A Robbie Fowler moment of magic has helped North Queensland Fury to their first ever Hyundai A-League victory with a 1-0 win over Sydney FC at the SFS on Saturday night.
After Fury keeper Paul Henderson had saved a first-half penalty from John Aloisi, Fowler scored one of the goals of the season to give North Queensland the lead early in the second half.
Despite a desperate Sydney in the final stages, Fury held on for an historic victory.
In front of 16,699 fans, which included a good number in Liverpool shirts in honour of Fowler, it was all North Queensland early with a flurry of throws down the left for long-throw specialist Shane Stefanutto to exploit.
Rostyn Griffiths’ curling shot from the edge of the box was another warning shot for Sydney as the visitor dominated the opening 20 minutes on a beautiful night for football in Sydney.
But against the run of play, the home side had the chance to go one up on 24 minutes.
A well-worked free-kick on the edge of the box saw Sung-Hwan Byun release Alex Brosque and as he ran onto the ball, the referee adjudged Henderson had made contact after the striker was left sprawling on the deck.
Up stepped John Aloisi but the North Queensland keeper pulled off a super-stop to his left.
The Fury should’ve made Sydney pay minutes later after the skilful James Robinson worked hard to win possession, release Griffiths but the former Blackburn Rover’s low shot whistled just past Clint Bolton’s left hand post.
North Queensland continued to threaten with Ufuk Talay’s teasing free-kick on the edge of the box deflected over the bar.
And the Fury had the ball in the net but Robinson’s deflected goal was ruled offside as the visitor went into the break feeling it had the better of the opening 45 minutes.
Sydney upped the tempo in the second half but was left stunned on 53 minutes when Fowler latched onto a through ball and from 25 metres out smashed a brilliant looping shot past Bolton.
This moment of magic, Fowler’s fourth goal of the season, ignited the Fury and they should’ve been 2-0 up minutes later.
Talay’s vision picked out McBreen in an attacking position wide left and his early ball into Fowler was poked just wide of the post by the former Liverpool hero.
After 65 minutes Sydney FC brought on starlet Kofi Danning for Aloisi to help drag the momentum back but it was the Fury still creating chances.
Talay wriggled free inside the Sydney box and his low shot from an acute angle was palmed out for a corner as the game moved into its final 20 minutes.
Danning wide right was beginning to influence proceedings as the Sky Blues threw everything they had at the Fury.
Rhyan Grant created an opening with a tricky piece of skill and cross and Byun’s curling cross was dangerous but without reward.
Fowler was subbed off to a standing ovation on 83 minutes as the Fury brought on David Williams.
The visitor held its nerve to record a win much to the delight of the traveling fans.
Sydney FC 0
North Queensland Fury 1 (Fowler 53)
Crowd: 16,699 @ Sydney Football Stadium
