Two goals from Kofi Danning has lifted Sydney FC to a 2-1 win over Melbourne Victory in their National Youth League clash at Bob Jane Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Steve Pantelidis headed in the first goal for Melbourne after 24 minutes only to lose the lead when Danning fired in after 67 minutes and again on 84 minutes.
Victory began brightly and some terrific interplay between Matthew Foschini and Aziz Behich excited the home support only for Behich’s roll across goal to be comfortably taken by the Sydney keeper.
Steven Pace was leading the Victory defence stoutly and was called into action on six minutes to deal with a dangerous Sydney free kick. Mitchell Langerak was also convincing down back with a strong save from Robbie Mileski after 17 minutes.
Some persistent work on the left by Mathew Theodore resulted in a wicked deflection that almost gifted Victory a deserved first goal.
But the home team didn’t have to wait long as the resulting corner was curled in beautifully by Behich and Pantelidis rose well to head in on 24 minutes.
Langerak again denied Sydney soon after the re-start following a yellow card for Fabio Di Lizia.
Sydney FC pushed for an equaliser just before half-time and Behich was called into action to clear off the line after a goal mouth scramble.
Pantelidis also picked up a yellow card on the stroke of half-time.
Dimitri Hatzimouratis and Theodore combined well on 56 minutes to earn a corner for the home side.
Foschini flicked the ball across the goal mouth from the resulting dead ball only to see it cleared by the Sydney defence.
Danning then scored a surprise equaliser for Sydney after 67 minutes with an excellent finish from distance to beat a diving Langerak.
Langerak responded well and in the 74th minute charged out to meet a high ball to clear convincingly for the Victory.
Sydney was on top with possession as the second half went on and Danning was again put through into space in the 84th minute.
A timely tackle by Cameron Drake went unrewarded with the ball ricocheting off Danning and looping over Langerak and into the Victory net.
Match Details
Melbourne Victory 1 (Steve Pantelidis 22-)
Sydney FC 2 (Kofi Danning 69-/85-)
Bob Jane Stadium, Melbourne
Sunday 26 October 2008
Referee: Kevin Docherty
Melbourne Victory line-up: 1.Mitchell LANGERAK (gk), 3.Daniel VASILEVSKI (OA) (2.Robbie WYNNE 46-), 4.Matthew FOSCHINI (13.Damir LOKVANCIC 62-), 5.Fabio DI LIZIA (4.Matthew FOSCHINI 75-), 6.Cameron DRAKE, 7.Aziz BEHICH, 9.Mathew THEODORE (8.Stephen HATZIKOSTAS 62-), 10.Leigh BROXHAM, 11.Dimitri HATZIMOURATIS, 12.Steve PANTELIDIS (OA), 14.Steven PACE (OA)
Substitutes not used: 20.Mijo MARINOVIC (gk)
Yellow cards: Dimitri Hatzimouratis 24-, Fabio Di Lizia 31-, Steve Pantelidis 46-
Red Cards: Nil
Sydney FC line-up: 20.Vedran JANJETOVIC (gk), 2.Rhyan GRANT, 3.Adam BIDDLE, 4.Chris TRIANTIS, 5.Bobby PETTA (11.Kofi DANNING 61-), 6.Chris PAYNE, 7.Robbie MILESKI (13.Kearyn BACCUS 61-), 8.Shannon COLE (16.Mark WARREN 61-), 10.Zach CAIRNCROSS, 12.Ibrahim HAYDAR, 14.Brendan GAN
Substitutes not used: Nil
Yellow cards: Robbie Mileski 51, Ibrahim Haydar 89-, Kearyn Baccus 92-
Red Cards: Nil
