The A-Leagues action rolled into Allianz Stadium on Friday night, with a double-header between Sydney FC and Wellington Phoenix serving up action and entertainment aplenty.
In the Liberty A-League, 18-year-old Sydney substitute Jynaya Dos Santos scored her very first league goal – and it was a 78th-minute winner, scored with aplomb to earn the Sky Blues three points in a 1-0 win over Wellington.
Then, attention turned to the Isuzu UTE A-League where a late flurry of action saw Sydney down the league-leading Phoenix 3-1 at Allianz Stadium.
Read on for a recap of all of the Friday-night entertainment.
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Sydney FC 1-0 Wellington Phoenix (Liberty A-League)
Sydney FC teenager Jynaya Dos Santos has announced her long-awaited return to Liberty action in style, coming off the bench to score the match-winner in a 1-0 triumph over Wellington Phoenix on Saturday afternoon.
Dos Santos, 18, had made just one league appearance for Sydney FC prior to Saturday’s clash with the ‘Nix – and more than one year on from her Liberty A-League debut, took full advantage of her second taste of league action with a 78th-minute header that sealed all three points for the Sky Blues.
A late chance to Wellington’s Mariana Speckmaier should have earned Wellington a share of the spoils but the Phoenix forward’s header from close range was off target as the Sky Blues clung on to all three points at Allianz Stadium to jump into the top six on the Liberty A-League table.
MATCH CENTRE: Click here for all the highlights from Sydney’s 1-0 win over Wellington
MATCH REPORT: Special scenes in Sydney as teenager’s first league goal nets Sky Blues late victory over Phoenix
Sydney FC 3-1 Wellington Phoenix (Isuzu UTE A-League)
Sydney FC have taken all three points from an enthralling battle with Wellington Phoenix on Saturday night, with a late flurry of goals sealing a 3-1 win to the Sky Blues at Allianz Stadium.
It appeared the spoils would be shared When Kosta Barbarouses cancelled out Rhyan Grant’s early opener to make it 1-1 in the 81st minute – but Wellington’s parity would last just five minutes as Robert Mak restored the lead, before Fabio Gomes slotted home the sealer in second-half stoppage time.
It was the first meeting between Sydney boss Ufuk Talay and his former assistant and new Phoenix head coach Giancarlo Italiano since the former’s off-season departure from Wellington – and it was Talay who took home the bragging rights with a result that leaves Wellington just three points clear at the top of the table, and fires Sydney to within two points of the top six.
MATCH CENTRE: Click here for all the goals and highlights from Sydney’s 3-1 win over Wellington
MATCH REPORT: Sky Blues fend off Phoenix in barnstorming end to gutsy win over league leaders
