Sydney FC have moved to a convincing, record 8th consecutive Big Blue win over their bitter rivals Melbourne Victory and secured 2nd place on the A-League ladder, thanks to goals from Bobô and Kosta Barbarouses.
Sydney FC 2 (Bobô 10’, Barbarouses 84’) def. Melbourne Victory 0
Sydney FC have moved to a convincing, record 8th consecutive Big Blue win over their bitter rivals Melbourne Victory and secured 2nd place on the A-League ladder, thanks to goals from Bobô and Kosta Barbarouses.
*Header photo by Keith McInnes
Moments That Mattered:
- MCMANAMAN SHOT – 3’ – Folami breaks down the left and plays the ball across the box where McManaman sees his shot deflected over the bar.
- BOBÔ GOAL – 10’ – Brattan’s right wing corner is met by a fantastic bullet header from Le Fondre which is parried by Acton, but Bobô is there to tap the rebound over the line.
- BOBÔ HEADER WIDE – 43’ – A left wing free kick finds Bobô between two defenders but his header is just wide.
- BARBAROUSES SHOT DEFLECTED WIDE – 50’ – Barbarouses wins the ball back and plays a one-two with Le Fondre before bearing down on goal but his shot is deflected wide by the out-stretched leg of Broxham.
- CACERES SHOT JUST OVER – 55’ – A ferocious effort from well outside the box is only inches over from Caceres.
- REDMAYNE DOUBLE SAVES – 67’ – Redmayne dives full length to deny Brimmer and from the corner parries away a flicked header from Roux before Retre clears.
- WOOD SHOT SAVED – 76’ – King plays the ball in to Ninkovic who flicks it around the corner to send Wood free to drive at goal. The youngster goes past two defenders before sending a fierce shot at Acton who is surprised by the power and can only juggle it before it’s cleared.
- BARBAROUSES GOAL – 84’ – Grant passes to Ninkovic who destroys Traore with a turn, leaving him for dead. The Serbian bursts towards goal and plays the perfectly timed pass to allow Barbarouses to slam home on the angle.
Sydney FC have claimed the Beyond Blue Cup in a record breaking 8th consecutive win over Melbourne Victory, moving the Sky Blues into 2nd place on the A-League ladder.
Steve Corica’s side were hampered by the loss of Trent Buhagiar to a groin injury in the warm up and he was replaced by Bobô who opened the scoring in the 10th minute, prodding home Acton’s parry from Le Fondre’s header.
Bobô’s header just before half time could have made it two, while Barbarouses and Caceres went close just after the break.
Sky Blues shot stopper Andrew Redmayne was called into action with a couple of fine saves midway through the second half before substitute Wood lit up the play with an electrifying run and shot.
Sydney FC sealed the win with six minutes remaining when Ninkovic left Traore for dead with a subtle turn and fed Barbarouses at the perfect moment for the Kiwi to fire home.
Up next is the Sydney Derby against Western Sydney Wanderers at the SCG on Sunday, with the Sky Blues building momentum towards the end of the season.
What they Said: Steve Corica:
“We look forward to this game every year, we’ve had three this year and won all of them so it’s very pleasing.
“The second goal was a telling time in the game that we were pretty comfortable.
“Ever since Bobô’s come into the side that’s taken a bit of pressure off, and with Adam [Le Fondre] coming in now that’s a different picture. I think it gives us great strike force up top now.
“The depth of the squad is very good leading into the finals so we’re very happy with where we are at the moment.”
On the Sydney Derby:-
“The performances have been really good, I think we’ve dominated both the games we’ve played this year with no result.
“It’s going to be about performing well, but again getting those 3 points is the main thing.”
Sydney FC: 1. Andrew REDMAYNE (GK), 3. Benjamin WARLAND, 4. Alex WILKINSON ©, 8. Paulo RETRE, 9. BOBÔ (33. Patrick WOOD 74’), 11. Kosta BARBAROUSES (18. Luke IVANOVIC 85’), 16. Joel KING, 17. Anthony CACERES, 23. Rhyan GRANT (21. Harry VAN DER SAAG. 85’), 26. Luke BRATTAN (5. Alexander BAUMJOHANN 74’), 99. Adam LE FONDRE (10. Milos NINKOVIC 62’).
Subs: 30. Adam PAVLESIC (GK) 6. Ryan McGOWAN.
Yellow Cards: Brattan 30’.
Red Cards: None
Melbourne Victory: 1. Matthew ACTON (gk), 2. Storm ROUX, 3. Adama TRAORE, 4. Nicholas ANSELL (19. Dylan RYAN 35’), 6. Leigh BROXHAM ©, 7. Callum MCMANAMAN (14. Jay BARNETT 62’), 8. Jacob BUTTERFIELD, 9. Rudy GESTEDE, 11. Gbenga FOLAMI, 17. Elvis KAMSOBA (29. Nishan VELUPILLAY 62’), 19. Dylan RYAN, 22. Jake BRIMMER.
Subs: 20. Maxime CROCOMBE (gk), 13. Birkan KIRDAR, 26. Lleyton BROOKS.
Yellow Cards: Brimmer 45’, Folami 46’, Barnett 93’.
Red Cards: None
Venue: Netstrata Jubilee Stadium
Referee: Alex King
