Sydney FC collected its first point in four matches against the Gold Coast on the holiday strip after holding a vastly-improved Gold Coast to a 0-0 draw at Skilled Park tonight.
Sydney FC collected its first point in four matches against the Gold Coast on the holiday strip after holding a vastly-improved Gold Coast to a 0-0 draw at Skilled Park tonight.
For the second consecutive week Sydney FC created a little piece of history but the performance was nowhere near the quality that saw the Sky Blues halt Brisbane Roar-s run last week.
The match was played in hot and sticky conditions, which took its toll on both teams, especially in the first half when the Sky Blues and Gold Coast seemed stifled by the hovering thunderstorms that earlier in the afternoon threatened to delay the match.
Sydney FC went into the match with the same starting side, and the same bench, that ended Brisbane-s undefeated streak meaning there was no place for Scott Jamieson, who was available again after serving a one-match suspension for yellow cards.
The match started in light rain and under the threat of thunder and lightning but neither team was able to spark into gear in a sluggish opening 30 minutes.
Then, almost in unison with a lift in the weather, both sides managed to start creating chances. Sydney FC-s best chance fell to Bruno Cazarine in the 41st minute but he was unable to hit the target from a pin-point Brett Emerton cross from the right.
Gold Coast also created some space down the flanks with Maceo Rigters shooting wide with only Sydney FC custodian Liam Reddy to beat in the shadows of the half time whistle.
The second half saw the sides lift in intensity and create numerous chances but Reddy and his Gold Coast counterpart Glenn Moss covered themselves in glory with a string of important saves.
Sydney FC-s best second half chances fell to Karol Kisel, who was denied by Moss following a clever passing movement and he also headed wide with the goal at his mercy.
At the other end Reddy denied Ben Halloran and Maceo Rigters with a brace of top quality saves with Pascal Bosschaart and Shannon Cole also making last-ditch clearances.
After the full time whistle both sides agreed a draw was a fair result with the point seeing Sydney sitting equal third with Melbourne Heart.
Sydney FC now switches its attention to another away clash against Newcastle next Saturday before back-to-back home games against Adelaide United (22 December) and Melbourne Heart (29 December).
Sydney FC 0 drew Gold Coast 0
Skilled Park
Crowd: 2,984
Referee: Ben Williams
Sydney FC: 1. Liam Reddy, 3. Jamie Coyne, 4. Pascal Bosschaart, 5. Michael Beauchamp, 7. Brett Emerton, 8. Karol Kisel, 9. Bruno Cazarine (18. Juho Makela ‘54), 10 Nick Carle, 11. Dimi Petratos (23. Rhyan Grant ‘63), 12. Shannon Cole, 15. Terry McFlynn (c).
Sub not used: 2. Sebastian Ryall and 20. Ivan Necevski.
Yellow cards: Coyne 19, Cazarine 30, Cole 34, Bosschaart 45, McFlynn 68, Kisel 74, Beauchamp 83
Red cards: Nil
Gold Coast: 1. Glen Moss, 3. Michael Thwaite, 5. Kristian Rees, 6. Paul Beekmans, 12. Dylan Macallister (17. Chris Harold ‘66), 14. Ben Halloran, 15. Adama Traore, 16, Maceo Rigters (21 Daniel Saverino ‘88), 18. James Brown, 22. Peter Jungschlager, 24. Jonas Salley.
Sub not used: 23. Dylan McGowan and 20. Jerrad Tyson (gk)
Yellow cards: Brown 82, Halloran 84.
Red cards: Nil
