Adam Le Fondre nets hat-trick as Sydney FC responds to heavy loss in style

Sydney FC coach Steve Corica got the response he wanted in Gosford following his side’s embarrassing midweek loss to Melbourne City.

Sydney FC players celebrate one of Adam Le Fondre’s three goals in Gosford. Picture: Mark Evans/Getty Images

An Adam Le Fondre hat-trick has revived Sydney FC’s A-League season.

Smarting after their embarrassing 4-0 midweek loss to Melbourne City, the Sky Blues hit back hard in Gosford on Saturday night with a 5-0 thrashing of the Central Coast Mariners,

Before the match, Sydney had dropped out of the A-League’s top six.

However, the win lifted the Sky Blues to fourth spot ahead of their home clash against fifth-placed Adelaide United on Tuesday night.

Le Fondre gave Sydney the lead in the 28th minute before two more second-half goals from the Englishman sealed the visitors’ win after Anthony Caceres had doubled the Sky Blues’ advantage eight minutes after half-time.

Sydney’s comprehensive victory – which was completed by a stoppage-time goal from Brazilian substitute Bobo – also ended an unbeaten Mariners run that had stretched to seven matches,

The Mariners’ loss left them four points outside the top six and five points behind Sydney.

However, they remain in finals contention, having played three fewer games than the Sky Blues, who have had a host of matches brought forward ahead of their upcoming departure for AFC Champions League group commitments in Vietnam.

The Mariners weren’t without their opportunities at Central Coast Stadium but it was Sydney which was more desperate, which didn’t come as a surprise following the telling loss to competition leaders Melbourne City last Wednesday night.

Sydney FC goalscorers Adan Le Fondre (left) and Anthony Caceres celebrate in Gosford. Picture: Mark Evans/Getty Images

“It was disappointing against City, and it was a great way to respond after that,” Sydney FC Corica said.

“I saw exactly what I needed from these players. Five goals, taking our chances at the right times and we defended really well.”

Corica was also happy for Le Fondre.

“It’s good to see him scoring. It’s good for his confidence (and) good for the team’s confidence,” the Sydney coach said.

Mariners coach Nick Montgomery said there were no excuses for his side’s poor performance.

“We win with humility, we lose with humility,” Montgomery said.

“Fair play to Sydney. They came here and were on it from the first minute and we weren’t.

“We could have scored a couple of goals (but) it wasn’t our night tonight.”

The Sky Blues started with intent in Gosford and had a chance to take the lead inside the first five minutes of the contest.

However, Le Fondre’s angled strike was well saved by Mariners goalkeeper Mark Birighitti.

But Le Fondre could not be denied just before the half-hour mark, scoring his fourth A-League goal of the season to give the visitors the lead.

Sydney’s Socceroos right-back Rhyan Grant was the provider with a dangerous cross that Le Fondre needed a couple attempts to control the ball before guiding it past Birighitti and into the back of the net

The Mariners – whose match-day squad did not include regular skipper Oliver Bozanic – appealed for an offside call against Sydney attacker Trent Buhagiar, but the video assistant referee confirmed that the former Central Coast speedster wasn’t interfering with play.

The hosts were unlucky not to equalise 10 minutes before half-time when Frenchman Beni Nkololo unleashed with a fierce left-footed, long-distance strike that smashed into the crossbar.

The scare didn’t affect the Sydneysiders, who continued to attack and doubled their lead in the 53rd minute.

Scorer turned provider, with a low Le Fondre cross finding another ex-Mariner in Caceres to score.

The game was well and truly over six minutes later, with Le Fondre scoring twice in quick succession to complete his hat-trick. before Bobo’s injury-time goal provided the icing on the cake.

Originally published as Adam Le Fondre nets hat-trick as Sydney FC responds to heavy loss in style