A 10-man Sydney FC collected three much-needed points with a hard-fought 2-1 win over high-flying AIS in their National Youth League fixture at Campbelltown Stadium.
The Sky Blues overcame the first-half dismissal of Brendan Gan to see off the Canberra-based team who went into the match sitting second on the ladder.
The Sydneysiders were missing a number of key personnel including Kofi Danning and central defensive duo Antony Golec and Matthew Jurman who had been called into the senior squad. Rhyan Grant started the match and provided a hard-working presence in the centre of the park.
Despite the late afternoon kick-off the match was played in warm conditions with the players granted a much-needed drinks break in each half.
Goalscoring chances were at a premium in the first half although Sydney were seemingly set to open the scoring in the early stages only for a goalmouth scramble to conclude with the ball being hacked to safety.
The visitors took a numerical supremacy on 38 minutes with Gan sent from the field for what was deemed a dangerous challenge.
Sydney were not deterred by the setback and opened the scoring just two minutes later following a stunning run and finish from midfield mainstay Joel Chianese.
However the Sky Blues suffered a sucker-punch as Jake Barker-Daish completed impressive work on the right before squaring to Jesse Makarounas who equalised from close range with virtually the last kick of the half.
A high-tempo second half saw openings at either end but substitute Tomislav Cirjak proved the hero by curling home a spectacular long-range winner on 79 minutes.
Jared Lum could have extended the advantage in the latter stages with a couple of impressive free-kicks that were scrambled to safety by the AIS goalkeeper.
The win lifts Sydney FC off the bottom of the table and within five points off the second-placed AIS.
