A-League: Sydney FC beat Melbourne City 3-1

EVEN on an off night, Sydney FC find a way to win, and their lead at the top keeps growing

Sydney FC players celebrate with Adrian Mierzejewski after he scored a free-kick against Melbourne City.

EVEN on an off night, Sydney FC find a way to win, and their lead at the top keeps growing.

Goals from Adrian Mierzejewski, Bobo and Alex Brosque were enough to see off Melbourne City by 3-1 at Allianz Stadium despite a lethargic and disjointed performance from the Sky Blues.

A goal behind thanks to the VAR’s intervention, Sydney turned the game on its head just before halftime and eventually were able to see out a ninth win of the season.

This was a game marked by key moments, the vital points when Sydney were able to wrest control of their destiny, and face down City. On a wet and gloomy Friday evening the home side were a long, long way from their best, but truly elite performers find a way even then.

REMINDER: Sydney FC’s letter to FFA

To give City their due, much of Sydney’s struggle was down to the visitors’ excellent shape. Working to a definitive plan, they swamped Sydney at source and shackled the playmaker Adrian Mierzejewski, at least in open play. In many ways they had some of the game’s best chances but efficiency in front of goal was the delineator between the teams.

Sydney FC captain Alex Brosque celebrates scoring in the final minute against Melbourne City.

Twice the much-maligned video assistant referee intervened to change the course of the game, first to grant City the opening goal and then to punish City defender Manny Muscat for an elbow.

The first came on 36 minutes when Nick Fitzgerald found space on the left and cut the ball back for Luke Brattan to strike a venomous shot that struck the bar, bounced down and out. Almost two minutes later the VAR ruled the ball had crossed the line, and City were awarded the lead.

Had Stefan Mauk also been as accurate, City would have been two ahead, instead scuffing a shot wide from Scott Jamieson’s low cross. Even better was a chance for Ross McCormack, completely clear on goal but seeing his shot saved by the reflexes of Andrew Redmayne. When the game swung dramatically in two minutes before half time, the cost of those misses was highlighted.

Sydney FC players celebrate with Adrian Mierzejewski after he scored a free-kick against Melbourne City.

First Sydney equalised, thanks to Mierzejewski’s sublime ability with a deadball. The Pole himself won a freekick just outside the City box, and curled it with minimum fuss into the top corner.

Seconds later Bart Schekeveld’s rugby hold on Jordy Buijs in the box, as the pair challenged for a cross, was spotted and Bobo confidently slotted home the penalty.

Out of nothing the Sky Blues were ahead. The lead was scarcely deserved, and they were equally casual for much of the second half. But on 70 minutes the rashness that has marked Manny Muscat’s career took hold again — tussling with Michael Zullo, Muscat threw out an elbow into Zullo’s face. Once the VAR spotted it, the red card was a formality.

Bobo was denied by Dean Bouzanis late on, but in the 96th minute Brosque lashed a volley home from just inside the box to confirm the win.

SYDNEY FC 3 (Adrian Mierzejewski 45m, Bobo 45+3m pen, Alex Brosque 90+7m) bt MELBOURNE CITY 1 (Luke Brattan 38m) at Allianz Stadium. Crowd: 10,688. Referee: Shaun Evans