Sydney FC has got its National Youth League season on track thanks to an impressive 3-0 win over Melbourne Victory at John Cain Memorial Park.
The Sky Blues went into the Week 16 clash as outsiders by virtue of their ladder position and being away from home, but played nothing like it in a success which moves them to within one point of the fourth-placed Victory.
Having gone to halftime at 0-0, Sydney FC wasted no time breaking the deadlock in the second stanza through Kofi Danning-s 47th minute goal.
And the visitors sealed the three points just seven minutes later when a horrible defensive mix-up allowed midfielder Joel Chianese to make it 2-0.
Industrious forward Blake Powell put the icing on the cake for the Sydneysiders thanks to a well-taken finish from Luke Austin’s cross five minutes from time.
There was little doubt Sydney deserved the three points, with Victory looking flat throughout and rarely threatened to score.
Danning, who has made 10 A-League appearances this season, proved an influential figure during his hour-long cameo.
In addition to his goal, Danning formed a potent combination with the hard-working Powell, the pair posing a constant threat to the Victory defence.
The impact of Sydney FC coach Steve Corica’s philosophy of attractive passing football was on clear display as the Sky Blues retained possession on a hot day where you wanted to hang onto the ball, rather than chase it.
Certainly the Victory did more of the chasing and apart from a couple of half chances, never genuinely tested Sydney FC keeper Dylan Mitchell.
Victory custodian Sebastian Mattei was by far the busier of the keepers and couldn’t be held responsible for either goal, while pulling off a number of quality saves to deny Sydney making the margin greater.
Mattei and polished right-back Matthew Foschini were the two clear standout performers for Victory, while Sydney was best served by Powell, Danning, skipper Nathan Sherlock and midfield general Jared Lum.
Sherlock, an elegant central defender, won an entertaining battle against Victory’s over-age player Geoff Kellaway.
The Englishman wasn’t helped by poor service, but nonetheless Sherlock took the points, while Lum looks a holding midfielder with a future, showing poise under pressure, and an ability to play quality short and long balls.
Next for Victory is a trip across the Nullarbor to play Perth Glory, with Sydney FC playing host to Newcastle Jets at the Sydney Football Stadium.
SYDNEY FC 3 (Kofi Danning 47, Joel Chianese 54, Blake Powell 85) d MELBOURNE VICTORY 0 at John Cain Memorial Park.
