A Milos Ninkovic masterclass and a horror defensive error from a substitute have lifted Sydney FC to a 3-0 A-League Men victory over Western United at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium.
REACTION: A ‘worrying trend’ – The key scenario in which Western United struggle
Ninkovic produced a stunning volley in the 23rd minute to kick off proceedings on Saturday night, and he turned provider early in the second half to set up Dutchman Luciano Narsingh for his maiden ALM goal.
Things went from bad to worse for Western United in the 68th minute when substitute Jerry Skotadis, who had just entered the field of play, stumbled as he attempted to trap a defensive pass on the edge of the box.
Sydney midfielder Mustafa Amini swooped to steal the ball and power home the sealer.
The result lifted Sydney to within one point of the top four, while the end of Western United’s nine-match unbeaten run means they missed the chance to retake top spot on the ladder.
“He’s class Ninko. He’s getting a little bit older, but the finish was sensational,” Sydney coach Steve Corica said.
“Luciano’s goal – it was a smart finish. He’s still not match fit at the moment. He’s getting stronger each game.
“Tonight he showed his class in front of goal with his finish.”
Sydney defender James Donachie could only watch on in horror in the second minute when his fluffed clearance attempt was pounced upon by Aleksandar Prijovic, who calmly chipped the ball into the back of the net.
The goal was disallowed for offside – to the dismay of Western coach John Aloisi.
“I’m not sure if the linesman should have flagged, it should have gone straight to VAR,” Aloisi said.
“Second of all, the rule is if the defender plays at the ball and gets a touch, which the defender did, then it’s play on.
“Either way it wasn’t offside in my opinion, unless they changed the rule again and didn’t tell me.”
The close call seemed to spark Sydney into action, with the home side controlling play for long periods of the first half.
Their dominance paid dividends in the 23rd minute when a falling Ninkovic produced a spectacular volley to power home Rhyan Grant’s lobbed cross.
“Rhyan Grant pushed Connor Pain clearly in the back, and it should have been a foul,” Aloisi said of the lead-up to Sydney’s first goal.
“That’s why I got a yellow card because I kept on mentioning it and they didn’t like that I mentioned something.”
Ninkovic turned provider in the 58th minute when his perfectly-weighted pass into the box unleashed Narsingh, who kept his cool by calmly chipping the ball over the advancing keeper.
It was game over when Skotadis coughed up the ball with his first touch upon entering the field of play.
He stumbled after trying to trap a short pass from goalkeeper Jamie Young, and Amini showed no mercy by thundering the ball into the back of the net for his first ALM goal since 2011.
RELIVE: SYDNEY 3-0 WESTERN, AS IT HAPPENED
By Matt Comito for KEEPUP.
FULL-TIME: SYDNEY 3-0 WESTERN
Debut Isuzu UTE A-League goals in Sky Blue for Narsingh and Amini set up a cruising 3-0 win over Western United on Saturday night.
68′: GOAL! Amini makes it three for Sky Blues (3-0)
For the first time since December 2011, Mustafa Amini is on an Isuzu UTE A-League scoresheet.
It was a mistake by Western substitute Jerry Skotadis which made it possible, with Amini nicking possession inside his attacking box and firing his shot past Young to make it 3-0 in favour of the Sky Blues.
59′: GOAL! Narsingh with maiden Sydney strike (2-0)
Luciano Narsingh has put the hosts two goals to the good, with his maiden Isuzu UTE A-League strike in Sky Blue.
His link-up with Ninković was superb, before a dinked finish past Jamie Young which showed all the class of the former Dutch international.
51′: SAVE! Redmayne keeps Sydney’s lead intact (1-0)
That was a clutch stop from the Socceroos gloveman, who leapt backward to tip Prijović’s attempt over the bar, forcing a corner instead of conceding the leveller.
HALF-TIME: SYDNEY 1-0 WESTERN
The Ninković goal is all that separates these two sides at the break, as the Sky Blues take a 1-0 lead into the sheds.
But Western will feel unlucky not to have a goal of their own on the board, scored by Prijović within two minutes but ruled out for a marginal offside call.
23′: GOAL! Touch of class from Ninković
Rhyan Grant supplied the assist: a cut-back cross toward the edge of the penalty area for Ninković to attack.
Falling to the ground, the Serbian lashed a first-time volley on goal – and buried his brilliant effort into the back of the net.
No clean sheet for the resolute Western tonight – Sydney lead 1-0.
2′: Early scare for Sydney
A gift to Aleksandar Prijovic from James Donachie resulted in an early goal to the Western striker – but the offside flag spared Donachie’s blushes – who fluffed his attempt to clear allowing Prijovic in to tuck the ball home.
Tension rose as the two teams waited for VAR to finish its inquiry – the offside call stood, and the game continues with the teams locked at 0-0.
1′: KICK-OFF
Western United will look to continue their tilt for the Premiers Plate on the road to a resurgent Sydney FC. The ball gets rolling at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium.
