Sydney FC import Siem De Jong back with a bang against Roar

Dutch import Siem De Jong came off the bench to inspire Sydney FC to a 3-1 win over Brisbane.

Aaron Calver, centre, is congratulated by Sydney FC teammates after scoring in the first minute against Brisbane Roar. Picture: AAP

Dutch import Siem De Jong came off the bench to inspire Sydney FC to a 3-1 win over Brisbane.

Out of action since January with a knee injury, De Jong played a role in Sydney’s second goal scored by Adam le Fondre before sealing the win at Suncorp Stadium with a clever finish.

The 30-year-old picked up a pass from fellow second-half substitute Reza Ghoochannejhad to deceive Roar goalkeeper Jamie Young with a no-look finish from an acute angle in the 89th minute.

It was De Jong’s fourth goal of an injury-interrupted campaign with the Sky Blues.

The victory, which puts Sydney FC four points clear in second place on the ladder, came after the Roar had fought back to cancel out Aaron Calver’s first-minute opener. Calver nodded Sydney ahead with just 40 seconds on the clock when he was left completely unmarked by the Roar defence on the six-yard line from a Brandon O’Neill free-kick.

The Sydney defender’s strike after 40 seconds is just the third goal inside a minute in Sky Blues’ history after Shannon (26 seconds) against Melbourne Victory in 2008-09 and Dimitri Petratos (36 seconds) in 2011-12 against the Roar.

After a largely uneventful remainder of the first half, Brisbane levelled in the 68th minute after an attacking double change by interim head coach Darren Davies.

The Welshman brought on Olyroos hero Nick D’Agostino and Brazilian veteran Henrique and switched to a 4-3-3 formation.

The change made an instant impact with D’Agostino’s whipped cross finding French winger Eric Bautheac unmarked to volley home at the back post and equalise.

Unlike the last time they were in Brisbane however, when Dylan Wenzel-Halls fired a late winner for the Roar, it was Sydney who finished the match stronger.

Their lead was restored nine minutes later when Ghoochannejhad’s clever inside ball found De Jong and, when his shot bounced off the post, English import le Fondre reacted quickest to claim his 15th goal of the season.

De Jong then produced a moment of inspiration to cap off the win, leaving Young completely stumped as he rolled the ball home from a tight angle.

Sydney host Melbourne Victory next weekend in a crucial tie in the race for second place while the Roar are on the road against finals-chasing Melbourne City.

AAP