Suncorp Stadium has again proven itself an unproductive stage for Sydney FC, with a late strike from Dutchman, Sergio Van Dijk denying Vitezslav Lavicka’s men any points in Sunday’s Hyundai A-League clash with the Brisbane Roar.
Suncorp Stadium has again proven itself an unproductive stage for Sydney FC, with a late strike from Dutchman, Sergio Van Dijk denying Vitezslav Lavicka-s men any points in Sunday’s Hyundai A-League clash with the Brisbane Roar.
Sydney went into the game confident of securing its first victory against the Roar since the 2007/08 Hyundai A-League season but couldn-t hold out against its fast-finishing hosts, who sealed the win in the dying minutes of the match.
“All credit to Brisbane,” said Sydney-s star defender, Simon Colosimo shortly after full-time. “They didn-t get a good result last week and we knew they were going to push hard. In think in the end they wanted it a little more.”
The Sky Blues made a bright start to the game and it looked like it might be a long afternoon for Brisbane when Mark Bridge drew a sharp save from Roar keeper, Liam Reddy in only the 4th minute of the contest.
The home side quickly put that scare behind them, however, and dominated possession for much of the first half-hour, without seriously threatening the Sydney goal.
In the 29th minute the Sky Blues produced a sparkling piece of play. Quick passing between Steve Corica, Karol Kisel and Alex Brosque ended on the boot of Bridge, and while his finish was just wide of the mark, Sydney was clearly back in the contest.
Brosque himself came close three minutes later – carrying the ball all the way out of defence before firing off a shot under pressure from two defenders.
The chances kept coming in rapid-fire fashion at either end of the field. In the 37th minute an on-guard Clint Bolton denied Brisbane the lead when Bob Malcolm came forward for a corner and found space for a free header. Seven minutes later Bridge should arguably have claimed the advantage from a Sydney free kick but he couldn-t capitalise on Kisel-s clever cut-back and the two teams went to the break tied at nil-all.
With the match there for the taking, the second half began the way the first had finished with both sides fighting to find an opening – and ten minutes after the resumption Sydney defender, Sebastian Ryall showed his commitment, putting his body on the line to block a fierce blast from David Dodd.
Bridge and Brosque both had half-chances in quick succession but Brisbane continued to have the better of the scoring opportunities. In the 65th minute they would have found the net but for Bolton-s bravery – Sydney-s custodian crashing heavily into the post after diving sharply to his right to deny Josh McCloughan the opening goal.
Five minutes later a cheeky long-range chip from Kisel almost embarrassed Reddy and stole the lead for Sydney, but that was as close as the Sky Blues would come for the remainder of the contest.
The hosts threw everything at Sydney in the closing stages, but the Moore Park men held firm. It seemed the sides would share the spoils – then Sergio Van Dijk stepped up to provide the defining moment of the game.
With Brisbane camped in Sydney-s defensive third a deep cross from Charlie Miller was headed back in-field by Craig Moore. There it found Van Dijk, who made the most of a minimum of space, heading back on a clever angle across the face of goal and breaking the deadlock in the 85th minute of the match.
Bolton kept Sydney in the contest with another great save less than a minute later but the damage had been done and the home side took the points with a hard-fought 1-nil win.
“I am happy with the effort, but disappointed with result,” assessed Sydney mentor, Vitezslav Lavicka. “Both sides had chances – they (Brisbane) took theirs, we did not.”
Despite the defeat, the Sky Blues retain a share of the competition lead on 13 points but drop to third on goal difference behind Gold Coast United and the Perth Glory. They-ll be determined to bounce back when they host arch-rivals, the Central Coast Mariners at the SFS on Monday, October 5 in what will be Sydney FC-s 100th Hyundai A-League appearance.
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Match Detail
Brisbane Roar 1 (Van Dijk 85′)
Sydney FC 0
Brisbane Roar: 1. Liam REDDY (gk), 4. Craig MOORE (c), 5. Josh McCLOUGHAN, 6. David DODD, 9. Sergio VAN DIJK, 10. Charlie MILLER, 11. REINALDO, 13. HENRIQUE, 16. Bob MALCOLM, 18. Danny TIATTO (19. Isaka CERNAK 81-), 27. Ivan FRANJIC.
Substitutes not used: 20. Griffin McMASTER (gk), 12. Matt MUNDY, 23. Tim SMITS.
Yellow Cards: 4. Craig MOORE 43-, 6. David DODD 70-, 10. Charlie MILLER 74-.
Red Cards: nil.
Goals: 9. Sergio VAN DIJK 85-.
Sydney FC: 1. Clint BOLTON (gk), 2. Sebastian RYALL, 4. Simon COLOSIMO, 6. Karol KISEL, 7. Brendan GAN, 8. Stuart MUSIALIK, 10. Steve CORICA (c) (18. Adam CASEY 80-), 12. Shannon COLE (16. Chris PAYNE 87-), 14. Alex BROSQUE, 19. Mark BRIDGE, 22. Sung Hwan BYUN.
Substitutes not used: 20. Ivan NECEVSKI (gk), 13. Antony GOLEC.
Yellow Cards: 7. Brendan GAN 39-, 12. Shannon COLE 76-, 2. Sebastian RYALL 83-.
Red Cards: nil.
Goals: nil.
Referee: Strebre Delovski.
Crowd: 7,677 at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane.
