Sydney FC faced a much-changed Melbourne City on Saturday night with both sides missing key players due to the ongoing international break.
Melbourne hit the front first through a debut goal from Wade Dekker in the 16th minute. Jacques Faty was caught dwelling in possession and was made to pay after Bruno Fornaroli’s inch-perfect pass found the unmarked Dekker who coolly slotted past an outstretched Vederan Janjetovic.
Sydney were lucky not to be two behind when an Erik Paartalu header deflected off Matthew Jurman and crashed against the crossbar later in the half, but they themselves would be the next to find the breakthrough.
Some slick passing from Brandon O’Neill and Alex Brosque set up Slovakian international Filip Holosko for his first A-League goal of the campaign.
Sydney came out in the second half as the more aggressive of the two sides and looked to have snatched the lead on a number of occassions. Rhyan Grant’s long-range effort was beaten away by Thomas Sorensen who was called into action again from the ensuing corner kick.
But the pressure was not enough and despite Aaron Mooy’s introduction, City could do little to trouble Sydney in the second stanza as it finished 1-1.
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