Sydney FC swept aside a defensively chaotic Wellington Phoenix winning 4-0 to extend their lead at the top of the Hyundai A-League to 12 points.
At Sydney’s Allianz Stadium, there was to be no milestone fairytale for Phoenix skipper Andrew Durante, who broke the record of most appearances in his 279th A-League game.
STORY OF THE GAME
- GOALS TO SYDNEY FC! 15 mins in and after a bright start from Phoenix, the Sky Blues go 2-0 up! Brosque then Mierzejewski punishing defensive sloppiness to put the hosts firmly in the ascendancy.
- ALMOST 3-0! Rossi’s back pass nearly deceiving Italiano, who back-tracks to retrieve the ball close to the goal-line.
- SKY BLUES CRUISING Their movement, pace, and incisive attacks making this a lop-sided contest.
- HALF-TIME: 2-0 Sydney FC in complete control after 45 minutes. Phoenix with a mistake-ridden half and clearly missing gun strikers Andrija Kaluderovic and Roy Krishna.
- PHOENIX LOOK TO YOUTH Liberato Cacace, 17, subbed on for the injured Matt Ridenton.
- REDMAYNE BLOCK: For once, Phoenix got in behind but the Sydney FC keeper blocking a goal-bound strike after 66 mins.
- BROSQUE BLASTS WIDE The striker smashing a ball across the Phoenix goal
- GOAL FOR SYDNEY FC Ninkovic makes Phoenix pay yet again. 3-0.
- GOAL FOR SYDNEY FC Carney makes it 4-0.
GOALS
Brosque Sydney FC 1-0, 8′
Zullo zips a ball through for Brosque to run onto, but Rossi and Italiano get in each other’s way on the edge of the box and the bearded Sky Blues skipper dribbles past both of them and taps into an empty net.
Adrian Sydney FC 2-0, 14′
Sydney at their slick best with Brosque’s cheeky backheel to Adrian Mierzejewski, who runs into the box and smashes the ball low and hard past Italiano.
Ninkovic Sydney FC 3-0, 73′
Mullen with the defensive lapse letting in Ninkovic and the Serbian maestro holds off the defenders and guides his shot across Italiano.
Carney Sydney FC 4-0, 84′
Ninkovic opening up Phoenix before substitute Aaron Calver assisted Carney to slot home in the box.
