Shayon Harrison scored his maiden Hyundai A-League goal and produced the match-clinching second to spur Melbourne City’s 2-0 defeat of Sydney FC on Sunday evening.
The on-loan Tottenham Hotspur forward caressed a lovely finish past Sydney FC goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne on the hour mark and acrobatically volleyed a shot which took a telling deflection off Paulo Retre late in the second half to seal a vital three points for Warren Joyce’s side.
As a result of the 21-year-old’s exertions, City leapfrog top-six rivals Adelaide United into fifth position and move seven points clear of distant finals hopefuls Newcastle Jets.
Strike partner Jamie Maclaren’s hunt to equal Robbie Slater’s 32-year Australian national league record of scoring in each of his first five games for a new club (as Slater did for National Soccer League outfit Sydney Croatia in 1987) had been a prominent talking point for the standoff in Sydney’s inner-west.
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However, heavy rain throughout the day did neither side any favours in their quest to break the deadlock, which led to an opening half of limited opportunity in front of goal.
Requiring a win to keep Premiership favourites Perth Glory honest at the Hyundai A-League summit, the Sky Blues lifted after the interval where Reza Ghoochannejhad nodded a back-post header wide.
But Steve Corica’s men soon fell behind as Harrison took Kearyn Baccus’ pass in his stride before coolly slotting it past Redmayne.
And the talented Englishman made another telling contribution 10 minutes shy of full time after cleanly striking a volley which ricocheted off Retre on its way to the back of the net.
