable to find the net despite dominating play, and one minute into the second half they were punished.
Dylan MacAllister broke clear of the back four, reacting quicker to a through ball, before rounding the keeper and slotting home.
More Sydney strikes on the Gold Coast goal brought little reward until the hour mark.
Pascal Bosschaart received the ball on the Sky Blues right and delivered a teasing cross which Brazilian Bruno Cazarine nodded home from 8 yards for his first goal of the season.
The goal galvanised Sydney and three minutes later they were level. A neat backheel from Carle to Bridge came back to him after Bridge-s shot was blocked inside the penalty area. Carle wasted no time in driving a left foot shot under Moss.
Both sides went on the offensive looking for the win but neither could find the killer touch until the controversial penalty late into injury time.
Michael Beauchamp challenged for the ball in the Gold Coast box and when he went down referee Peter Green pointed to the spot, infuriating the visiting players. But the protests didn’t faze Kisel who calmly popped up to hit home the winner and spark mass scenes of celebration.
Sydney FC: Reddy, Coyne (Ryall 80), Bosschaart, Beauchamp, Emerton, Kisel, Moriyasu (Cazarine 46), Carle, McFlynn, Bridge, Jamieson.
Subs unused: Grant, Necevski (GK).
Gold Coast United: Moss, Thwaite (c), Rees, Beekmans, Robson, Macallister, Traore (Yosief 48), Rigters, Brown, Jungschlager, McGowan.
Subs unused: Bevan, Halloran, Tyson (GK).
Officials: Green (Referee); Glasgow and Greenshields (Assistants); Wolfe (Fourth Official).
Crowd: 11,051.
Goals: Rees 22 mins; MacAllister 46 mins; Cazarine 60 mins; Carle 63 mins, Kisel 90+3mins.
Bookings: Bosschaart (foul); McFlynn (foul), Emerton (time-wasting), McGowan (diving).
