Sydney FC was too good for a gallant but ultimately outgunned Newcastle Jets tonight at Allianz Stadium, recording a 1-0 win.
Alex Brosque was the hero for the home side with a clinical finish in the 58th minute as Sydney beat the Jets for the 20th time in A-League history.
In a worry for Sydney, Brosque limped off late in the match with a hamstring complaint, but was given a deserved round of applause from the Sydney FC fans after his match-winning performance.
There were a few nervy moments for Sydney late on, with a Nick Cowburn effort going just over the bar in stoppage time, but Graham Arnold’s men were deserved winners.
The result lifts Sydney into the logjam near the top of the A-League ladder, while the Jets are hanging onto their position in the top six.
Brosque shows Holosko how it's done. 1-0 to @SydneyFC #SYDvNEW https://t.co/aYb6YeYQqj
— SBS – The World Game (@TheWorldGame) December 4, 2015
Sydney too ponderous in possession
Sydney FC has been struggling to find the back of the net in recent weeks and that was the case again early tonight. Midway through the first half, Sydney had 61% possession and the ball permanently penned into Newcastle’s half of the pitch. Sydney was too slow in possession and at times appeared to be keeping the ball for the sake of it.
It was no surprise that their best chance of the half came from an early released long ball after a Newcastle turnover in their front third. Alex Brosque quickly found Andrew Hoole whose cross found Filip Holosko. His shot somehow hit the post from a seemingly unmissable position.
Newcastle has been packing their defence on the road all season and Sydney’s slow build ups played perfectly into the Jets hands. When Sydney did get in behind the Jets defence their finishing was terrible, with Holosko the guilty party on three or four occasions.
Their lack of clinical finishing almost cost them late on and it is something Sydney will have to look at if they are to push for the title.
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