A-League: Tim Cahill injured as Sydney FC beat Melbourne City in top-of-the-table clash
MELBOURNE City’s first blip of the season has seen them relinquish top spot on the ladder to Sydney FC after the champions came to AAMI Park and nicked three points.
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MELBOURNE City’s first blip of the season has seen them relinquish top spot on the ladder to Sydney FC after the champions came to AAMI Park and nicked three points.
City’s loss was compounded by an injury to Tim Cahill, though the bigger ramifications are for Ange Postecoglou’s Socceroos who face Honduras in the first leg World Cup qualifying playoff next Saturday.
Cahill made his first start of the season but lasted just 25 minutes, limping off with strained ankle ligaments after landing awkwardly on Sydney FC defender Jordi Bujis.
It was the biggest talking point of a typically pragmatic top of the table clash, won by the visitors via a Luke Wilkshire second half volley.
Cahill’s withdrawal saw Polish marquee player Marcin Budzinski come on and it helped pin back a Sydney FC side that had started the game on top.
Sydney looked most dangerous with their impressive, sharp combination play that stems from the continuity from last season and the class of the likes of Milos Ninkovic and captain Alex Brosque.
City threatened however and Nick Fitzgerald, City’s most improved player this season, started the game in ominous fashion.
Cutting in from the left he dinked a nice ball to the back post but desperate Sydney FC defending cleared it before Ross McCormack could get his head on it.
With half time approaching, Fitzgerald then cut inside and lost his marker before unleashing a fierce low shot that was tipped narrowly past the post by former City keeper Andrew Redmayne.
It was a game of Mexican standoff throughout with pragmatism and solidity reigning supreme. Until the visitors used the vast expanses of the flanks to penetrate.
Michael Zullo, another former City player, received the ball on the left and whipped in a deep cross for fellow fullback Luke Wilskhire.
The former Socceroo had ghosted in unmarked and volleyed it in off the ground and over the head of keeper Eugene Galekovic – conceding just his second goal of the season – and Iacopo La Rocca.
It was then Fitzgerald’s turn, receiving a pass from Luke Brattan and jinxing free before crossing for McCormack, who used his predatory instincts to peel off but perhaps lacking that razor sharpness to reach it in time, as the ball flew just past his boot.
City coach Warren Joyce then went for it, making a double sub as best and fairest Neil Kilkenny was thrown on for his first minutes of the season along with Marcelo Carrusca.
Manny Muscat was sacrificed as Fitzgerald moved to an unfamiliar right-back role. They got into dangerous positions in the attacking third, but the final ball was badly lacking.
Originally published as A-League: Tim Cahill injured as Sydney FC beat Melbourne City in top-of-the-table clash