Sydney FC has moved to the top of the Hyundai A-League table after surviving a late scare to see off a gallant but outclassed Brisbane 2-1 at the SFS on Sunday.
Alex Brosque struck in the 55th minute and Slovakian international Karol Kisel doubled the advantage after 69 minutes – his first goal for the club – before the never-say-die Roar revived the contest with a goal to replacement Isaka Cernak in the 72nd minute.
Thanks to Wellington’s stunning 6-0 win over Gold Coast earlier in the day, Sydney now sits alone at the head of the ladder after 12 rounds.
But the victory over the Roar, who have never won at the SFS but had also gone eight games undefeated against the Sky Blues, was never comfortable.
After Brosque’s second goal of the season was followed up Kisel’s drought-breaker, it appeared embattled Brisbane would collapse completely in their first match under new coach Ange Postecoglou.
But Cernak’s goal delivered some new-found belief and in the end the Sky Blues were relieved to hear the final whistle.
Former Sydney favourite Dwight Yorke was introduced to the crowd prior to kick-off but the opening certainly didn’t deliver the value for which the popular striker was famous.
Sydney was content to knock the ball around without venturing too far forward, inviting a nervous Brisbane to slowly work itself into the game and enjoy the best of the early chances.
Reinaldo should have done better when given the chance to free Mitch Nichols on his outside, over-hitting his pass to allow Sydney goalkeeper Clint Bolton an easy tidy up.
Sydney’s first genuine opportunity arrived on 18 minutes, Steve Corica cutting back an inch-prefect pass only for Mark Bridge to rush his shot and push it wide.
It started a good passage of play for the hosts, Brosque and Sung-Hwan Byun both coming close, the Korean’s long-range effort producing a tip over from keeper Griffin McMaster.
The Roar also continued to press forward, youngsters Nichols and the impressive Tommy Oar causing all sorts of problems with their pace and verve on the ball.
It was Oar’s deft back-post cross that found Nichols after 21 minutes, the header causing Bolton to stretch to keep out the on-target effort.
Minutes later Oar was allowed to cruise through the heart of the Sydney defence before Simon Colosimo made a move to stop him, the ensuing shot just fading to the right of Bolton’s goal.
A first half that started on slow burn was now going end-to-end.
Bridge, drifting in and out of the game, saw his speculative drive just before the break kiss the side netting.
The fast-paced tempo showed no sign of slowing early in the second half, both teams prepared to advance in search of the first goal.
The breakthrough came 10 minutes in, Bridge finding Corica with a lofted pass which the veteran nodded down to Brosque’s feet.
The slimline striker shrugged off Josh McCloughan’s challenge and slotted his shot inside the far post for the first of three goals inside a frenetic 17-minute period.
Kisel placed his shot perfectly after being set free by Brosque’s pass in the 69th minute before Cernak’s sublime reply three minutes later.
Cernak’s volleyed flick from Oar’s cross gave Bolton no chance – and provided Postecoglou’s team an unexpected lifeline.
But despite fashioning a number of late chances – Sebastian Ryall clearing off the line in the final seconds just as Nichols was about to pounce – the equaliser proved evasive as the men in orange slumped to their fourth straight defeat.
Sydney FC 2
(Brosque 55m, Kisel 69m)
Brisbane 1
(Cernak 72m)
