Sydney FC dish out A-League thrashing to Newcastle Jets

Australia World

Updated November 01, 2019 22:21:05

Sydney FC have found the goal touch that had eluded them in last week’s A-League derby, with a crushing 4-1 home win over Newcastle at Leichhardt Oval.

Key points:

  • Sydney FC move to provisional top of the ladder on goal difference with their third win of the season
  • The Sky Blues led 2-1 at half-time, before keeping Newcastle Jets scoreless in the second term
  • The loss marred what was Jets boss Ernie Merrick’s 300th match as an A-League coach

As was the case against the Wanderers, the Sky Blues produced dazzling build-ups but their finishing on Friday night was far more clinical.

Both sides scored inside the first 10 minutes, with Milos Ninkovic netting for Sydney and Matt Millar for the Jets.

The match was locked at 1-1 shortly before half-time, but a slick Adam Le Fondre finish gave the Sky Blues the lead at the break.

They took little more than five minutes of the second half to increase their buffer with a Ryan McGowan shot deflecting off John Koutroumbis and Kosta Barbarouses added a fourth.

The result lifts Sydney above the Wanderers to provisional first on goal difference and Newcastle drop to last, still searching for a first win.

It was a horrid night at the office for Jets coach Ernie Merrick in his 300th match as an A-League mentor.

While the Jets had their chances going forward, they were opened up too easily, too often.

Right back Rhyan Grant and playmaker Ninkovic were majestic for Sydney and each received a standing ovation after being substituted midway through the second half.

Brandon O’Neill, Luke Brattan and Alex Baumjohann were all threatening and Le Fondre and Barbarouses were lively up forward.

The Sky Blues made a sizzling start with Le Fondre lobbing an effort over the bar after just 16 seconds and Ninkovic shooting over in the third minute.

Ninkovic made amends three minutes later with a classy side-foot finish from the marauding Grant, who was also involved in the build-up to the two earlier chances.

The Sky Blues barely had three minutes to savour their lead before the Jets equalised, with right back Millar scoring his first goal for the club with a firm header from a Dimi Petratos free kick.

Newcastle’s Jason Hoffman mis-kicked from close range as the Jets briefly enjoyed the ascendancy, but Le Fondre’s well-taken goal swung it back to the home side.

Barbarouses skilfully rounded Glen Moss to score his first goal for Sydney.

Sydney goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne made a couple of late saves and Sky Blues substitute Trent Buhagiar raced clear in his first match in more than a year, but shot straight at Moss.

AAP

Topics: a-league, soccer, sport, australia, nsw, leichhardt-2040, sydney-2000, newcastle-2300

First posted November 01, 2019 19:14:31