Sydney FC extended their unbeaten run over Newcastle Jets to 12 matches on Sunday with a 2-0 victory at McDonald Jones Stadium as the home side’s winless run extended to seven matches in front of a crowd 8,473.
It was a cagey opening half from both sides, with Sydney controlling almost 60 per cent of possession, however the Sky Blues did not look nearly as good as they did just five weeks ago when they took down the Jets 2-0 at the same venue.
The best chance of the half went to Sydney striker Alex Brosque who broke down the middle of the pitch in the 24th minute. But, Sydney’s Captain was unable to make it two goals this season against the Jets, as his low left-footed shot was well saved by Jack Duncan, who dove low to his left.
In his first start of the season striker Labinot Haliti also had a half-chance for the Jets as he sliced inside the right edge of the box, only for his shot to be well blocked by the Sydney defence.
Sydney right-back Rhyan Grant had the only other opportunity of note in the opening 45, his header at the back post was well saved by Duncan once more, as the teams went to the shed locked at 0-0.
Sydney continued their dominance of possession in the second half and were rewarded in the 63rd minute when Milos Ninkovic skipped through the heart of Newcastle’s defence, before rolling his shot from the middle of the box into the right corner, just beyond the reach of Duncan.
If it wasn’t for Duncan the Jets would have been down by two less than five minutes later. Milos Dimitrijevic’s inswinging free kick from the left side was flicked on at the front post by Alex Wilkinson and brilliantly saved by Duncan at the near post onto the bar. The rebound fell into the path of Seb Ryall who was unable to curl the ball inside the far post.
Ninkovic then went agonisingly close for Sydney, as Brosque sped down the right edge and cut back a cross to the unmarked striker who thumped his shot from the penalty spot into the bar, much to the relief of the home fans.
After a weight of pressure, the Sky Blues soon doubled their lead through substitute Bernie Ibini. Ibini weaved through a narrow channel on the right edge of the box and hit a right foot shot towards the near post, which was well saved by Duncan. But the ball rebounded to the on-loan Club Brugge attacker, who managed to find the back of the net at the second attempt.
Next weekend the Jets travel west to NIB Stadium to meet Perth Glory, while Sydney meet Melbourne City in the NSW capital.
Newcastle Jets 0
Sydney FC 2 (Ninkovic 63’, Ibini 79’)
Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium
Referee: Adam Fielding
Attendance: 8,473
Newcastle Jets: 3. Jason HOFFMAN, 5. Ben KANTAROVSKI (23. Devante CLUT 69’), 6. Steven UGARKOVIC (8. Mateo POLJAK 61’), 7. Andrew HOOLE, 10. Wayne BROWN (C), 11. Labinot HALITI, 16. Nicholas COWBURN, 18. MA Leilei (12. Andy BRENNAN 75’), 20. Jack DUNCAN (Gk), 26. Iain FYFE, 28. John KOUTROUMBIS
Substitutes not used: 13. Ivan VUJICA, 30. Pierce CLARK (Gk)
Yellow cards: Koutroumbis, Fyfe, Ugarkovic, Brown
Red cards: Nil
Sydney FC: 4. Alex WILKINSON, 6. Joshua BRILLANTE, 7. Michael ZULLO, 8. Milos DIMITRIJEVIC (13. Brandon O’NEILL 84’), 10. Milos NINKOVIC, 14. Alex BROSQUE (C), 17. David CARNEY (11. Bernie IBINI 61’), 19. George BLACKWOOD (9. Bobô 70’), 20. Daniel VUKOVIC (Gk), 22. Sebastian RYALL, 23. Rhyan GRANT
Substitutes not used: 5. Matthew JURMAN, 40. Christopher OLDFIELD (Gk)
Yellow cards: Carney
Red cards: Nil
