Sydney FC has continued its perfect start to the National Youth League title defence with a 2-0 win over Brisbane Roar in Brisbane this afternoon.
Kerem Bulut bagged a double to make it three from three for the Sky Blues, allowing them to consolidate their place at the top of the table.
In hot and windy conditions the visitors had most of the attacking play in the opening stages but the Roar quickly fought their way back into a close first half which yielded few real chances.
The Sky Blues should have taken the lead in the 28th minute when Albert Edward brought down Bulut inside the area for a penalty.
Bulut stepped up to take the kick but put it just over the top left corner.
Brisbane had a chance to take the lead in the 40th minute when Adam Sarota flicked the ball over the defence for Josh McVey.
The Roar attacker waited for the ball to sit up before sending a volley inches past the near post.
A minute later, however, Sydney had the lead after Akil received raced down the right wing and squared to Bulut at the back post for a tap-in.
Just before the break Sydney had another chance, Iain Ramsay playing in Petratos for a first-time shot which Matt Acton got down quickly to hold.
Five minutes into the second period Sydney doubled their lead through a great individual goal from Bulut.
The pacy forward took the ball from a throw in on the corner of the penalty area and beat two defenders before powering the ball past Acton.
In the 57th minute a superb long pass from Sarota found McVey, who controlled the ball with his chest before sending it flashing past the far post.
McVey came closest to halving the deficit midway through the second half when he latched onto a through ball and chipped the ball over the Sydney ‘keeper only for it to go agonizingly past the post.
Match details:
Brisbane Roar 0
Sydney FC 2 (Karem Bulut 41-, 50-)
Brisbane Roar: 1. Matt Acton (gk), 4. Michael Ryan, 5. Daniel Bowles (c), 6. Calum O-Connell (2. Matthew Byrne 46-), 7. Luke Brattan (3. Timothy Dunn 46-), 8. Jordan Farina, 11. Josh McVey, 12. Kenneth Dougall, 13. Adam Sarota (9. Tyler Thurtell 59-), 14. Albert Edward, 15. Antony Schiavo.
Substutites not used: 20. Luke Muir (gk).
Yellow cards: nil.
Red cards: nil.
Sydney FC: 1. Nenad Vekic (gk), 2. Steven Tibbets (c), 3. Mitchell Speer, 7. Dimitrios Petratos, 8. Hussein Akil (15. Raymond Miller 61-), 9. Kerem Bulut, 10. Zachary Cairncross (6. David Vrankovic 46-), 11. Iain Ramsay (4. Michael Stuart 58-), 13. Joel Chianese, 14. Tim McGowan, 17. Luke Austin.
Unused Substitutes: 20. Mark Pullman (gk).
Yellow cards: Nenad Vekic 54-, Kerem Bulut 56-, David Vrankovic 75-.
Red cards: nil.
Referee: Jared Gillet.
