Sydney FC put four second-half goals past Kaya FC to cruise through to the AFC Asian Champions League group stage with a 5-0 win at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium on Tuesday night.
Trent Buhagiar opened the scoring in the first half before both Bobô and Le Fondre notched two goals apiece in the second stanza.
Sydney now progress to Group H of the tournament, where a clash with Kevin Muscat’s Yokohama F. Marinos awaits.
KEEPUP followed along LIVE to bring you all the goals, highlights, up to date scores and biggest talking points as Sydney FC beat Kaya FC 5-0 at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium on Tuesday night.
MATCH REPORT: Sky Blues progress to AFC Champions League group stage
Kevin Muscat’s Yokohama F. Marinos on the agenda for Sky Blues in Ho Chi Minh hub for ACL group stage
Sydney’s routine win over Kaya FC on Tuesday night means progression to Group H in the Champions League group stage, where a meeting with former Melbourne Victory captain and head coach Kevin Muscat awaits.
Muscat is head coach of Yokohama F. Marinos, one of three teams preparing to face the Sky Blues in Group H. Hoang Anh Gia Lai of Vietnam and Korea Republic outfit Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors round out the four teams in the group.
It’s been a bright start to life in the J1 League for Muscat’s side, who sit atop of the Japanese top flight with three wins, one draw and one loss coming from their opening five games of the campaign.
Hoang Anh Gia Lai will play host to all of the Group H fixtures in Ho Chi Minh City, taking place between April 16 and May 1.
Big Sky Blues win ‘just what the doctor ordered’ as winless streak ends
On a run of five consecutive Isuzu UTE A-League games without a win, Sydney FC may have found the tonic for their sliding form with a comfortable display against Kaya FC on Tuesday night.
The team from the Philippines caved in the early knockings of the second half, allowing the home side to pile on the goals – but a strong end to the game saw Kaya FC carve out opportunities to deprive Sydney of a clean sheet.
But the real upside of a win in the rain was the return to goalscoring form for the struggling side.
“Five goals just what the doctor ordered for a Sydney side who have been misfiring of late,” said Network 10 commentator Robbie Thompson after the game – and the goals came to those in Sky Blue who needed them most.
Le Fondre is without a goal in the Isuzu UTE A-League in six games; bagging two against Kaya FC was ultimately a disappointing haul for the second-half substitute who could have sealed his hat-trick with a chance at the death.
Two goals to Bobô come after the Brazilian went goalless in three consecutive losses in the league, whilst Buhagiar scored for the first time since December, 2021 in all competitions.
All in all, a steady performance from Steve Corica’s side – and the Sky Blues boss will hope his goalscoring forwards translate their Champions League hauls into domestic form.
RE-LIVE: Sydney FC v Kaya FC, as it happened
FULL-TIME: SYDNEY FC 5-0 KAYA FC
Sydney FC put four second-half goals past Kaya FC to cruise through to the AFC Asian Champions League group stage.
Trent Buhagiar opened the scoring in the first half before both Bobô and Le Fondre notched two goals apiece in the second stanza.
Sydney now progress to Group H of the tournament, where a clash with Kevin Muscat’s Yokohama F. Marinos awaits.
81′ – GOAL! Le Fondre makes it 5-0 (9.08pm AEDT)
Patrick Wood showed quick thinking to whip a first-time through pass into the path of Le Fondre darting through the defence of Kaya FC and in on goal; his first touch was sublime, setting up the simplest of finishes to make it 5-0 in the pouring rain.
71′ – GOAL! ‘Alfie’ off the bench and onto the scoresheet (8.59pm AEDT)
Mustafa Amini’s whipped corner was perfectly placed for Adam Le Fondre to attack, and the Englishman did so with precision to put the Sky Blues four goals ahead.
Le Fondre had only come on for Bobô two minutes prior and wasted no time getting on the scoresheet.
55′ – Chance for Bobô’s hat-trick goes begging (8.42pm AEDT)
A neat lofted pass off the outside of Buhagiar’s right foot found its way to Bobô in the box, and his strike was pure – but the left-footed attempt lashed the side of the post from close range.
50′ – GOAL! Bobô at the double from the spot (8.36pm AEDT)
Two goals in a matter of minutes for the Brazilian after Rhyan Grant won the hosts a penalty, clipped by Fitch Arboleda whilst driving into the box.
Banson dived the right way but couldn’t get a glove on Bobô’s strike which nestled into the bottom-right corner of goal. The Sky Blues are now cruising with a 3-0 advantage.
47′ – GOAL! Bobô doubles the lead (8.34pm AEDT)
Right place, right time for Bobô who makes it 2-0 just minutes after the restart for the second half.
It was a collectively scrappy piece of defensive play from the visitors, failing to clear a cross from the right wing which allowed Burgess to dispatch a shot on goal.
Banson made the save but similarly to the first goal spilled it directly into the path of a Sky Blues forward. This time it was Bobô on hand to tuck the ball home.
HALF-TIME: SYDNEY FC 1-0 KAYA FC
Buhagiar’s 30th-minute strike is all that separates these two sides at the break.
The Sky Blues have had the better of the chances but have only managed to put on into the back of the net in testing conditions.
30′ – Buhagiar strikes Sydney ahead (8.00pm AEDT)
Buhagiar has calmly tucked home a saved Kosta Barbarouses strike to put Sydney into the lead in swirling wind and rain at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium.
Barbarouses’ initial shot on the volley from a tight angle was saved by Kaya keeper Zach Banson but Buhagiar was on hand to tuck home the rebound, sliding his shot in between two defenders to hit the back of the net.
6′ – Buhagiar off the bar (7.36pm AEDT)
Buhagiar has gone the closest of any player inside six minutes, striking the crossbar on the turn after collecting a cut-back cross from Max Burgess off the right flank.
Kaya FC keeper Zach Banzon parried Barbarouses’ initial strike from a tight angle away from goal but the ball fell fortuitously to Buhagiar who slotted his shot through two defenders into the back of the net.
4′ – Sky Blues setting the tone (7.34pm AEDT)
Early opportunities to Trent Buhagiar and Kosta Barbarouses showed Sydney FC’s early intent, but Daizo Horikoshi’s attempt from a slight angle down the other end was a warning the hosts should heed as this game progresses.
1′ – KICK-OFF: Underway at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium (7.30pm AEDT)
Will the Sky Blues’ winless run end tonight? Kaya FC will hope to extend the streak to six games in their first competitive match of the season. The visitors kick off the action.
Corica in the hot seat after recent run of form?
Five games without a win in the Isuzu UTE A-League, Steve Corica and the Sky Blues must target a morale-boosting victory at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium tonight.
TEAM NEWS
Sydney FC are without the injured Elvis Kamsoba after the lively forward picked up a knock in his side’s Sydney Derby defeat on the weekend.
With a maximum of three foreigners allowed to face Kaya FC, Sydney head coach Steve Corica elected to omit Miloš Ninković and Luciano Narsingh from his 21-player squad.
Game on ‘subject to deluge between now and kick-off’
Torrential rain and floods have hit New South Wales in the build-up to this fixture, but an hour before kick-off, the verdict form the ground is: game on.
AFC referees arrived at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium 5.30pm AEDT to inspect the pitch, and an hour before kick-off Sydney FC CEO Danny Townsend stated the game was to go ahead “subject to deluge between now and kick-off”:
