Sydney FC NYL delivered an early Christmas present for Head Coach Rob Stanton as they accounted for cross town rivals Western Sydney Wanderers 4-2 in tough conditions at Popondetta Park, Emerton on Sunday.
With the temperature nudging 40 degrees Celsius the start was delayed by one hour but it did little to assist the players as it was actually hotter at that time than the originally scheduled 4.00pm kick off.
It was Sydney that adapted best early in match as Alex Mullen scored the opener in the 17th minute following good pressure by Sydney FC in the middle of the park.
Winning the ball Daniel Araujo found Mullen 25 metres from goal and spotting the keeper off his line he calmly chipped the ball into the net for a one nil lead.
Sydney controlled possession and the play, shifting the opposition from side to side looking for the space between the lines with Chris Zuvela, Yianni Spyrakis and Araujo causing problems for the Wanderers, while Max Burgess, Robert Stambolziev and Mullen kept their defenders on the hop with penetrating runs.
On the stroke of half time Sydney FC took a deserved 2-0 lead albeit by an own goal when a curling corner kick by Robert Stambolziev was deflected into the Wanderers net by midfielder Joshua Gaspari.
The second half started brightly for the Sky Blues when Captain Yianni Spyrakis was threaded through by Araujo in the 48th minute to slot home and stretch the lead to 3-0.
Sydney looked untroubled and cruising to a comfortable victory before a five minute spell saw former Sydney FC youth player Joshua Macdonald grab a brace to bring Western Sydney Wanderers right back into the match at 3-2 with more than 30 minutes to play.
The Sky Blues steadied the ship and regained the upper hand with substitute Charles Lokolingoy holding the ball up front and bringing his midfield into play with clever lay offs and forward runs.
It was Lokolingoy that spread the ball out wide to Max Burgess who then skinned his marker as he cut into the penalty area and chipped to the far post for Rob Stambolziev to rise above the defence and head home into the top corner to seal the points at 4-2.
Sydney FC now move back to the top of the Conference B ladder on 12 points after five matches, with Newcastle Jets on 10 points, Central Coast Mariners on 9 points, Western Sydney Wanderers 7 points and FFA Centre of Excellence on 3 points.
The Foxtel National Youth League takes a break over the festive period with the next game taking place against Central Coast Mariners on Sunday 3 January, 2016 at Lambert Park, Leichhardt (kick off 5pm).
Sydney FC 4 (Alex Mullen 17′; OG 46′; Yianni Spryrakis 48′; Robert Stambolziev 85′) defeated Western Sydney Wanderers 2 (Macdonald 53′ & 57′)
Sydney FC: Anthony Bouzanis; Nicola Kuleski; Zachary Anderson; Liam McGing (Bai Antoniou 89′); Ali Abbas; Yianni Spyrakis; Chris Zuvela (Charles Lokolingoy 55′); Daniel Araujo; Max Burgess; Alex Mullen (Brendan Curtis 82′); Robert Stambolziev
Sub Not Used: Nick Sorras (GK)
