Sydney FC’s unbeaten start to the season will extend into Round 20 after they put on a clinic in a 3-1 win over Wellington Phoenix at Allianz Stadium on Thursday night.
Defender Rhyan Grant opened the scoring with a thumping header after just three minutes before turning provider as Bobo finished a majestically worked team goal midway through the opening half.
The Phoenix pulled a goal back before the break courtesy of a neat piece of trickery from Alex Rodriguez but hopes of a comeback were banished when Milos Ninkovic netted ten minutes after the interval.
Josh Brillante came close to scoring another goal of the season contender when he blasted a long range shot that Glen Moss touched onto the post in the first half, while Alex Brosque spurned a one-on-one chance after the break.
The result sees Graham Arnold’s side extend their lead at the top of the table to 12 points ahead of the weekend’s fixtures, while the Phoenix missed a chance to climb back into the top six.
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GOALS
1-0 Sydney FC: Rhyan Grant, 3’
Brosque was played into space down the left flank, with the striker showing a great turn of speed before floating a cross to the back post where Grant was able to head strongly past Moss.
2-0 Sydney FC: Bobo, 22’
Some intricate one-touch passing saw the Sky Blues go the length of the field, with Bobo delivering the ball out wide before heading home the return cross from Grant to register his eighth goal of the season.
2-1 Wellington Phoenix: Alex Rodriguez, 32’
The midfielder showed great awareness to get a flick on a Gui Finkler corner delivery at the front post, with Vukovic unable to react quickly enough to keep the ball from sneaking in.
3-1 Sydney FC: Milos Ninkovic, 54’
Brillante picked out the run of Ninkovic after a Phoenix turnover, with the Serbian threading a shot between the legs of Andrew Durante, past the outstretched Moss and inside the far post.
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