Sydney FC produced a thrilling 3-all draw with Melbourne Victory at Etihad Stadium tonight in a game packed with incidents and goals.
Sydney FC 3 (Janko 16’, Smeltz 49’, 75’) drew with Melbourne Victory 3 (Thompson 12’, 45+2’, 79’)
A second half Shane Smeltz double followed Marc Janko’s first half opener but those goals were cancelled out by an Archie Thompson hat-trick for the home side.
A late Seb Ryall header could have won it for the Sky Blues while at the other end Vedran Janjetovic sprinted off his line to prevent Berisha giving Victory the points with virtually the last kick of the game.
Controversy reigned in the first half with Pedj Bojic and Terry Antonis having to get bandaged up for head wounds, the Antonis knock appearing to come courtesy of a Mark Milligan elbow to the eyebrow.
Goals
12’ THOMPSON GOAL – Berisha turns inside Gersbach and fires at Janjetovic. The keeper parries to Thompson who again shoots and Janjetovic saves with his legs. Petkovic’s attempted clearance then ricochets off Thompson and falls kindly for the striker inside the 6 yard box and he nudges the ball into an empty net.
16’ JANKO GOAL – Bojic plays the ball into Smeltz on the edge of the box. The Kiwi striker performs a deft backheel flick to Janko behind him and the Austrian striker stays cool to calmly sidefoot beyond Coe.
45’ + 2’ THOMPSON GOAL – Berisha runs at the Sydney FC defence and feeds Thompson inside the right hand channel of the Sky Blue penalty area. The striker bears down on goal and fires home a low right foot shot.
49’ SMELTZ GOAL – Gersbach puts over an in-swinging left footed corner where Smeltz pulls off his marker and heads the ball home from 8 yards.
76’ SMELTZ GOAL – Grant does well to keep the ball in play on the left hand side and gives it to Dimitrijevic. The Serbian finds Smeltz on the edge of the box and the New Zealander turns, beats two Victory defenders and drills a low left foot shot into the corner of the Melbourne goal.
79’ THOMPSON GOAL – Berisha plays a ball in behind the Sydney FC defence which Thompson runs onto and calmly passes the ball to the right of Janjetovic into the net.
Key Moments
24’ ANTONIS INJURED – Terry Antonis receives an elbow in the face from Mark Milligan and has to receive treatment for a cut to the eyebrow. Referee Peter Green shows no card to the Melbourne Victory midfielder.
26’ BROSQUE HITS POST – Bernie Ibini plays an excellent ball inside the full back to Brosque but the Sydney FC skipper sees his shot rebound off the post.
47’ BROSQUE CHANCE – Sydney FC skipper Alex Brosque gets free on the left hand side of the box and bears down on goal. The striker pulls the ball back but fails to find a team mate. Replays show Valeri appeared to drag his shirt.
88’ RYALL HEADER – A right wing corner into the box is met by Sebastian Ryall but Victory keeper Coe gets down quickly to make a fantastic save to deny the defender.
90+4’ JANJETOVIC SAVE – Berisha finds himself with only the keeper to beat inside the penalty area but Janjetovic races off his line to block the Albanian’s shot to win the game for Victory.
Team News
Sydney FC 3 (Janko 16’, Smeltz 49’, 75’) drew with Melbourne Victory 3 (Thompson 12’, 45+2’, 79’)
Graham Arnold recalled marc Janko from injury and Seb Ryall from suspension for the game with Matthew Jurman dropping out through illness and Rhyan Grant making way for the Austrian. He occupied the bench alongside Nick Carle, Aaron Calver, Ivan Necevski and Peter Triantis.
Ground: Etihad Stadium
Referee: Peter Green
Attendance: 25,203
Sydney FC: 20. Vedran JANJETOVIC, 2. Seb RYALL, 4. Pedj BOJIC, 6. Nikola PETKOVIC, 8. Milos DIMITRIJEVIC, 9.Shane SMELTZ, 11. Bernie IBINI, 14. Alex BROSQUE (Nick CARLE 90’+2’), 16. Alex GERSBACH (23. Rhyan GRANT ), 17. Terry ANTONIS, 21. Marc JANKO (18. Peter TRIANTIS 80’)
Subs Not Used: 1. Ivan NECEVSKI, 25. Aaron CALVER.
Yellow cards: Petkovic 87’, Carle 94’.
Red cards: None.
Melbourne Victory: 1. Nathan COE, 2. Jason GERIA (4. Nicholas ANSELL 69’), 5. Mark MILLIGAN, 6. Leigh BROXHAM, 8. Besart BERISHA, 9. Kosta BARBAROUSES, 10. Archie THOMPSON (22. Jesse MAKAROUNAS 82’), 14. Fahid BEN KHALFALLAH (11. Connor PAIN 69’), 18. Dylan MURNAME, 21. Carl VALERI, 23. Adrian LEIJER.
Subs Not Used: 16. Rashid MAHAZI, 20. Lawrence THOMAS.
Yellow cards: Barbarouses 62’, Broxham 74’.
Red cards: None
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