Sydney FC season 2009-10
Encyclopedia
The 2009/2010 season was Sydney FC
's fifth consecutive season in the A-League since its inception.
In
Out
After a disappointing 08-09
season, Sydney FC went straight into action, sacking coach John Kosmina
. A week later, Czech coach, Vítězslav Lavička
, was signed as Sydney's fifth manager in as many seasons.
Sydney had a friendly match in China, with new sister club Shanghai Shenhua
. Sydney FC lost the match 2-1, with their goal coming from striker Alex Brosque
, who scored halfway through the second half to level the scores at 1-1. John Aloisi who had a poor last season, showed he had hit form, but being very unlucky to have 2 goals disallowed during the first half. It was the first game for former Sydney and Socceroos
Tony Popovic
as caretaker coach.
On 3 April, it was confirmed that new coach Lavicka had signed his first player, former Slovakian International
Karol Kisel
, who had played under Viteslav when he coached AC Sparta Prague.
Sydney was thrown into scandal involving new signing Sebastian Ryall
who was charged with the sexual assault
of a 13-year-old girl, while he was playing with Melbourne Victory
. He was stood down by the FFA
from the Sydney FC, and national team until 3 September. These charges were later dropped.
When the Football Federation Australia
announced that the usual A-League pre-season cup wouldn't be held due to financial reasons, it meant that teams would have to organise their own friendlies in the months before the start of the season. This opened up many possibilities. Across the A-League a few teams managed to bring over some well known sides. Sydney was linked with English Premier League side Everton for their Asian Tour, and recently relegated Middlesbrough FC, who both pulled out in the last minute, and stated that if they were to tour Australia, they would want to play more than one team. At one stage Spanish Giants Barcelona FC were being rumoured to be coming out. Nevertheless, the new coach organised a dozen friendlies with strong New South Wales Premier League
and New South Wales Super League teams. Despite the opposition being weaker than expected, Sydney had a fantastic start. Sydney also trialled several overseas players and on 25 June Lavicka signed South Korean Left Back
Byun Sung-Hwan
.
Along with the new outfits Sydney FC also welcomed a new major sponsor, Japanese Electronic giants, Sony
, who signed a contract with Sydney. They replaced JVC
who decided not to renew their sponsorship due to the Global financial crisis of 2008–2009. New South Wales
based Electronics retailer Bing Lee
would continue to sponsor Sydney FC. Bing Lee's logo would be featured on the front of the Home Jerseys and on the front and back of the right leg of the away jerseys, whilst Sony will now take up the away Jersey, and the front and back of the right leg of the home kit. Coach Vitezslav Lavicka would go on to sign his last player of the season, Stephan Keller
on a 1 year contract, who had recently been released by then Eredivisie
club De Graafschap
after they had been relegated. He played in the final trial game against the Jets and impressed significantly in the 1-1 draw.
Season
V North Queensland Fury (away at Dairy Farmers Stadium
, Townsville)
Sydney flew up to Townsville to face newcomers North Queensland Fury, boasting an impressive squad that included all their VISA players. Just after 4 minutes marquee man, John Aloisi
, put last seasons troubles behind him, opening the score on the back of a wonderful counter-attack that came off a saved Robbie Fowler
free kick down the other end of the field. Sydney would double that lead to 2-0 20 minutes later through Kofi Danning
, before North Queensland managed to get back into the game shortly before half time with a headed goal through a corner. The scoreline would be drawn to 2-2 several minutes after the resume of play, when Shannon Cole
fouled Jason Spagnuolo
in the box. God
stepped up and coolly slotted the ball past Bolton
who remained glued to the spot. It seemed like it would end a draw, but with 17 minutes remaining John Aloisi slotted a ball straight into the box, and a chasing Alex Brosque
was tripped by a beaten Paul Henderson
. John Aloisi
calmly sent the keeper the wrong way and put the penalty straight down the middle, to give the visitors their first win of the season.
V Adelaide United (home at Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney)
In front of a decent first home crowd of nearly 15,000, Sydney came up against arch rivals Adelaide. Always a fiery and closely contested contest, there was once again nothing between the 2 teams both looking very dangerous and despite some close opportunities to take the lead from both sides, they both went into the half-time break locked at 0-0. The second half looked to be a battle for fitness, with Sydney dominating possession in the second half and a tired Adelaide struggling to stay in the contest, former Jets striker Mark Bridge
would prove to be the difference between to the two clubs, coming on for Steve Corica
half way through the half, and a few minutes after coming on played a nice 1-2 move with Kofi Danning
and belted the ball past the hapless Adelaide keeper. Sydney held onto the lead almost conceding minutes from time but managed to pull of a narrow victory and move into 2nd on the ladder, with 2 wins from as many games, behind Gold Coast United.
V Central Coast Mariners (away at Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford)
The South NSW derby
was once again played out in front of a smallish crowd of 10,000 on a warm Gosford afternoon, in a game which turned out to be once more a stalemate, similar to the 0-0 stalemate played at Leichhardt Oval
a few months beforehand. Both sides had their chances, and despite Sydney looking fitter, it seemed to be a typical A-League style long-ball game; both sides not really gaining the upper hand. Sydney had their chances; main striker and marquee player John Aloisi
coming close on 76 minutes, denied by the fingertips and reflexes of the Mariners keeper Danny Vukovic
. However it was to be the custodian between the sticks for the sky blues, Clint Bolton
pulling off a wonder save penalty after John Hutchinson
was brought down in a clattering tackle by Simon Colosimo
and Byun Sung-Hwan
, who were both lucky to not be booked. Adam Kwasnik
took the penalty and was denied by Bolton, regaining the faith and trust of some Sydney FC supporters who believed was past his prime. He would save Sydney yet again minutes later, pulling off another fantastic save from Dylan MacAllister
, earning himself man of the match, in what was ultimately a dull match.
V Wellington Phoenix (home at Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney)
The Sydney V Wellington Trans-Tasman
matches had always proven to be Sydney's bogey, especially at the SFS. Wellington had won 2 of the 3 matches played there since their inaugural season, and Sydney knew it would be a tough battle. The first half would be locked in a difficult stalemate, with both sides feeling each other out as both sides struggled to gain the upper hand possession wise. Midfielder Terry McFlynn
was subbed off early for Brendan Gan
with what looked to be an unfortunate thigh injury. Despite the loss of McFlynn, Sydney remained strong and dominated the possession early in the second half. Options seemed to be running out for coach Vitezslav when he put Steve Corica
on for Kofi Danning
but soon after, the fitter Sydney side gained the upper hand through a corner which was whipped in by Karol Kisel
and Brendan Gan
who managed to lose his defender, got his head on the end of the cross, and buried it into the back of the net in the 77th minute. What little air was left in Wellington's sails blew away only minutes later, when a counter-attack from a Wellington corner had Alex Brosque crossing the ball into the box where marquee striker John Aloisi
angled the ball past a tired Wellington shot stopper for Sydney's well-deserved second goal. Aloisi would be subbed minutes after the goal for Matthew Jurman
but the Sky Blues Held on for a convincing 2-0 win which leapfrogged them past Gold Coast United into #1 Position, after the Newcastle Jets had earlier defeated them, 1-0 in Newcastle
.
V Gold Coast United (away at Skilled Park, Gold Coast
)
Sydney travelled to the Gold Coast's Skilled Park for the top-of-the-table clash, one point clear of opponents Gold Coast United. Gold Coast were with without Socceroo marquee player Jason Culina
whilst Sydney was without Northern Ireland
midfielder Terry McFlynn
who was replaced with former National Youth League player Rhyan Grant
. The first 10 to 20 minutes saw Gold Coast dominate but Sydney's strong-knitted defence held them off. Joel Porter
made a promising start to the game for the home team but in the 19th minute he was forced to be substituted due to a calf injury and was replaced by Brazilian import Robson
. Alex Brosque
should have scored for Sydney in the 30th minute following a clever one-two with John Aloisi
but the attacking midfielder sprayed his shot wide. It took a piece of magic from Shane Smeltz
just before half-time for the crowd to erupt. Matt Osman's free kick was directed at Shane Smeltz
, who looped a header into the corner of the net, giving goalkeeper Clint Bolton
little chance. In the 56th minute, Shane Smeltz
finished off the contest by beating Shannon Cole
to an awful Karol Kisel
back-pass and calmly slotting the ball past the keeper. Sydney FC
gave themselves a chance of saving a draw when substitute Steve Corica
headed home a Shannon Cole
cross in the 75th minute and then John Aloisi
had a free kick just outside the box in the 89th minute - but he slammed the ball into United's wall. The final score, Gold Coast United 2, Sydney FC
1, in front of another disappointing Gold Coast
crowd of 6,406. Gold Coast United over took Sydney FC
on the table and now sit in first place with Sydney slipping down one spot to second.
V North Queensland Fury (home at Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney)
Sydney would pair up against Robbie Fowler
's North Queensland side, sooner than expected. The match was originally scheduled to be played next door to the SFS at the historic Sydney Cricket Ground
. Sydney FC were coming off a loss to Gold Coast United, and were expected to beat a stronger North Queensland Fury who had yet to win a game, despite putting in solid performances against Adelaide United and Brisbane Roar in the previous weeks. A healthy crowd of 16,699 showed up to see Robbie Fowler in town, seeing as the NRL finals were being played at the same time. Sydney started strongly up until the 26th minute, when Sydney FC got a penalty, in almost identical fashion to the one received up in Townsville. John Aloisi stepped up, and in a miraculous piece of goalkeeping Paul Henderson
pulled off a wonder save, denying John Aloisi
, and Sydney FC the chance to go 1-0 up, leaving the fans in the stand devastated. The save was more important for Henderson, as he had been dropped the previous week, in response to calls of his somewhat lazy goalkeeping, in which he had conceded 12 goals in 5 rounds. The morale of Sydney FC dropped, and played second fiddle to a confident North Queensland attack, lucky to go in at the break 0-0. After the break, it was clear who was on top, Sydney FC were at the mercy of North Queensland, rarely getting the ball into the North Queensland half, and when doing so, lost the ball easily. It was only a matter of time before North Queensland scored, and in the 56th minute, they did so through Robbie Fowler, chipping an out-of-position Clint Bolton
who was caught in no mans land, outside of his 6-yard box. Any life left in Sydney's attack was immediately drained, with Fowler unlucky not to score a second 5 minutes later. Despite a late frenzied attack, with Kofi Danning
at the helm, Sydney were unable to equalise, and ended up losing the game 0-1, their second straight defeat.
V Newcastle Jets (home at Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney)
Both teams were coming off back to back losses in this highly anticipated round 7 clash. Both teams were suffering from an injury laden squad, with Newcastle having to bring Albanian
-Australian Labinot Haliti
and Iraqi International
Ali Abbas Al-Hilfi on loan to replace injured players, while Sydney were relying on a third-string squad with key players out injured Karol Kisel
(flu), Stephan Keller
(Calf), John Aloisi
(knee) and Terry McFlynn
(thigh). Young Guns Kofi Danning
and Chris Payne
were also out of the squad on Young Socceroos duty. The game started strongly, with both teams taking advantage of several mistakes. Newcastle had a golden opportunity to take the lead in the 23rd minute, when they got a penalty, for a push in the box. The penalty was saved by a heroic Clint Bolton
, saving his second penalty out of three this season. This save gave Sydney a massive boost of confidence, and no less than 5 minutes later, Mark Bridge
fired a rocket of a shot from the edge of the 18 yard box, into the top corner, giving Sydney the lead, and his second goal of the season. Although the lead wouldn't last long, 6 minutes later, a cross into the box had Clint Bolton
saving the shot, but tipping it away to an open Matt Thompson, who tapped it in, past an outstretched Bolton. The scores stayed locked 1-1 going into half time, but 10 minutes into the second half Alex Brosque
was fouled by Ben Kennedy
in the box, in very much similar fashion to the two penalties he received against North Queensland Fury in both Townsville
and a week earlier at the SFS. Steve Corica
coolly stepped up and slotted it in the top right corner, past an outstretched palm. Despite a desperate Newcastle attack, Sydney held on for a very unconvincing 2-1 victory, giving them confidence to face Brisbane Roar at Suncorp Stadium
next week.
V Brisbane Roar (away at Suncorp Stadium
, Brisbane
)
Sydney flew up to face Queensland rivals Brisbane Roar in what was considered to be the State Of Origin
clash in the A-League. Brisbane were coming off a 4-2 loss to Perth Glory the week before and Sydney were coming off a 2-1 victory, but were still seen as the underdogs despite key players Karol Kisel
and Stephan Keller
being included back in the squad, after returning from minor injuries. Sydney started strongly, their confidence from a stronger squad showing, and had some early chances, however Brisbane would not be deterred, and the game swung back and forth until half time when both teams went in 0-0. The second half was much of the same affair, Sydney having a lot of good opportunities, including 2 skied shots from striker Mark Bridge, which commentators, and fellow Sydney supporters thought should have gone in. However Sydney couldn't hold their defence. 15 minutes before full time, Brisbane had 90% of the possession and despite a brave Sydney defence doing their best to stop Brisbane from scoring, the effort fell through 5 minutes before full time when Dutch striker Serginho van Dijk managed to get one past Bolton on Brisbane's third consecutive corner, giving his 4th goal against Sydney FC in two meetings. The final 5 or so minutes, Sydney threw everything but the Kitchen sink at the Brisbane defence, in the hope to salvage a draw, however despite them coming close on a couple of occasions, Liam Reddy
's goal remained a fortress, and Brisbane hung onto a narrow 1-0 Victory.
V Central Coast Mariners (home at Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney)
The South NSW derby
clash is always a highly anticipated clash between the fierce rivals of Sydney and Gosford. Geographically the teams are only 90 km away from each other, and a short drive up and down the freeway, and the rivalry is always intense. This week was not to be different, Sydney FC welcomed back Northern Irish midfield maestro
Terry McFlynn
who had been out of the squad for the best part of a month with injury, but also welcomed the birth of his new child. He got his return debut off to a flying start in the 21st minute, when Stuart Musialik
held the ball outside the box, to put in a pinpoint accurate cross, which Terry Slammed into the top right hand corner. It couldn't have been a better return to football, as it gave the entire team the belief they could steamroll over the unpredictable Mariners. And they pretty much did that as well. For the remaining half Sydney looked the dominant team, Terry McFlynn unlucky not to score minutes later, and Steve Corica
going centimetres wide of the post from a spectacular scissor-kick. The Second half would remain the same sort of story, the Mariners threw everything at the defence, but couldn't break the strong wall of Stephan Keller
, Shannon Cole
, Sebastian Ryall
and Simon Colosimo
. Sydney held on, and in the last 10 minutes, despite a massive thunderstorm above, continued to attack in the driving rain. With minutes to go defender Stephan Keller
was involved in a nasty head clash attempting to head a ball, and was lying motionless on the ground, and had to be stretchered off. It was feared he had seriously injured his knee, however it was later revealed his knee was fine, and was suffering minor-concussion. He is expected to play next week against the Melbourne Victory
at Etihad Stadium. It was a clean match considering the derby, with controversial referee Matthew Breeze
not awarding a single yellow or red card to either sets of players.
V Melbourne Victory FC (away at Etihad Stadium, Melbourne)
Round 10 was the perfect opportunity to hold the A-League's Biggest Rivalry
. Sydney and Melbourne fans hated each other with a passion, and this season it was no different. Sydney and Melbourne were positions 1 and 2 respectively on the table, the first time this had ever happened, and it only served to fuel the rivalry even more. Over 30,000 packed into Melbourne's Etihad Stadium to see the clash, both sides were at full strength, aside from Sydney FC missing Swiss defender Stephan Keller
with a knee injury he had picked up the week before. The match started strongly, with Melbourne having good opportunities in the first 10 minutes through their imports Ney Fabiano and Carlos Hernández. However it would be Sydney FC who turned up the heat, in a blitz of goals, that left not only the Melbourne players in shock, but left the crowd silent (aside from the 1,000 Cove who had flown down). In the 14th minute, Sydney had a free kick outside the box, which Steve Corica
took, the ball found its way soon after to Simon Colosimo
on the wing, who whipped it in, and found a rising Alex Brosque
header, which found its way into the back of the net. Alex Brosque scored his first of the season, and the first of what would become a landslide of pressure. Minutes later after the kickoff, Sydney were breaking once more, Terry McFlynn
got a lovely ball through to striker Mark Bridge
, who swivelled, and slotted the ball through Evan Berger
's legs, and into the bottom right hand corner of the goal. The crowd was stunned, 2 goals in almost as many minutes had the entire state of Victoria
reeling. Once again after the kickoff, Sydney raced down the win, Shannon Cole
this time putting in a perfectly weighted cross, which Mark Bridge
latched onto and put away to make it 3-0. It Seemed Sydney were unstoppable, and were unlucky to get a fourth through Terry McFlynn
who attempted to chip keeper Glen Moss
. He beat the keeper, and just when it seemed they had the goal, it bounced off the post and out of play.
The Second half started as deadly as it had finished. Shannon Cole
made a break, using some tricky footwork to get past the defence, and drove a shot, beating a diving Moss
and narrowly scraping the outside of the post. Sydney would hold onto the lead, despite a spirited Melbourne fightback, in which Archie Thompson
came close, but Sydney held on to the 3-0 win, leaving them at the top of the table, with by 4 points, which would be narrowed down to 2, due to other results. They play Adelaide next week, at Hindmarsh Stadium
.
V Adelaide United (away at Hindmarsh Stadium
, Adelaide
Sydney travelled to Adelaide on the back of their largest win against Melbourne Victory full of confidence. Everything was pointing towards a massive Sydney win - Adelaide themselves had come off a loss, were missing several key players. Adelaide lost Defensive Midfielder
Fabien Barbiero in the opening 10 minutes after he pulled down Mark Bridge
as he made a break and was bound to score from a 1-on-1 with goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic
. Despite the one-man advantage, Sydney couldn't convert all the first half, and were put immediately on the back foot when Cristiano
put Adelaide up 1-0 from a corner. Sydney went into the break 1-0 down, despite being 1-0 up, and came out into the second half more focused, after being berated by coach Vitezslav Lavicka
at half time. It only got worse for Sydney FC, conceding yet another goal from a corner half way through the second half. Clint Bolton
got his gloves to the ball, but they were too slippery from the rain to get much grip and the ball trickled into the side netting, giving Cristiano
his second. Some strong resilience was shown from the Sydney team, and marquee striker John Aloisi
got 1 back with 10 minutes remaining, and Sydney would consider themselves very unlucky not to get themselves a second. However Adelaide United held on for a gutsy victory.
V Brisbane Roar (home at Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney)
Sydney had their first home game after being on the road for 2 weeks, against a Brisbane Roar who were still reeling from their losing streak, and coach of 4 years Frank Farina
being sacked for Drink Driving. It was the first game in charge for coach Ange Postecoglou
who had previously taken former-NSL
team Melbourne Knights
to a double-championship. Sydney were hoping that the "curse of the new coach". Brisbane were also going into the game with a cut-down squad, key players of Craig Moore
and Scottish internationals Charlie Miller
and Bob Malcolm out with injury. Despite going into half time 0-0 Sydney were the stronger team, and their strength would prove shortly after half time when striker Alex Brosque
beat 2 defenders in his trademark style and put the ball away to give Sydney a 1-0 lead. Shortly after that new Slovakian import Karol Kisel
opened up his goal account after being found in open space, and drove a powerful low shot, past Liam Reddy
to make the scoreline 2-0. It appeared that would be enough for the Sydney side, but the Roar dug deep, and minutes after Sydney's second got a goal back through their youth player Isaka Cernak
which inspired great confidence through the Brisbane team, and despite some very good shooting, and close calls, Sydney's defence held strong, and remained strong to hold onto a 2-1 victory, and not for the first time this season, - retaking their lead on the top of the ladder, pleasing the manager.
V Wellington Phoenix (home at Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney)
Sydney came into the game looking to extend their 1-point lead the a healthy 4 point lead over arch-rivals Melbourne Victory
, and were up against trans-Tasman
rivals Wellington Phoenix - who the week before had come off a season-record 6-0 thumping of Gold Coast United in Wellington
. Under previous administrations the Phoenix had been the "bogey" team for Sydney FC, but went into the game with some confidence, boasting a strong squad and the knowledge, they had already beaten them 2-0 earlier that season at the same venue. Sydney got off to a cracking start with Striker Alex Brosque
setting up Mark Bridge
to open the scoring for Sydney. Not too soon later, Brosque would once more weave his magic past the Phoenix defence, and play a square ball to captain Steve Corica
who tapped it in from no more than 2 yards. Wellington were backpedaling fast and losing confidence quicker than they could count the accurate passes the Sydney team were firing to each other. Shortly before the half time interval Alex Brosque put the final icing
on the cake, making a marvelous run down the far wing, outpacing the Wellington defence, setting Bridge up for his 2nd. They went into the sheds 3-0 up at the interval, something which was almost reminiscent of the scoreline against Melbourne a month earlier at Etihad Stadium. The second half started off as it finished; Sydney controlled the match from the defence through to the strikers. Despite the best efforts Sydney couldn't extend the lead, but the Nix managed to get a consolation goal through substitute Costa Barbarouses
. Alex Brosque, and John Aloisi
both came agonisingly close in the second half but the match finished 3-1 and Sydney scooted to a short 4-point lead before Melbourne beat Perth Glory 2-1.
V Gold Coast United (away at Skilled Park, Gold Coast
)
Sydney FC returned to the coast confident they'd be able to serve up revenge on the Gold Coast after losing to them 2-1 earlier in the season, however despite Gold Coast's consistent off-field drama containing owner Clive Palmer
Gold Coast managed to get there season back on track and win 1-0 via a Shane Smeltz
goal early in the first half.
V Perth Glory (away at ME Bank Stadium, Perth
)
Sydney FC's troubling away form this season would once again be the main talking point after this match. Only having won twice in from all their away games, something which not only troubled the fans, but the players and the coach. The match was to be a tale of two halves. Sydney dominated the first half, creating chances, and generally putting the Glory under plenty of pressure, despite the pressure put on the team by the Glory support group "The Shed". However the table would be turned in the second half, with Perth getting 2 goals through Scott Bulloch
and their Serbian import Branko Jelic
. Perth would hold onto the lead and win 2-0.
V Newcastle Jets (home at Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney)
Sydney went into the first home game in a fortnight confident they would be able to get there season back on track, having previously beaten Newcastle 2-1 earlier in the season. Newcastle were also languishing at the bottom of the table, and their coach, and former Sydney coach Branko Culina
under increasing pressure to make their team perform, especially after some controversial comments in the media during the week. However the crowd of just over 10,000 would be shocked to the foundations when early in the first half, young player Rhyan Grant
gave away a penalty, former Sydney FC striker Michael Bridges
who played for the club on loan from then Premier League club Hull City
stepped up to take the penalty, and despite loud heckling from the Sydney supporters, put the ball past Bolton. If Sydney fans were not worried, they now had a reason to be, as Sydney had never come back from a 1-0 deficit. The Halftime Scoreline read 1-0, but early into the second period of play, a momentarily lapse in concentration by the Sydney defence gave Michael Bridges
his second, and his fifth for the season. The fans fell silent for the first time all day, and would be stunned to their seats minutes later when Newcastle club captain and new Melbourne Heart recruit Matt Thompson knocked in a third to make it 3-0 to the visitors. Sydney managed to pull back a consolation goal through some good tough attacking play by Marquee player John Aloisi
who put in a cross to Alex Brosque
who knocked it in, but it was a case of too little, too late for the Sky blues, leaving them languishing in second place, 5 points behind rivals Melbourne Victory
and only one point clear of Gold Coast United and Central Coast Mariners, as well as reeling from their third straight loss, and in the midst of a form slump.
V North Queensland Fury (home at Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney)
North Queensland Fury are considered the Dark Horses of the Hyundai A-League, and Sydney FC treated this match very carefully, knowing full well that North Queensland had come away from the Sydney Football Stadium with a 1-0 victory earlier in the season, However it was clear from the outset, that the form slump that had been troubling Sydney FC in the previous month had cleared, as a well defined attack tore the North Queensland defence to shreds. Sydney FC were up 2-0 at the half time break, thanks to goals by marquee John Aloisi
and in-form Striker Alex Brosque
. The second half was a similar tale to that of the first, Brosque got his second goal of the game, after a free kick left him with a mile of space to head the ball home, and despite North Queensland getting a scrappy goal late in the half, Sydney FC would be too powerful, with ageing star midfielder Steve Corica rising above players much younger than him to head the ball into the back of the net from a cross, to give Sydney 4 goals, and a much needed 3 points.
V Wellington Phoenix (away at FMG Stadium, Palmerston North
, New Zealand)
Wellington and Sydney games had always been closely contested affairs, but Wellington had already lost twice against the Sky Blues, and were undefeated at home at their regular home ground of Westpac Stadium
, Wellington. It was a very windy day with winds of up to 100 km/h recorded, making it difficult to keep possession. However a penalty won by striker Alex Brosque
in the first half would prove to be the difference between the teams with Captain and team veteran Steve Corica
slotting the goal home. Goalkeeper Clint Bolton
made vital saves during the game to keep Sydney in the lead, and move them to the top of the ladder.
V Central Coast Mariners (home at Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney)
Round 19 for the 2009/10 season had been scheduled so that each team would play a midweek game. Sydney FC and the Mariners squared off on 23 December and a healthy crowd of 12,689 were present to witness Sydney FC defeat their F3 Freeway rivals 1-0 via an Alex Brosque
goal in the 34th minute of play. It turned into a dirty match with the Central Coast picking up several yellow cards towards the end of the game, capping a good 9 points in 3 games for the team from Sydney.
V Melbourne Victory
(away at Etihad Stadium, Melbourne)
The Sydney V Melbourne rivalry was played in front of a crowd of approximately 30,000 people at Melbourne's Docklands, in a match which always provided excitement, flair, controversy and some good football. Both teams had strong squads, and at the current time were sitting first and second respectively on the ladder, the winner of the match to either keep or take first spot. However Melbourne started the game the stronger but Sydney FC's waterproof defence held its nerve once more and refused to give in, despite some shots going off the cross bar from Archie Thompson
and Carlos Hernández. Sydney counter-attacked when it was able too, but could not break the Victory defence either. At the end of 90 minutes the game was still locked at 0-0 and the game finished a draw, both sides taking a point from the encounter.
V Adelaide United (home at Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney)
Adelaide United came to Sydney with low expectations despite beating Sydney 2-1 at Hindmarsh Stadium
earlier in the year. On the bottom of the ladder, low on confidence and goals, with their coach Aurelio Vidmar
being in the news for all the wrong reasons, they had nothing to lose and everything to gain. However they were never in the game from the start, and some good solid possession from Sydney, kept Adelaide at bay, and despite Sydney FC winning 1-0, possession wise it was a thrashing. Sydney remained at the top of the ladder, keeping Adelaide rooted to the bottom of the ladder, scratching their heads looking for more answers then excuses.
V Perth Glory (away at ME Bank Stadium, Perth
)
Sydney's first game after the new year would be a tough one, having several key players out (Alex Brosque
& Simon Colosimo
out in Kuwait
on national team duty, and Matthew Jurman
, Rhyan Grant
, Seb Ryall
, Kofi Danning
all out injured for the rest of the season. Now lacking depth in the defence, Vitezslav Lavicka
quickly signed former Socceroo Hayden Foxe
on a short-term deal until the end of the season, and promoted Sam Gallagher
from Sydney's youth squad. Confidence was high, as Sydney were sitting 5 points ahead of rivals Melbourne Victory
and held on to a 0-0 draw, with Sydney unlucky not to score 2 goals at the death via captain Steve Corica
and young striker Chris Payne
.
V Gold Coast United (home at Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney)
Gold Coast United under coach Miron Bleiberg
had become a force to reckon with in their inaugural season, unlike their counterparts North Queensland Fury, Gold Coast had built a strong squad around Socceroo Jason Culina
, and marquee player and New Zealand Striker Shane Smeltz
. Gold Coast had overtaken Melbourne Victory
into 2nd on the ladder after 2 strong performances the week previously against Adelaide United and Newcastle Jets. Sydney started the game poorly, coming under a lot of pressure from a fired up, confident Gold Coast team. Gold Coast would end up scoring the only goal of the game halfway through the first half through former Hartlepool United striker Joel Porter
. Despite a good performance from John Aloisi
Sydney failed to hit the straps and shoot, and succumbed, dropping one place to second on the ladder, with Gold Coast snatching the top spot by 1 point.
V Newcastle Jets (away at EnergyAustralia Stadium
, Newcastle
)
After going down to Gold Coast United the week before Sydney were keen to avenge their 1-3 loss earlier in the season to Newcastle at home at the Sydney Football Stadium. Sydney started the game the better side, unlucky not to get a couple of early goals, however the Jets patience paid off when Jobe Wheelhouse
scored for the home team a little over half an hour into the game. This spelt bad news for the travelling sky blues, as they had a curse of not being able to come back after conceding. However the gods were smiling upon the Sydney faithful when marquee player John Aloisi
broke through the Jets defence in Extra Time of the first half and slotted the ball into the side netting for the Sky Blues, leading them into the half time whistle 1-1. The goal was an obvious puncture in Newcastle's balloon, and they came out a deflated side, Sydney all over the home side, and halfway through the second period Sydney FC were rewarded when midfielder (and former Newcastle Jets grandfinalist) Stuart Musialik
fired off a shot from 28 meters out, beating a stunned Newcastle defence, and an even more shocked Ben Kennedy
who failed to move a muscle due to him not being able to see the shot. Young striker Chris Payne
sealed the victory late into Extra Time of the second period when he danced around several tired Newcastle defenders and fired a low shot past the Keeper to seal a 3-1 victory for Sydney FC.
V Brisbane Roar (away at Suncorp Stadium
, Brisbane
)
A win against Brisbane would see Sydney FC back to the top of the ladder however their record away from home at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium
was far from good, having last won there in the early rounds of the A-League 2007-08
season. Both teams were playing some good football, and Sydney FC had the majority of the chances, but like most weeks, despite their good ball passing and possession they failed to put their chances away. Goalkeeper Clint Bolton
can thank some poor refereeing for not being sent off midway through the first half, when he clearly handled the ball outside the 18-yard box after attempted to save an on-target attempt from Brisbane Brazilian striker Reinaldo
. Despite several clear cut chances, Sydney failed to score, and Brisbane grabbed a goal at the death, from their leading goalscorer and striker Serginho van Dijk
V Perth Glory (home at Parramatta Stadium
, Sydney)
A must win game this was for Sydney FC, as it would keep them in contention for a top 2 finish providing Gold Coast United lost. Sydney started strongly and got their reward when Shannon Cole
was tripped in the box early in the first half. Steve Corica
slotted the resulting penalty straight down the middle to give Sydney a 1-0 lead. However Perth equalised on the stroke of half time, through Wayne Srhoj after some sloppy Sydney FC defending from a corner levelled the scored at 1-1. However Sydney would retake the lead through marquee man John Aloisi
when he mistimed kick appeared to have been cleared, however the ball controversially went through a hole in the side netting, with referee Chris Beath
ruling no goal. Protests from the Sydney players, led by a fired up Aloisi led to Beath consulting with his assistant on the Eastern side of the ground who confirmed it was a goal. Beath overruled his earlier decision and ruled a goal, much to the delight of the Sydney FC fans and supporters, however 10 minutes later Perth would score again, through Daniel McBreen
who scored his 4th goal for the club in as many games. It looked like the game would finish a tie, however Swiss import Stephan Keller
launched a cross which found a leaping John Aloisi who headed the ball powerfully past the keeper into the back of the net to give Sydney a 3-2 win, and ultimately put the decider against Melbourne Victory
next the next week.
V Melbourne Victory
(home at Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney)
The title decider had come to the final game of the final round, between the A-Leagues biggest rivals, Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory. The pressure was on Sydney, who needed to win to claim the Premiership, with Melbourne needing a draw at worst. Nearly 26,000 fans packed into the SFS to watch the game, with the majority of those clad in Sky Blue. Both teams started the game off strongly with early chances for both sides, however in the 34th minute Sydney's Slovakian import Karol Kisel
who had been criticised all season for his inaccurate shooting, sent the Sydney fans in the stands into raptures, when a shot from 25 meters out fired into the back of the net. A 1-0 lead was crucial and it sent the Melbourne fans in the away bay crazy, turning on each other, with a fight starting. Police and security rushed to the away bay , but it took a good 10 minutes to calm the away bay, after several flares had been lit, and bottles and beer cups thrown onto the field. The second half started the same way it had finished both sides testing each others strengths and it would be Sydney who broke the game in half, with marquee man, and hero John Aloisi
getting the ball on the half way line and sprinting up the field uncontested, before launching a rocket of a shot into the net, past a stunned Mitchell Langerak
who could do nothing but watch as the ball bounced past him. The Sydney players and fans went wild, and it took a good 4 minutes for play to restart. With 10 minutes to go the fans were getting edgy and glancing at the clock, and with 2 minutes to go started a countdown till the final whistle. Sydney would hold onto the 2-0 lead, and claim the championship, sending the fans into celebration, despite the pouring rain which had started earlier. It would also be Steve Corica
s final game for the club, who had announced his retirement at the end of the season, however an injury in the 18th minute of play meant that he would ultimately not play in the finals series, however he received a well earned standing ovation and did a lap of honour with the premiers plate.
Finals
Semi final Leg 1
V Melbourne Victory
(away at Etihad Stadium, Melbourne)
Sydney travelled back down to Melbourne for the third time this season to play Melbourne in the first leg of the major semi final. Sydney were without team legend Steve Corica
who had announced his retirement due to a hamstring injury. As a result Vitezslav Lavicka promoted youth team midfielder Iain Ramsay
. The pitch at Etihad Stadium was a disgrace, with many parts of it brown and dead, after having an ACDC concert earlier in the week. Melbourne got the upper hand early, when Nick Mrja, Melbourne controversial loan signing scored in the 16th minute. Later in the half Costa Rican international
Carlos Hernandez scored to make it 2-0. However John Aloisi
scored 3 minutes later to peg one back. However the score remained the same, meaning for Sydney to win, they need to win 1-0 during the next leg in Sydney.
Semi final Leg 2
V Melbourne Victory
(home at Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney)
A large crowd greeted the two rivals back up to Sydney and despite Melbourne coming into the game 2-1 up, the knowledge that the last time they had come up to Sydney they had lost the Premiership 2-0. However it would be Melbourne who would strike first Robbie Kruse
turned his defender from 25 years and fired in a shot that slammed into the top corner, inching past the fingetips of a flying Clint Bolton
, it looked possibly over for the habourside team. However Sydney would get right back in it when striker Alex Brosque
was tripped in the box. Slovakian International Karol Kisel
slotted home the penalty to even the scores at 1-1. They went into half time 1-1, however Sydney would come out the stronger team and soon after the second half started, Mark Bridge
fired home a goal from just outside the penalty box. Sydney led 2-1 and the scores were locked at 2-2 on aggregate. The rest of the half was played out at an exciting tempo - both sides attacking, with Melbourne and Sydney both coming close to taking the lead. However full time blew with Sydney leading 2-1 but on aggregate only 2-2. The game went into Extra Time, both sides well aware of a possible penalty shootout - however late into extra time it would be Melbourne who would score the decisive goal. A dubious handball call on Sydney FC's Terry McFlynn
allowed Melbourne a free kick just outside of the penalty box. However Sydney were slow to react and make the blocking wall - many player still arguing with the referee. Melbourne took a quick free kick and Archie Thompson
slotted the ball past a stunned Clint Bolton to level the scores at 2-2 and give Melbourne a 3-2 aggregate lead. Melbourne would go on to win the game, and gain their spot in the Grand Final down in Melbourne, Sydney would be forced to play the Wellington Phoenix in the Preliminary final, who had earlier defeated the Newcastle Jets 3-1 at Westpac Stadium
.
Preliminary final
V Wellington Phoenix (home at Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney)
A smaller than expected crowd of just over 13,000 showed up at the SFS to watch the Premiers take on the Wellington Phoenix whose run into the finals had been very good. However, it was tipped that Sydney would dominate the game from the start and that's exactly what happened. Chris Payne
would be the hero for Sydney - scoring first. However Wellington would equalise and claw back into the game, but the turning point of the match would be late in the first half from a free kick. Karol Kisel
whipped the ball into the box, and from the initial play, it appeared Payne had headed the ball into the net past a stunned Liam Reddy
- however despite celebrations from the Sydney team, the entire Wellington team blew up at the referee. Replays would show, that whilst attempting to head the ball into the net, the ball had deflected off his hand. The goal was dubbed 'Hand of Payne' and later in the post-match interviews, Wellington manager Ricki Herbert
would compare the goal to Theirry Henry's deliberate handball against Ireland
'Hand of Frog' and Diego Maradona
's imfamous 'Hand of God'. However Wellington never recovered from the incident and in the second half, two great goals from Alex Brosque
and Mark Bridge
stretched the lead to 4-1, however Eugene Dadi
would get a consolation goal back for Wellington in the dying seconds of the second half, in pouring rain. Sydney went on to win 4-2 and book their spot in the 2010 A-League Grand Final
.
Grand Final
Main Article 2010 A-League Grand Final
V Melbourne Victory
(away at Etihad Stadium, Melbourne)
The grand final that, the FFA
, A-League
, and football fans all around Australia had been waiting 5 years for. A grand final between the two best teams in Australia, Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory. Throughout the season they had been at loggerheads with each other, never allowing either to be on top of the table for more than 2 games at a time. However Sydney had already dealt a blow to Melbourne, taking the Premiership plate off them back in the Round 27 clash at the Sydney Football Stadium, however Melbourne had got a little revenge by winning the semi-final - allowing them to host the final. Melbourne were also looking to win te grand final in consecutive year, the first time they would have done that - it was the first time any A-League team had been in the grand final in consecutive years, so it was only fitting that Melbourne went into the game as favourites. A crowd of 48,000 packed out Melbournes Etihad Stadium the tension had been building all week. Melbourne's hopes took a massive blow early on in the game when start striker and marquee player Archie Thompson
suffered an Anterior cruciate ligament
injury, scans later revealing this, meaning he would not play for at least 12 months. The scores were deadlocked 0-0 at half time, with what had been described as a uneventful game up until half time. This would all change in the second half. In the 63rd minute Rodrigo Vargas
looked to have scored for Melbourne, however his celebrations were cut short by an offside flag. In the confusion that followed Sydney counter attacked and 10 seconds later, Mark Bridge
scored, sending the away bay into fits of hysteria. Sydney were up 1-0 and Melbourne looked shellshocked, Sydney had the opportunity to go 2-0 up, however nerves got the better of young striker Chris Payne
who missed an open goal shot. However Sydney's defence got sloppy, and later in the 81st minute, it would be Adrian Leijer
who equilised for the home side, sending the entire stadium bar the Sydney away bay into celebrations. As a result Sydney's confidence took a blow to the belly, and Melbourne could smell blood in the water, and can be considered very unlucky when young Aziz Behich
missed a chance to go 2-1 up.
With the Fulltime scores locked at 1-1, the game went into extra time, however neither side managed to have many good attacking opportunities, fatigue getting the better of most of the players. With the end of extra time - 120 minutes, still deadlocked at 1-1 the game went into penalties, yet another first for a grand final. It was deemed Sydney would take the first shot on goal.
Simon Colosimo
calmly put the ball past Mitchell Langerak
to give Sydney a 1-0 advantage. Kevin Muscat
stepped up next, however his shot hit the right upright, sending Sydney players and fans alike into celebrations. It would be a bad omen for Melbourne. Shannon Cole
next stepped up for Sydney, however his shot was saved, dragging Melbourne right back into the shootout. Grant Brebner
would level the scores at 1-1 putting all the pressure back onto Sydney. However, if there was any pressure, the Sydney players were not showing it, Hayden Foxe
nearly ripped the net off with his penalty, whilst Clint Bolton
pulled off a wonderful save from Melbourne's Costa Rica
n international Marvin Angulo
. Karol Kisel
would score his penalty to give Sydney a 3-1 lead. Leigh Broxham
would give Melbourne a faint glimmer of hope, when he scored to make it 3-2, however Sydney FC's Korean import Byun Sung-Hwan
stepped up to take the final penalty. If he scored, Sydney won, if he missed or it was saved the shootout would continue. However he calmly stepped up and sent Langerak the wrong way. Sydney FC had won the 2010 Grand Final, doing what nobody had predicted at the beginging of the season - not only winning the grand final, doing the double, and taking the Premiership and Championship of Melbourne.
Sydney FC
failed to snare Fulham FC as well as Everton FC, with Fulham playing other A-League clubs on their tour. Sydney still have the opportunity to snare other Asian or Middle Eastern clubs. Sydney have arranged several matches with New South Wales Premier League
clubs for preparation for the 2009/10 season. It has also been revealed that Sydney FC has managed to get Premier League club Middlesbrough on a friendly on 18 June.
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The reason for the match against Perth Glory being moved from the SFS to Parramatta Stadium is due to the Edinburgh Military Tattoo
. Sydney have played at the western Sydney stadium before when they moved their venue of the AFC Champions League
group match against Persik Kediri
to Parramatta due to the annual Anzac Day NRL match between the Sydney Roosters
and St. George Illawarra Dragons.
Other venues that Sydney FC will play away from home are:
(Current as of Round 26)
(Current as of Round 9)
The following players from Sydney FC were chosen to represent their country in the 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification
for the 2011 Asian Cup:
Alex Brosque
VS (
Oman, 
Kuwait, 
Indonesia) Simon Colosimo
VS ( Kuwait, Indonesia) Clint Bolton
VS ( Indonesia) Shannon Cole
VS ( Indonesia) Stuart Musialik
VS ( Indonesia)
2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup
The following players from Sydney FC were chosen to represent their country in the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup
in Egypt
:
Kofi Danning
Rhyan Grant
Matthew Jurman
Sam Munro Sam Gallagher
AFC U-19 Championship 2010 qualification
The following players from Sydney FC were chosen to represent their country in the AFC U-19 Championship 2010 qualification
in Indonesia
:
Rhyan Grant
Kofi Danning
Kerem Bulut
Dimitrios Petratos Sam Gallagher
will be the home shirt sponsor for the upcoming season and Sony
Australia will be the away kit sponsor.
Home
Away
Sydney FC
Sydney FC is a professional football club based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and competes in the country's premier football competition, the A-League...
's fifth consecutive season in the A-League since its inception.
2009-10 squad
Players included in the Sydney FC squad for the 2009-10 season- ** Injury replacement player for Matthew JurmanMatthew JurmanMatthew Jurman is an football player who currently plays for Brisbane Roar as a centre back, or occasionally as a left back . He graduated from Westfields Sports High School in 2007.-Sydney FC:...
.
Injury list
| Player | Injury | Set date to return |
|---|---|---|
 Kofi DanningKofi Danning Kofi Danning is an Ghanaian born Australian football player who plays for the A-League club Brisbane Roar. -Early life:Kofi Danning was born in Kumasi in southern central Ghana... |
Anterior cruciate ligament injury | Next season |
| Matthew Jurman Matthew Jurman Matthew Jurman is an football player who currently plays for Brisbane Roar as a centre back, or occasionally as a left back . He graduated from Westfields Sports High School in 2007.-Sydney FC:... |
Foot Injury | End of season |
| Steve Corica Steve Corica Stephen Christopher Corica is a former Australian football player who last played for Australian A-League team Sydney FC. A technically gifted and skillful player playing primarily as an attacking midfielder, he is very versatile, able to play both centrally or out wide, or even pushed up as a... |
Hamstring tear/Retirement | Retirement |
| Rhyan Grant Rhyan Grant Rhyan Grant is an Australian football player who currently plays for A-League club Sydney FC as well as Australia's U-20 team.-Sydney FC:... |
Ankle Injury | End of season |
| Adam Casey Adam Casey Adam Casey is an Australian professional football player who currently plays for Dandaloo FC in the Illawarra Premier League.-Club career:... |
Hamstring Injury | Indefinite |
Transfers
Out| Player | To | League | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iain Fyfe Iain Fyfe Iain Fyfe is an Australian football player who currently plays as defender for Busan I'Park in the K-League.- Club career :On completion of his SASI program in 2000, Iain joined hometown NSL club Adelaide City... |
Adelaide United | Hyundai A-League |
Free |
| Brendon Santalab Brendon Santalab Brendon Šantalab is an Australian football player, currently playing as striker for Chengdu Blades.-Club career:... |
North Queensland North Queensland Fury FC North Queensland Fury FC were a professional football club based in Townsville, Queensland, Australia, which competed in the A-League. North Queensland played its home fixtures at Dairy Farmers Stadium. The club was closed on 1 March 2011, due to financial instability.-History:A Townsville bid was... |
Hyundai A-League |
Free |
| Robbie Middleby Robbie Middleby Robert Middleby is a former Australian football player who is the CEO for the Newcastle Jets in the A-League.-Club career:... |
North Queensland North Queensland Fury FC North Queensland Fury FC were a professional football club based in Townsville, Queensland, Australia, which competed in the A-League. North Queensland played its home fixtures at Dairy Farmers Stadium. The club was closed on 1 March 2011, due to financial instability.-History:A Townsville bid was... |
Hyundai A-League |
Free |
| Jacob Timpano Jacob Timpano Jacob Timpano in Wollongong, Australia) is an Australian football player who currently plays for NSW Premier League club South Coast Wolves FC.-Club career:... |
North Queensland North Queensland Fury FC North Queensland Fury FC were a professional football club based in Townsville, Queensland, Australia, which competed in the A-League. North Queensland played its home fixtures at Dairy Farmers Stadium. The club was closed on 1 March 2011, due to financial instability.-History:A Townsville bid was... |
Hyundai A-League |
Free |
| Beau Busch Beau Busch Beau Busch is an Australian football player currently playing for Arbroath of the Scottish Second Division.-Club career:Busch trialled with the Newcastle Jets for a number of months during the 2008 pre-season.... |
North Queensland North Queensland Fury FC North Queensland Fury FC were a professional football club based in Townsville, Queensland, Australia, which competed in the A-League. North Queensland played its home fixtures at Dairy Farmers Stadium. The club was closed on 1 March 2011, due to financial instability.-History:A Townsville bid was... |
Hyundai A-League |
Free |
| Nikolas Tsattalios Nikolas Tsattalios Nikolas Constantinos Tsattalios is an Australian football player who currently plays for Wellington Phoenix in the A-League.-Club career:... |
Newcastle | Hyundai A-League |
Free |
| Ryan Walsh Ryan Walsh (footballer) Ryan Walsh is an Australian football player, who currently plays for Blacktown City Demons.He was signed to A-League team Sydney FC on a two-month loan from NSW Premier League club, Blacktown City Demons in February 2008. He made his debut for Sydney in their 3-0 loss to Houston Dynamo at the... |
Blacktown City Demons Blacktown City Demons Blacktown City FC, formerly The Demons, are an Australian football club based in Blacktown, New South Wales, Australia. The club was formed in 1953 as Toongabbie Soccer Club and changed their name to Blacktown City in 1979... |
NSWPL New South Wales Premier League The New South Wales Premier League is the highest state-level men's soccer competition in New South Wales, Australia. Nationally, it is considered one grade lower than the A-League... |
Loan spell ended |
| Dez Giraldi Dez Giraldi Dezmon Wallace Giraldi is a football player.-Club career:Giraldi signed with Australian A-League club Adelaide United for the 2006-07 season, after a four-week stint with the Central Coast Mariners during the 2005-06 A-League season... |
Wollongong FC | NSWPL New South Wales Premier League The New South Wales Premier League is the highest state-level men's soccer competition in New South Wales, Australia. Nationally, it is considered one grade lower than the A-League... |
Loan spell ended |
| Adam Biddle Adam Biddle (footballer) Adam Biddle is an Australian football player who plays for Blacktown City Demons.-Club career:... |
Released | - | Released |
 Bobby PettaBobby Petta Alfred Manuel "Bobby" Petta is a retired Dutch professional footballer and is currently a personal trainer based in Glasgow... |
Released | - | Released |
 Michael EnfieldMichael Enfield Michael Enfield is an American soccer player, currently playing for Ventura County Fusion in the USL Premier Development League.-College and Amateur:... |
Released | - | Released |
In
| Player | From | League | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sebastian Ryall Sebastian Ryall Sebastian Ryall is an Australian football player who currently plays as a defender for Sydney FC.-Melbourne Victory:Ryall played junior football for West Pymble Soccer Club in Sydney... |
Melbourne Victory FC |
Hyundai A-League |
Free |
 Karol KiselKarol Kisel Karol Kisel is a Slovak footballer who is currently playing for Sydney FC in the Australian A-League. He is the Vice-Captain of Sydney.-Club career:... |
 AC Sparta Prague |
Gambrinus Liga Gambrinus Liga The Gambrinus liga is a Czech professional league for football clubs. At the top of the Czech football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 16 clubs, operating a system of promotion and relegation with the Czech 2. Liga. Seasons run from August to May,... |
Free |
 Byun Sung-HwanByun Sung-Hwan Byun Sung-Hwan is a South Korean footballer player who plays for the A-League club Newcastle Jets.-Sydney FC:... |
Jeju United FC Jeju United FC Jeju United Football Club is a South Korean professional football club. The club is based in Seogwipo, Jeju of South Korea.-History:... |
K-League K-League The Korea Professional Football League is South Korea's only fully professional association football league. At the top of the South Korean football league system, it is the country's highest and most prestigious level of football competition currently contested by 16 clubs.-Establishment:The... |
Free |
 Stephan KellerStephan Keller Stephan Keller is a Swiss footballer who plays for Willem II.-Europe:Keller is a defender, born in Zürich, who played 13 years youth career for Grasshopper Club Zürich... |
De Graafschap De Graafschap De Graafschap is a professional football club from Doetinchem, Netherlands. It was formed on 1 February 1954 and they play their home games at the "De Vijverberg" stadium. Their current home ground stands on where the old pitch used to be located and was opened on 12 August 2000... |
Eredivisie Eredivisie The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA.... |
Free |
January transfer window transfers
In| Player | From | League | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hayden Foxe Hayden Foxe Hayden Vernon Foxe is a former Australian football player. He last played with A-League club Sydney FC.-Europe:... |
Free agent Free agent In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise.... |
Injury cover for Matthew Jurman Matthew Jurman Matthew Jurman is an football player who currently plays for Brisbane Roar as a centre back, or occasionally as a left back . He graduated from Westfields Sports High School in 2007.-Sydney FC:... |
|
| Sam Gallagher Sam Gallagher Sam Gallagher is an Australian football player who currently plays for Central Coast Mariners.- Club career :Gallagher spent his junior career at Gladesville Spirit, the NSW Institute of Sport and then Manly United FC before being signed for the Sydney FC National Youth League team.He was called... |
Sydney FC Youth Team | A-League National Youth League A-League National Youth League The A-League National Youth League is an Australian national football league run in parallel to the A-League. The aim of a league is to provide a pathway for young players and state league players to play regular high-level football, and allow reserve players from senior A-League teams to remain... |
Injury cover for Sebastian Ryall Sebastian Ryall Sebastian Ryall is an Australian football player who currently plays as a defender for Sydney FC.-Melbourne Victory:Ryall played junior football for West Pymble Soccer Club in Sydney... |
Out
| Player | To | League | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mitchell Prentice Mitchell Prentice Mitchell Prentice is an Australian football player who is currently off contract after being released by Sydney FC in the transfer window.-Club career:... |
released |
Events
Pre-seasonAfter a disappointing 08-09
Sydney FC season 2008-09
The 2008–09 season is Sydney FC's fourth season of football in Australia, and will compete in the A-League 2008-09 season.-2008-09 Squad:-Pre-season:...
season, Sydney FC went straight into action, sacking coach John Kosmina
John Kosmina
Alexander John Kosmina , known as John Kosmina, is a former Australian football player and manager of Polish Australian ethnicity. He was most recently the manager of Sydney FC...
. A week later, Czech coach, Vítězslav Lavička
Vítezslav Lavicka
Vítězslav Lavička is a Czech football manager and former player currently in charge of Australian A-League club Sydney FC.-Playing career:...
, was signed as Sydney's fifth manager in as many seasons.
Sydney had a friendly match in China, with new sister club Shanghai Shenhua
Shanghai Shenhua
Shanghai Shenhua is a professional Chinese football club currently playing in Chinese Super League. The club is currently owned by Zhu Jun , Shanghai SVA Group, SMEG and Huangpu Investment Ltd. . The current head coach is Dražen Besek...
. Sydney FC lost the match 2-1, with their goal coming from striker Alex Brosque
Alex Brosque
Alex Brosque is an Australian professional football player who currently plays for J. League side Shimizu S-Pulse...
, who scored halfway through the second half to level the scores at 1-1. John Aloisi who had a poor last season, showed he had hit form, but being very unlucky to have 2 goals disallowed during the first half. It was the first game for former Sydney and Socceroos
Australia national football (soccer) team
The Australia national association football team represents Australia in international association football competitions. Its official nickname is the "Socceroos"...
Tony Popovic
Tony Popovic
Anthony Popovic is a Croatian Australian former football player. He last played for Sydney FC. He is currently the First Team Coach of Crystal Palace. Popovic grew up in Fairfield, New South Wales.-Early career:...
as caretaker coach.
On 3 April, it was confirmed that new coach Lavicka had signed his first player, former Slovakian International
Slovakia national football team
The Slovakia national football team represents Slovakia in association football and is controlled by the Slovak Football Association , the governing body for football in Slovakia. Slovakia's home stadium is Štadión Pasienky and their head coach is Vladimír Weiss...
Karol Kisel
Karol Kisel
Karol Kisel is a Slovak footballer who is currently playing for Sydney FC in the Australian A-League. He is the Vice-Captain of Sydney.-Club career:...
, who had played under Viteslav when he coached AC Sparta Prague.
Sydney was thrown into scandal involving new signing Sebastian Ryall
Sebastian Ryall
Sebastian Ryall is an Australian football player who currently plays as a defender for Sydney FC.-Melbourne Victory:Ryall played junior football for West Pymble Soccer Club in Sydney...
who was charged with the sexual assault
Sexual assault
Sexual assault is an assault of a sexual nature on another person, or any sexual act committed without consent. Although sexual assaults most frequently are by a man on a woman, it may involve any combination of two or more men, women and children....
of a 13-year-old girl, while he was playing with Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory Football Club is an Australian professional football club based in Melbourne, Victoria, that plays in the A-League....
. He was stood down by the FFA
Football Federation Australia
Football Federation Australia is the governing body for the sport of football in Australia. Before 1 January 2005, it was known as the Australian Soccer Association , which succeeded Soccer Australia in this role in 2003...
from the Sydney FC, and national team until 3 September. These charges were later dropped.
When the Football Federation Australia
Football Federation Australia
Football Federation Australia is the governing body for the sport of football in Australia. Before 1 January 2005, it was known as the Australian Soccer Association , which succeeded Soccer Australia in this role in 2003...
announced that the usual A-League pre-season cup wouldn't be held due to financial reasons, it meant that teams would have to organise their own friendlies in the months before the start of the season. This opened up many possibilities. Across the A-League a few teams managed to bring over some well known sides. Sydney was linked with English Premier League side Everton for their Asian Tour, and recently relegated Middlesbrough FC, who both pulled out in the last minute, and stated that if they were to tour Australia, they would want to play more than one team. At one stage Spanish Giants Barcelona FC were being rumoured to be coming out. Nevertheless, the new coach organised a dozen friendlies with strong New South Wales Premier League
New South Wales Premier League
The New South Wales Premier League is the highest state-level men's soccer competition in New South Wales, Australia. Nationally, it is considered one grade lower than the A-League...
and New South Wales Super League teams. Despite the opposition being weaker than expected, Sydney had a fantastic start. Sydney also trialled several overseas players and on 25 June Lavicka signed South Korean Left Back
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
Byun Sung-Hwan
Byun Sung-Hwan
Byun Sung-Hwan is a South Korean footballer player who plays for the A-League club Newcastle Jets.-Sydney FC:...
.
Along with the new outfits Sydney FC also welcomed a new major sponsor, Japanese Electronic giants, Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
, who signed a contract with Sydney. They replaced JVC
JVC
, usually referred to as JVC, is a Japanese international consumer and professional electronics corporation based in Yokohama, Japan which was founded in 1927...
who decided not to renew their sponsorship due to the Global financial crisis of 2008–2009. New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
based Electronics retailer Bing Lee
Bing Lee
Bing Lee is an Australian retailing company, a chain of superstores specializing in consumer electronics, computer and telecommunication goods. Bing Lee is the largest privately-held electrical retail business in New South Wales with 41 stores and a turnover of about $490 million...
would continue to sponsor Sydney FC. Bing Lee's logo would be featured on the front of the Home Jerseys and on the front and back of the right leg of the away jerseys, whilst Sony will now take up the away Jersey, and the front and back of the right leg of the home kit. Coach Vitezslav Lavicka would go on to sign his last player of the season, Stephan Keller
Stephan Keller
Stephan Keller is a Swiss footballer who plays for Willem II.-Europe:Keller is a defender, born in Zürich, who played 13 years youth career for Grasshopper Club Zürich...
on a 1 year contract, who had recently been released by then Eredivisie
Eredivisie
The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA....
club De Graafschap
De Graafschap
De Graafschap is a professional football club from Doetinchem, Netherlands. It was formed on 1 February 1954 and they play their home games at the "De Vijverberg" stadium. Their current home ground stands on where the old pitch used to be located and was opened on 12 August 2000...
after they had been relegated. He played in the final trial game against the Jets and impressed significantly in the 1-1 draw.
Season
V North Queensland Fury (away at Dairy Farmers Stadium
Dairy Farmers Stadium
The Willows Sports Complex, currently known as Dairy Farmers Stadium due to sponsorship rights, is a grass football stadium situated in Townsville, Queensland, Australia. It has historically been used mainly for rugby league, and is the home ground of the National Rugby League club the North...
, Townsville)
Sydney flew up to Townsville to face newcomers North Queensland Fury, boasting an impressive squad that included all their VISA players. Just after 4 minutes marquee man, John Aloisi
John Aloisi
John Aloisi is a retired Australian football player who played as a striker, and the current youth team manager at Melbourne Heart....
, put last seasons troubles behind him, opening the score on the back of a wonderful counter-attack that came off a saved Robbie Fowler
Robbie Fowler
Robert Bernard Fowler is an English footballer who is currently player/manager for Thai Premier League club Muangthong United....
free kick down the other end of the field. Sydney would double that lead to 2-0 20 minutes later through Kofi Danning
Kofi Danning
Kofi Danning is an Ghanaian born Australian football player who plays for the A-League club Brisbane Roar. -Early life:Kofi Danning was born in Kumasi in southern central Ghana...
, before North Queensland managed to get back into the game shortly before half time with a headed goal through a corner. The scoreline would be drawn to 2-2 several minutes after the resume of play, when Shannon Cole
Shannon Cole
Shannon Cole is a midfielder who currently plays in the Australian football A-League for Sydney FC.-Early life:Shannon attended St Ambrose primary school, Concord West, and St Patrick's College, Strathfield...
fouled Jason Spagnuolo
Jason Spagnuolo
Jason Spagnuolo is an Australian football right midfielder who currently plays for Adelaide City in the South Australian Super League.-Club career:...
in the box. God
Robbie Fowler
Robert Bernard Fowler is an English footballer who is currently player/manager for Thai Premier League club Muangthong United....
stepped up and coolly slotted the ball past Bolton
Clint Bolton
Clint Brian Bolton is an Australian football player who plays as a goalkeeper for Melbourne Heart in the Australian A-League. He was one of the most experienced goalkeepers in the history of the National Soccer League, which preceded the A-League...
who remained glued to the spot. It seemed like it would end a draw, but with 17 minutes remaining John Aloisi slotted a ball straight into the box, and a chasing Alex Brosque
Alex Brosque
Alex Brosque is an Australian professional football player who currently plays for J. League side Shimizu S-Pulse...
was tripped by a beaten Paul Henderson
Paul Henderson
Paul Henderson is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. A left winger, Henderson played 13 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs and Atlanta Flames...
. John Aloisi
John Aloisi
John Aloisi is a retired Australian football player who played as a striker, and the current youth team manager at Melbourne Heart....
calmly sent the keeper the wrong way and put the penalty straight down the middle, to give the visitors their first win of the season.
V Adelaide United (home at Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney)
In front of a decent first home crowd of nearly 15,000, Sydney came up against arch rivals Adelaide. Always a fiery and closely contested contest, there was once again nothing between the 2 teams both looking very dangerous and despite some close opportunities to take the lead from both sides, they both went into the half-time break locked at 0-0. The second half looked to be a battle for fitness, with Sydney dominating possession in the second half and a tired Adelaide struggling to stay in the contest, former Jets striker Mark Bridge
Mark Bridge
Mark Bridge is an Australian football player. He currently plays as a striker for Australian A-League club Sydney FC.-Newcastle United Jets FC:...
would prove to be the difference between to the two clubs, coming on for Steve Corica
Steve Corica
Stephen Christopher Corica is a former Australian football player who last played for Australian A-League team Sydney FC. A technically gifted and skillful player playing primarily as an attacking midfielder, he is very versatile, able to play both centrally or out wide, or even pushed up as a...
half way through the half, and a few minutes after coming on played a nice 1-2 move with Kofi Danning
Kofi Danning
Kofi Danning is an Ghanaian born Australian football player who plays for the A-League club Brisbane Roar. -Early life:Kofi Danning was born in Kumasi in southern central Ghana...
and belted the ball past the hapless Adelaide keeper. Sydney held onto the lead almost conceding minutes from time but managed to pull of a narrow victory and move into 2nd on the ladder, with 2 wins from as many games, behind Gold Coast United.
V Central Coast Mariners (away at Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford)
The South NSW derby
South NSW derby
The NSW derby involves two of the teams from NSW in the Australian A-League, the Central Coast Mariners and Sydney FC. The rivalry has developed due to the relatively short distance between the clubs as well as a number of notable games contested between the two.The rivalry began when the two sides...
was once again played out in front of a smallish crowd of 10,000 on a warm Gosford afternoon, in a game which turned out to be once more a stalemate, similar to the 0-0 stalemate played at Leichhardt Oval
Leichhardt Oval
Leichhardt Oval is a football stadium in Leichhardt, New South Wales, Australia. It is a home ground for the Wests Tigers rugby league team. The stadium has a nominal capacity of 20,000, with recorded highest crowd figures of 23,000 in the 1981 KB Tooth final South Sydney Rabbitohs versus...
a few months beforehand. Both sides had their chances, and despite Sydney looking fitter, it seemed to be a typical A-League style long-ball game; both sides not really gaining the upper hand. Sydney had their chances; main striker and marquee player John Aloisi
John Aloisi
John Aloisi is a retired Australian football player who played as a striker, and the current youth team manager at Melbourne Heart....
coming close on 76 minutes, denied by the fingertips and reflexes of the Mariners keeper Danny Vukovic
Danny Vukovic
Danny Vukovic is an Australian football player of Serbian decent. Who has recently signed a three year contract with the Perth Glory, an Australian-based A League franchise.-Club career:...
. However it was to be the custodian between the sticks for the sky blues, Clint Bolton
Clint Bolton
Clint Brian Bolton is an Australian football player who plays as a goalkeeper for Melbourne Heart in the Australian A-League. He was one of the most experienced goalkeepers in the history of the National Soccer League, which preceded the A-League...
pulling off a wonder save penalty after John Hutchinson
John Hutchinson (footballer)
John Hutchinson is a Maltese-Australian football player. He currently plays as a central midfielder for the Australian A-League club Central Coast Mariners...
was brought down in a clattering tackle by Simon Colosimo
Simon Colosimo
Simon Colosimo is an Australian football player who plays as a central defender for Melbourne Heart. He has represented the Australia national team on over twenty-five occasions.-Club career:...
and Byun Sung-Hwan
Byun Sung-Hwan
Byun Sung-Hwan is a South Korean footballer player who plays for the A-League club Newcastle Jets.-Sydney FC:...
, who were both lucky to not be booked. Adam Kwasnik
Adam Kwasnik
Adam Kwasnik is an Australian football player. He currently plays as a striker for the Australian A-League club the Central Coast Mariners.-Club career:...
took the penalty and was denied by Bolton, regaining the faith and trust of some Sydney FC supporters who believed was past his prime. He would save Sydney yet again minutes later, pulling off another fantastic save from Dylan MacAllister
Dylan Macallister
Dylan Jacob Macallister is an Australian football player who plays as a forward for A-League club Gold Coast United...
, earning himself man of the match, in what was ultimately a dull match.
V Wellington Phoenix (home at Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney)
The Sydney V Wellington Trans-Tasman
Tasman Sea
The Tasman Sea is the large body of water between Australia and New Zealand, approximately across. It extends 2,800 km from north to south. It is a south-western segment of the South Pacific Ocean. The sea was named after the Dutch explorer Abel Janszoon Tasman, the first recorded European...
matches had always proven to be Sydney's bogey, especially at the SFS. Wellington had won 2 of the 3 matches played there since their inaugural season, and Sydney knew it would be a tough battle. The first half would be locked in a difficult stalemate, with both sides feeling each other out as both sides struggled to gain the upper hand possession wise. Midfielder Terry McFlynn
Terry McFlynn
Terence Martin "Terry" McFlynn is a football player from Swatragh, Northern Ireland. He plays as a central midfielder for the Australian A-League team Sydney FC. He is the current captain.-Club career:...
was subbed off early for Brendan Gan
Brendan Gan
Brendan Gan is an Australian footballer who currently plays for Sabah FA in the Malaysian Super League.-Club career:Gan began playing football for his local club, the Marton Hammers before he signed for the Sutherland Sharks in 2000 when he was twelve years old and came up through their youth...
with what looked to be an unfortunate thigh injury. Despite the loss of McFlynn, Sydney remained strong and dominated the possession early in the second half. Options seemed to be running out for coach Vitezslav when he put Steve Corica
Steve Corica
Stephen Christopher Corica is a former Australian football player who last played for Australian A-League team Sydney FC. A technically gifted and skillful player playing primarily as an attacking midfielder, he is very versatile, able to play both centrally or out wide, or even pushed up as a...
on for Kofi Danning
Kofi Danning
Kofi Danning is an Ghanaian born Australian football player who plays for the A-League club Brisbane Roar. -Early life:Kofi Danning was born in Kumasi in southern central Ghana...
but soon after, the fitter Sydney side gained the upper hand through a corner which was whipped in by Karol Kisel
Karol Kisel
Karol Kisel is a Slovak footballer who is currently playing for Sydney FC in the Australian A-League. He is the Vice-Captain of Sydney.-Club career:...
and Brendan Gan
Brendan Gan
Brendan Gan is an Australian footballer who currently plays for Sabah FA in the Malaysian Super League.-Club career:Gan began playing football for his local club, the Marton Hammers before he signed for the Sutherland Sharks in 2000 when he was twelve years old and came up through their youth...
who managed to lose his defender, got his head on the end of the cross, and buried it into the back of the net in the 77th minute. What little air was left in Wellington's sails blew away only minutes later, when a counter-attack from a Wellington corner had Alex Brosque crossing the ball into the box where marquee striker John Aloisi
John Aloisi
John Aloisi is a retired Australian football player who played as a striker, and the current youth team manager at Melbourne Heart....
angled the ball past a tired Wellington shot stopper for Sydney's well-deserved second goal. Aloisi would be subbed minutes after the goal for Matthew Jurman
Matthew Jurman
Matthew Jurman is an football player who currently plays for Brisbane Roar as a centre back, or occasionally as a left back . He graduated from Westfields Sports High School in 2007.-Sydney FC:...
but the Sky Blues Held on for a convincing 2-0 win which leapfrogged them past Gold Coast United into #1 Position, after the Newcastle Jets had earlier defeated them, 1-0 in Newcastle
Newcastle, New South Wales
The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas...
.
V Gold Coast United (away at Skilled Park, Gold Coast
Gold Coast, Queensland
Gold Coast is a coastal city of Australia located in South East Queensland, 94km south of the state capital Brisbane. With a population approximately 540,000 in 2010, it is the second most populous city in the state, the sixth most populous city in the country, and also the most populous...
)
Sydney travelled to the Gold Coast's Skilled Park for the top-of-the-table clash, one point clear of opponents Gold Coast United. Gold Coast were with without Socceroo marquee player Jason Culina
Jason Culina
Jason Culina is an Australian footballer who plays for the Australia national football team.- Club career :Culina started off with Sydney United under his father, Branko, before moving on to Ajax where he struggled in the reserves. Only after moving to FC Twente did Culina begin to shine at the...
whilst Sydney was without Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
midfielder Terry McFlynn
Terry McFlynn
Terence Martin "Terry" McFlynn is a football player from Swatragh, Northern Ireland. He plays as a central midfielder for the Australian A-League team Sydney FC. He is the current captain.-Club career:...
who was replaced with former National Youth League player Rhyan Grant
Rhyan Grant
Rhyan Grant is an Australian football player who currently plays for A-League club Sydney FC as well as Australia's U-20 team.-Sydney FC:...
. The first 10 to 20 minutes saw Gold Coast dominate but Sydney's strong-knitted defence held them off. Joel Porter
Joel Porter
Joel William Porter is an Australian football player who plays as a striker for the Hyundai A-League team Gold Coast United...
made a promising start to the game for the home team but in the 19th minute he was forced to be substituted due to a calf injury and was replaced by Brazilian import Robson
Robson Alves da Silva
Robson Alves da Silva, known as Robson, , is a Brazilian football player, currently under contract with A-League expansion club, Gold Coast United.-Club career:...
. Alex Brosque
Alex Brosque
Alex Brosque is an Australian professional football player who currently plays for J. League side Shimizu S-Pulse...
should have scored for Sydney in the 30th minute following a clever one-two with John Aloisi
John Aloisi
John Aloisi is a retired Australian football player who played as a striker, and the current youth team manager at Melbourne Heart....
but the attacking midfielder sprayed his shot wide. It took a piece of magic from Shane Smeltz
Shane Smeltz
Shane Edward Smeltz is a New Zealand professional association football player. He plays as a striker for Perth Glory FC.-Club career:...
just before half-time for the crowd to erupt. Matt Osman's free kick was directed at Shane Smeltz
Shane Smeltz
Shane Edward Smeltz is a New Zealand professional association football player. He plays as a striker for Perth Glory FC.-Club career:...
, who looped a header into the corner of the net, giving goalkeeper Clint Bolton
Clint Bolton
Clint Brian Bolton is an Australian football player who plays as a goalkeeper for Melbourne Heart in the Australian A-League. He was one of the most experienced goalkeepers in the history of the National Soccer League, which preceded the A-League...
little chance. In the 56th minute, Shane Smeltz
Shane Smeltz
Shane Edward Smeltz is a New Zealand professional association football player. He plays as a striker for Perth Glory FC.-Club career:...
finished off the contest by beating Shannon Cole
Shannon Cole
Shannon Cole is a midfielder who currently plays in the Australian football A-League for Sydney FC.-Early life:Shannon attended St Ambrose primary school, Concord West, and St Patrick's College, Strathfield...
to an awful Karol Kisel
Karol Kisel
Karol Kisel is a Slovak footballer who is currently playing for Sydney FC in the Australian A-League. He is the Vice-Captain of Sydney.-Club career:...
back-pass and calmly slotting the ball past the keeper. Sydney FC
Sydney FC
Sydney FC is a professional football club based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and competes in the country's premier football competition, the A-League...
gave themselves a chance of saving a draw when substitute Steve Corica
Steve Corica
Stephen Christopher Corica is a former Australian football player who last played for Australian A-League team Sydney FC. A technically gifted and skillful player playing primarily as an attacking midfielder, he is very versatile, able to play both centrally or out wide, or even pushed up as a...
headed home a Shannon Cole
Shannon Cole
Shannon Cole is a midfielder who currently plays in the Australian football A-League for Sydney FC.-Early life:Shannon attended St Ambrose primary school, Concord West, and St Patrick's College, Strathfield...
cross in the 75th minute and then John Aloisi
John Aloisi
John Aloisi is a retired Australian football player who played as a striker, and the current youth team manager at Melbourne Heart....
had a free kick just outside the box in the 89th minute - but he slammed the ball into United's wall. The final score, Gold Coast United 2, Sydney FC
Sydney FC
Sydney FC is a professional football club based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and competes in the country's premier football competition, the A-League...
1, in front of another disappointing Gold Coast
Gold Coast, Queensland
Gold Coast is a coastal city of Australia located in South East Queensland, 94km south of the state capital Brisbane. With a population approximately 540,000 in 2010, it is the second most populous city in the state, the sixth most populous city in the country, and also the most populous...
crowd of 6,406. Gold Coast United over took Sydney FC
Sydney FC
Sydney FC is a professional football club based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and competes in the country's premier football competition, the A-League...
on the table and now sit in first place with Sydney slipping down one spot to second.
V North Queensland Fury (home at Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney)
Sydney would pair up against Robbie Fowler
Robbie Fowler
Robert Bernard Fowler is an English footballer who is currently player/manager for Thai Premier League club Muangthong United....
's North Queensland side, sooner than expected. The match was originally scheduled to be played next door to the SFS at the historic Sydney Cricket Ground
Sydney Cricket Ground
The Sydney Cricket Ground is a sports stadium in Sydney in Australia. It is used for Australian football, Test cricket, One Day International cricket, some rugby league and rugby union matches and is the home ground for the New South Wales Blues cricket team and the Sydney Swans of the Australian...
. Sydney FC were coming off a loss to Gold Coast United, and were expected to beat a stronger North Queensland Fury who had yet to win a game, despite putting in solid performances against Adelaide United and Brisbane Roar in the previous weeks. A healthy crowd of 16,699 showed up to see Robbie Fowler in town, seeing as the NRL finals were being played at the same time. Sydney started strongly up until the 26th minute, when Sydney FC got a penalty, in almost identical fashion to the one received up in Townsville. John Aloisi stepped up, and in a miraculous piece of goalkeeping Paul Henderson
Paul Henderson
Paul Henderson is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. A left winger, Henderson played 13 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs and Atlanta Flames...
pulled off a wonder save, denying John Aloisi
John Aloisi
John Aloisi is a retired Australian football player who played as a striker, and the current youth team manager at Melbourne Heart....
, and Sydney FC the chance to go 1-0 up, leaving the fans in the stand devastated. The save was more important for Henderson, as he had been dropped the previous week, in response to calls of his somewhat lazy goalkeeping, in which he had conceded 12 goals in 5 rounds. The morale of Sydney FC dropped, and played second fiddle to a confident North Queensland attack, lucky to go in at the break 0-0. After the break, it was clear who was on top, Sydney FC were at the mercy of North Queensland, rarely getting the ball into the North Queensland half, and when doing so, lost the ball easily. It was only a matter of time before North Queensland scored, and in the 56th minute, they did so through Robbie Fowler, chipping an out-of-position Clint Bolton
Clint Bolton
Clint Brian Bolton is an Australian football player who plays as a goalkeeper for Melbourne Heart in the Australian A-League. He was one of the most experienced goalkeepers in the history of the National Soccer League, which preceded the A-League...
who was caught in no mans land, outside of his 6-yard box. Any life left in Sydney's attack was immediately drained, with Fowler unlucky not to score a second 5 minutes later. Despite a late frenzied attack, with Kofi Danning
Kofi Danning
Kofi Danning is an Ghanaian born Australian football player who plays for the A-League club Brisbane Roar. -Early life:Kofi Danning was born in Kumasi in southern central Ghana...
at the helm, Sydney were unable to equalise, and ended up losing the game 0-1, their second straight defeat.
V Newcastle Jets (home at Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney)
Both teams were coming off back to back losses in this highly anticipated round 7 clash. Both teams were suffering from an injury laden squad, with Newcastle having to bring Albanian
Albanians
Albanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...
-Australian Labinot Haliti
Labinot Haliti
Labinot Haliti is a football player who plays as striker for the Newcastle Jets in the A-League. He holds Albanian, Australian and Kosovar passports, making him eligible to represent Albania, Australia and the non FIFA-recognised Kosovo.-Club career:Haliti’s story begins in Kosovo’s capital,...
and Iraqi International
Iraq national football team
The Iraqi national football team represents Iraq in international football and is controlled by the Iraq Football Association. They won the 2007 Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup tournament.-The Golden Generation:...
Ali Abbas Al-Hilfi on loan to replace injured players, while Sydney were relying on a third-string squad with key players out injured Karol Kisel
Karol Kisel
Karol Kisel is a Slovak footballer who is currently playing for Sydney FC in the Australian A-League. He is the Vice-Captain of Sydney.-Club career:...
(flu), Stephan Keller
Stephan Keller
Stephan Keller is a Swiss footballer who plays for Willem II.-Europe:Keller is a defender, born in Zürich, who played 13 years youth career for Grasshopper Club Zürich...
(Calf), John Aloisi
John Aloisi
John Aloisi is a retired Australian football player who played as a striker, and the current youth team manager at Melbourne Heart....
(knee) and Terry McFlynn
Terry McFlynn
Terence Martin "Terry" McFlynn is a football player from Swatragh, Northern Ireland. He plays as a central midfielder for the Australian A-League team Sydney FC. He is the current captain.-Club career:...
(thigh). Young Guns Kofi Danning
Kofi Danning
Kofi Danning is an Ghanaian born Australian football player who plays for the A-League club Brisbane Roar. -Early life:Kofi Danning was born in Kumasi in southern central Ghana...
and Chris Payne
Chris Payne
Christopher 'Chris' Payne is an Australian football player currently signed with A League club Newcastle Jets.-Sydney FC:...
were also out of the squad on Young Socceroos duty. The game started strongly, with both teams taking advantage of several mistakes. Newcastle had a golden opportunity to take the lead in the 23rd minute, when they got a penalty, for a push in the box. The penalty was saved by a heroic Clint Bolton
Clint Bolton
Clint Brian Bolton is an Australian football player who plays as a goalkeeper for Melbourne Heart in the Australian A-League. He was one of the most experienced goalkeepers in the history of the National Soccer League, which preceded the A-League...
, saving his second penalty out of three this season. This save gave Sydney a massive boost of confidence, and no less than 5 minutes later, Mark Bridge
Mark Bridge
Mark Bridge is an Australian football player. He currently plays as a striker for Australian A-League club Sydney FC.-Newcastle United Jets FC:...
fired a rocket of a shot from the edge of the 18 yard box, into the top corner, giving Sydney the lead, and his second goal of the season. Although the lead wouldn't last long, 6 minutes later, a cross into the box had Clint Bolton
Clint Bolton
Clint Brian Bolton is an Australian football player who plays as a goalkeeper for Melbourne Heart in the Australian A-League. He was one of the most experienced goalkeepers in the history of the National Soccer League, which preceded the A-League...
saving the shot, but tipping it away to an open Matt Thompson, who tapped it in, past an outstretched Bolton. The scores stayed locked 1-1 going into half time, but 10 minutes into the second half Alex Brosque
Alex Brosque
Alex Brosque is an Australian professional football player who currently plays for J. League side Shimizu S-Pulse...
was fouled by Ben Kennedy
Ben Kennedy
Ben Kennedy , is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s...
in the box, in very much similar fashion to the two penalties he received against North Queensland Fury in both Townsville
Dairy Farmers Stadium
The Willows Sports Complex, currently known as Dairy Farmers Stadium due to sponsorship rights, is a grass football stadium situated in Townsville, Queensland, Australia. It has historically been used mainly for rugby league, and is the home ground of the National Rugby League club the North...
and a week earlier at the SFS. Steve Corica
Steve Corica
Stephen Christopher Corica is a former Australian football player who last played for Australian A-League team Sydney FC. A technically gifted and skillful player playing primarily as an attacking midfielder, he is very versatile, able to play both centrally or out wide, or even pushed up as a...
coolly stepped up and slotted it in the top right corner, past an outstretched palm. Despite a desperate Newcastle attack, Sydney held on for a very unconvincing 2-1 victory, giving them confidence to face Brisbane Roar at Suncorp Stadium
Suncorp Stadium
Lang Park is the original name of the site located in the Brisbane suburb of Milton, Queensland, Australia, now occupied by the major sports facility known by its sponsorship name, Suncorp Stadium...
next week.
V Brisbane Roar (away at Suncorp Stadium
Suncorp Stadium
Lang Park is the original name of the site located in the Brisbane suburb of Milton, Queensland, Australia, now occupied by the major sports facility known by its sponsorship name, Suncorp Stadium...
, Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
)
Sydney flew up to face Queensland rivals Brisbane Roar in what was considered to be the State Of Origin
State of Origin
State of Origin is the name used in Australia for one existing sporting event which involves domestic representative teams. The term, when used in isolation, usually refers to rugby league football, and occassionally Australian Football matches, in which players are selected for the Australian...
clash in the A-League. Brisbane were coming off a 4-2 loss to Perth Glory the week before and Sydney were coming off a 2-1 victory, but were still seen as the underdogs despite key players Karol Kisel
Karol Kisel
Karol Kisel is a Slovak footballer who is currently playing for Sydney FC in the Australian A-League. He is the Vice-Captain of Sydney.-Club career:...
and Stephan Keller
Stephan Keller
Stephan Keller is a Swiss footballer who plays for Willem II.-Europe:Keller is a defender, born in Zürich, who played 13 years youth career for Grasshopper Club Zürich...
being included back in the squad, after returning from minor injuries. Sydney started strongly, their confidence from a stronger squad showing, and had some early chances, however Brisbane would not be deterred, and the game swung back and forth until half time when both teams went in 0-0. The second half was much of the same affair, Sydney having a lot of good opportunities, including 2 skied shots from striker Mark Bridge, which commentators, and fellow Sydney supporters thought should have gone in. However Sydney couldn't hold their defence. 15 minutes before full time, Brisbane had 90% of the possession and despite a brave Sydney defence doing their best to stop Brisbane from scoring, the effort fell through 5 minutes before full time when Dutch striker Serginho van Dijk managed to get one past Bolton on Brisbane's third consecutive corner, giving his 4th goal against Sydney FC in two meetings. The final 5 or so minutes, Sydney threw everything but the Kitchen sink at the Brisbane defence, in the hope to salvage a draw, however despite them coming close on a couple of occasions, Liam Reddy
Liam Reddy
Liam Reddy is an Australian football player who is currently on a three year contract with the Hyundai A-League team, Sydney FC-Club career:...
's goal remained a fortress, and Brisbane hung onto a narrow 1-0 Victory.
V Central Coast Mariners (home at Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney)
The South NSW derby
South NSW derby
The NSW derby involves two of the teams from NSW in the Australian A-League, the Central Coast Mariners and Sydney FC. The rivalry has developed due to the relatively short distance between the clubs as well as a number of notable games contested between the two.The rivalry began when the two sides...
clash is always a highly anticipated clash between the fierce rivals of Sydney and Gosford. Geographically the teams are only 90 km away from each other, and a short drive up and down the freeway, and the rivalry is always intense. This week was not to be different, Sydney FC welcomed back Northern Irish midfield maestro
Midfield Maestro
The term Midfield Maestro is a cliché used in football to describe a midfield player that excels in the technical and creative aspects of midfield play. A midfield maestro often creates goalscoring opportunities for the attackers, while at the same time controlling the tempo of the match and...
Terry McFlynn
Terry McFlynn
Terence Martin "Terry" McFlynn is a football player from Swatragh, Northern Ireland. He plays as a central midfielder for the Australian A-League team Sydney FC. He is the current captain.-Club career:...
who had been out of the squad for the best part of a month with injury, but also welcomed the birth of his new child. He got his return debut off to a flying start in the 21st minute, when Stuart Musialik
Stuart Musialik
Stuart Musialik is an Australian football player who currently plays for Central Coast Mariners in the A-League.- Club career :...
held the ball outside the box, to put in a pinpoint accurate cross, which Terry Slammed into the top right hand corner. It couldn't have been a better return to football, as it gave the entire team the belief they could steamroll over the unpredictable Mariners. And they pretty much did that as well. For the remaining half Sydney looked the dominant team, Terry McFlynn unlucky not to score minutes later, and Steve Corica
Steve Corica
Stephen Christopher Corica is a former Australian football player who last played for Australian A-League team Sydney FC. A technically gifted and skillful player playing primarily as an attacking midfielder, he is very versatile, able to play both centrally or out wide, or even pushed up as a...
going centimetres wide of the post from a spectacular scissor-kick. The Second half would remain the same sort of story, the Mariners threw everything at the defence, but couldn't break the strong wall of Stephan Keller
Stephan Keller
Stephan Keller is a Swiss footballer who plays for Willem II.-Europe:Keller is a defender, born in Zürich, who played 13 years youth career for Grasshopper Club Zürich...
, Shannon Cole
Shannon Cole
Shannon Cole is a midfielder who currently plays in the Australian football A-League for Sydney FC.-Early life:Shannon attended St Ambrose primary school, Concord West, and St Patrick's College, Strathfield...
, Sebastian Ryall
Sebastian Ryall
Sebastian Ryall is an Australian football player who currently plays as a defender for Sydney FC.-Melbourne Victory:Ryall played junior football for West Pymble Soccer Club in Sydney...
and Simon Colosimo
Simon Colosimo
Simon Colosimo is an Australian football player who plays as a central defender for Melbourne Heart. He has represented the Australia national team on over twenty-five occasions.-Club career:...
. Sydney held on, and in the last 10 minutes, despite a massive thunderstorm above, continued to attack in the driving rain. With minutes to go defender Stephan Keller
Stephan Keller
Stephan Keller is a Swiss footballer who plays for Willem II.-Europe:Keller is a defender, born in Zürich, who played 13 years youth career for Grasshopper Club Zürich...
was involved in a nasty head clash attempting to head a ball, and was lying motionless on the ground, and had to be stretchered off. It was feared he had seriously injured his knee, however it was later revealed his knee was fine, and was suffering minor-concussion. He is expected to play next week against the Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory Football Club is an Australian professional football club based in Melbourne, Victoria, that plays in the A-League....
at Etihad Stadium. It was a clean match considering the derby, with controversial referee Matthew Breeze
Matthew Breeze
Matthew Christopher Breeze is an Australian association football referee. He is also a barrister and a former police prosecutor.-Domestic career:He officiates in the Australian A-League football competition....
not awarding a single yellow or red card to either sets of players.
V Melbourne Victory FC (away at Etihad Stadium, Melbourne)
Round 10 was the perfect opportunity to hold the A-League's Biggest Rivalry
The City Derby
The Big Blue, also known as The City Derby, is a football match between rivals Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory. It is one of the biggest football rivalries in Australia, perhaps only falling short of The Melbourne Derby between cross-town rivals Melbourne Victory and Melbourne Heart...
. Sydney and Melbourne fans hated each other with a passion, and this season it was no different. Sydney and Melbourne were positions 1 and 2 respectively on the table, the first time this had ever happened, and it only served to fuel the rivalry even more. Over 30,000 packed into Melbourne's Etihad Stadium to see the clash, both sides were at full strength, aside from Sydney FC missing Swiss defender Stephan Keller
Stephan Keller
Stephan Keller is a Swiss footballer who plays for Willem II.-Europe:Keller is a defender, born in Zürich, who played 13 years youth career for Grasshopper Club Zürich...
with a knee injury he had picked up the week before. The match started strongly, with Melbourne having good opportunities in the first 10 minutes through their imports Ney Fabiano and Carlos Hernández. However it would be Sydney FC who turned up the heat, in a blitz of goals, that left not only the Melbourne players in shock, but left the crowd silent (aside from the 1,000 Cove who had flown down). In the 14th minute, Sydney had a free kick outside the box, which Steve Corica
Steve Corica
Stephen Christopher Corica is a former Australian football player who last played for Australian A-League team Sydney FC. A technically gifted and skillful player playing primarily as an attacking midfielder, he is very versatile, able to play both centrally or out wide, or even pushed up as a...
took, the ball found its way soon after to Simon Colosimo
Simon Colosimo
Simon Colosimo is an Australian football player who plays as a central defender for Melbourne Heart. He has represented the Australia national team on over twenty-five occasions.-Club career:...
on the wing, who whipped it in, and found a rising Alex Brosque
Alex Brosque
Alex Brosque is an Australian professional football player who currently plays for J. League side Shimizu S-Pulse...
header, which found its way into the back of the net. Alex Brosque scored his first of the season, and the first of what would become a landslide of pressure. Minutes later after the kickoff, Sydney were breaking once more, Terry McFlynn
Terry McFlynn
Terence Martin "Terry" McFlynn is a football player from Swatragh, Northern Ireland. He plays as a central midfielder for the Australian A-League team Sydney FC. He is the current captain.-Club career:...
got a lovely ball through to striker Mark Bridge
Mark Bridge
Mark Bridge is an Australian football player. He currently plays as a striker for Australian A-League club Sydney FC.-Newcastle United Jets FC:...
, who swivelled, and slotted the ball through Evan Berger
Evan Berger
Evan James Berger is an Australian football player who plays as a left midfielder for Perth Glory in the Hyundai A-League.-Club career:...
's legs, and into the bottom right hand corner of the goal. The crowd was stunned, 2 goals in almost as many minutes had the entire state of Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
reeling. Once again after the kickoff, Sydney raced down the win, Shannon Cole
Shannon Cole
Shannon Cole is a midfielder who currently plays in the Australian football A-League for Sydney FC.-Early life:Shannon attended St Ambrose primary school, Concord West, and St Patrick's College, Strathfield...
this time putting in a perfectly weighted cross, which Mark Bridge
Mark Bridge
Mark Bridge is an Australian football player. He currently plays as a striker for Australian A-League club Sydney FC.-Newcastle United Jets FC:...
latched onto and put away to make it 3-0. It Seemed Sydney were unstoppable, and were unlucky to get a fourth through Terry McFlynn
Terry McFlynn
Terence Martin "Terry" McFlynn is a football player from Swatragh, Northern Ireland. He plays as a central midfielder for the Australian A-League team Sydney FC. He is the current captain.-Club career:...
who attempted to chip keeper Glen Moss
Glen Moss
Glen Moss is a New Zealand association football goalkeeper who currently plays for A-League club Gold Coast United, and has represented New Zealand at international level.-Return to the A-League:...
. He beat the keeper, and just when it seemed they had the goal, it bounced off the post and out of play.
The Second half started as deadly as it had finished. Shannon Cole
Shannon Cole
Shannon Cole is a midfielder who currently plays in the Australian football A-League for Sydney FC.-Early life:Shannon attended St Ambrose primary school, Concord West, and St Patrick's College, Strathfield...
made a break, using some tricky footwork to get past the defence, and drove a shot, beating a diving Moss
Glen Moss
Glen Moss is a New Zealand association football goalkeeper who currently plays for A-League club Gold Coast United, and has represented New Zealand at international level.-Return to the A-League:...
and narrowly scraping the outside of the post. Sydney would hold onto the lead, despite a spirited Melbourne fightback, in which Archie Thompson
Archie Thompson
Archibald Gerald Thompson is a New Zealand-born Australian professional football player, currently playing for Melbourne Victory in the Hyundai A-League, where he holds the League all time scoring record...
came close, but Sydney held on to the 3-0 win, leaving them at the top of the table, with by 4 points, which would be narrowed down to 2, due to other results. They play Adelaide next week, at Hindmarsh Stadium
Hindmarsh Stadium
Hindmarsh Stadium is a rectangular stadium located in Adelaide, South Australia. It is the home of the Australian A-League team, Adelaide United....
.
V Adelaide United (away at Hindmarsh Stadium
Hindmarsh Stadium
Hindmarsh Stadium is a rectangular stadium located in Adelaide, South Australia. It is the home of the Australian A-League team, Adelaide United....
, Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
Sydney travelled to Adelaide on the back of their largest win against Melbourne Victory full of confidence. Everything was pointing towards a massive Sydney win - Adelaide themselves had come off a loss, were missing several key players. Adelaide lost Defensive Midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
Fabien Barbiero in the opening 10 minutes after he pulled down Mark Bridge
Mark Bridge
Mark Bridge is an Australian football player. He currently plays as a striker for Australian A-League club Sydney FC.-Newcastle United Jets FC:...
as he made a break and was bound to score from a 1-on-1 with goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic
Eugene Galekovic
Eugen-Josip "Eugene" Galeković is an Australian football player who currently plays as a goalkeeper for Adelaide United in the A-League and internationally for Australia.-Club career:...
. Despite the one-man advantage, Sydney couldn't convert all the first half, and were put immediately on the back foot when Cristiano
Cristiano dos Santos Rodrigues
Cristiano dos Santos Rodrigues , commonly known as Cristiano, is a Brazilian footballer who plays as a striker for South Australian Premier League side White City FC.-Early career:...
put Adelaide up 1-0 from a corner. Sydney went into the break 1-0 down, despite being 1-0 up, and came out into the second half more focused, after being berated by coach Vitezslav Lavicka
Vítezslav Lavicka
Vítězslav Lavička is a Czech football manager and former player currently in charge of Australian A-League club Sydney FC.-Playing career:...
at half time. It only got worse for Sydney FC, conceding yet another goal from a corner half way through the second half. Clint Bolton
Clint Bolton
Clint Brian Bolton is an Australian football player who plays as a goalkeeper for Melbourne Heart in the Australian A-League. He was one of the most experienced goalkeepers in the history of the National Soccer League, which preceded the A-League...
got his gloves to the ball, but they were too slippery from the rain to get much grip and the ball trickled into the side netting, giving Cristiano
Cristiano dos Santos Rodrigues
Cristiano dos Santos Rodrigues , commonly known as Cristiano, is a Brazilian footballer who plays as a striker for South Australian Premier League side White City FC.-Early career:...
his second. Some strong resilience was shown from the Sydney team, and marquee striker John Aloisi
John Aloisi
John Aloisi is a retired Australian football player who played as a striker, and the current youth team manager at Melbourne Heart....
got 1 back with 10 minutes remaining, and Sydney would consider themselves very unlucky not to get themselves a second. However Adelaide United held on for a gutsy victory.
V Brisbane Roar (home at Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney)
Sydney had their first home game after being on the road for 2 weeks, against a Brisbane Roar who were still reeling from their losing streak, and coach of 4 years Frank Farina
Frank Farina
Frank Farina OAM is a retired Australian football player. He most currently coaches the Papua New Guinea national football team....
being sacked for Drink Driving. It was the first game in charge for coach Ange Postecoglou
Ange Postecoglou
Angelos "Ange" Postecoglou is a former Australian football player and manager of Brisbane Roar.-Club career:Postecoglou played 193 games from 1984 to 1993 for South Melbourne in the National Soccer League, where he was involved in their 1984 and 1990–91 titles, the latter as captain, before moving...
who had previously taken former-NSL
National Soccer League
The National Soccer League is the former national association football competition in Australasia, overseen by Soccer Australia and later the Australian Soccer Association. The NSL spanned 28 seasons from its inception in 1977, until its demise in 2004...
team Melbourne Knights
Melbourne Knights
Melbourne Knights Football Club is a football club representing Melbourne, Australia in the Victorian Premier League . The club is one of the most successful football clubs in Australia, being a two-time championship and four-time premiership winner in the now defunct National Soccer League...
to a double-championship. Sydney were hoping that the "curse of the new coach". Brisbane were also going into the game with a cut-down squad, key players of Craig Moore
Craig Moore
Craig Andrew Moore , is a retired Australian soccer defender.Moore is best known for his two spells with Scottish Premier Division / Scottish Premier League club Rangers...
and Scottish internationals Charlie Miller
Charlie Miller
Charles "Charlie" Miller is a Scottish football player who is currently without a club following his release from Clyde...
and Bob Malcolm out with injury. Despite going into half time 0-0 Sydney were the stronger team, and their strength would prove shortly after half time when striker Alex Brosque
Alex Brosque
Alex Brosque is an Australian professional football player who currently plays for J. League side Shimizu S-Pulse...
beat 2 defenders in his trademark style and put the ball away to give Sydney a 1-0 lead. Shortly after that new Slovakian import Karol Kisel
Karol Kisel
Karol Kisel is a Slovak footballer who is currently playing for Sydney FC in the Australian A-League. He is the Vice-Captain of Sydney.-Club career:...
opened up his goal account after being found in open space, and drove a powerful low shot, past Liam Reddy
Liam Reddy
Liam Reddy is an Australian football player who is currently on a three year contract with the Hyundai A-League team, Sydney FC-Club career:...
to make the scoreline 2-0. It appeared that would be enough for the Sydney side, but the Roar dug deep, and minutes after Sydney's second got a goal back through their youth player Isaka Cernak
Isaka Cernak
Isaka Aongor Cernak-Okanya , better known as Isaka Cernak, is an Australian football player who currently plays for as an attacking midfielder.-Early Life:...
which inspired great confidence through the Brisbane team, and despite some very good shooting, and close calls, Sydney's defence held strong, and remained strong to hold onto a 2-1 victory, and not for the first time this season, - retaking their lead on the top of the ladder, pleasing the manager.
V Wellington Phoenix (home at Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney)
Sydney came into the game looking to extend their 1-point lead the a healthy 4 point lead over arch-rivals Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory Football Club is an Australian professional football club based in Melbourne, Victoria, that plays in the A-League....
, and were up against trans-Tasman
Tasman Sea
The Tasman Sea is the large body of water between Australia and New Zealand, approximately across. It extends 2,800 km from north to south. It is a south-western segment of the South Pacific Ocean. The sea was named after the Dutch explorer Abel Janszoon Tasman, the first recorded European...
rivals Wellington Phoenix - who the week before had come off a season-record 6-0 thumping of Gold Coast United in Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
. Under previous administrations the Phoenix had been the "bogey" team for Sydney FC, but went into the game with some confidence, boasting a strong squad and the knowledge, they had already beaten them 2-0 earlier that season at the same venue. Sydney got off to a cracking start with Striker Alex Brosque
Alex Brosque
Alex Brosque is an Australian professional football player who currently plays for J. League side Shimizu S-Pulse...
setting up Mark Bridge
Mark Bridge
Mark Bridge is an Australian football player. He currently plays as a striker for Australian A-League club Sydney FC.-Newcastle United Jets FC:...
to open the scoring for Sydney. Not too soon later, Brosque would once more weave his magic past the Phoenix defence, and play a square ball to captain Steve Corica
Steve Corica
Stephen Christopher Corica is a former Australian football player who last played for Australian A-League team Sydney FC. A technically gifted and skillful player playing primarily as an attacking midfielder, he is very versatile, able to play both centrally or out wide, or even pushed up as a...
who tapped it in from no more than 2 yards. Wellington were backpedaling fast and losing confidence quicker than they could count the accurate passes the Sydney team were firing to each other. Shortly before the half time interval Alex Brosque put the final icing
Icing (food)
Icing, also called frosting in the United States, is a sweet often creamy glaze made of sugar with a liquid such as water or milk, that is often enriched with ingredients such as butter, egg whites, cream cheese, or flavorings and is used to cover or decorate baked goods, such as cakes or cookies...
on the cake, making a marvelous run down the far wing, outpacing the Wellington defence, setting Bridge up for his 2nd. They went into the sheds 3-0 up at the interval, something which was almost reminiscent of the scoreline against Melbourne a month earlier at Etihad Stadium. The second half started off as it finished; Sydney controlled the match from the defence through to the strikers. Despite the best efforts Sydney couldn't extend the lead, but the Nix managed to get a consolation goal through substitute Costa Barbarouses
Costa Barbarouses
Kosta Barbarouses is a New Zealand professional association football player who plays in Russian First Division for Alania Vladikavkaz.- Club career :Before turning professional Barbarouses played for St...
. Alex Brosque, and John Aloisi
John Aloisi
John Aloisi is a retired Australian football player who played as a striker, and the current youth team manager at Melbourne Heart....
both came agonisingly close in the second half but the match finished 3-1 and Sydney scooted to a short 4-point lead before Melbourne beat Perth Glory 2-1.
V Gold Coast United (away at Skilled Park, Gold Coast
Gold Coast, Queensland
Gold Coast is a coastal city of Australia located in South East Queensland, 94km south of the state capital Brisbane. With a population approximately 540,000 in 2010, it is the second most populous city in the state, the sixth most populous city in the country, and also the most populous...
)
Sydney FC returned to the coast confident they'd be able to serve up revenge on the Gold Coast after losing to them 2-1 earlier in the season, however despite Gold Coast's consistent off-field drama containing owner Clive Palmer
Clive Palmer (businessman)
Clive Palmer is a businessman from Queensland, Australia. he is Australia's fifth richest man and the wealthiest in Queensland. BRW estimated his worth at around A$3 billion, with others putting it at $6 billion.- Private life :...
Gold Coast managed to get there season back on track and win 1-0 via a Shane Smeltz
Shane Smeltz
Shane Edward Smeltz is a New Zealand professional association football player. He plays as a striker for Perth Glory FC.-Club career:...
goal early in the first half.
V Perth Glory (away at ME Bank Stadium, Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
)
Sydney FC's troubling away form this season would once again be the main talking point after this match. Only having won twice in from all their away games, something which not only troubled the fans, but the players and the coach. The match was to be a tale of two halves. Sydney dominated the first half, creating chances, and generally putting the Glory under plenty of pressure, despite the pressure put on the team by the Glory support group "The Shed". However the table would be turned in the second half, with Perth getting 2 goals through Scott Bulloch
Scott Bulloch
Scott Bulloch is an Australian football player who currently plays for Bentleigh Greens in the Victorian Premier League.-Biography:...
and their Serbian import Branko Jelic
Branko Jelic
Branko Jelić is a Serbian football player who last played for Australian A-League club Perth Glory.- Club career :...
. Perth would hold onto the lead and win 2-0.
V Newcastle Jets (home at Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney)
Sydney went into the first home game in a fortnight confident they would be able to get there season back on track, having previously beaten Newcastle 2-1 earlier in the season. Newcastle were also languishing at the bottom of the table, and their coach, and former Sydney coach Branko Culina
Branko Culina
Branko Čulina is a football coach and former player. He is currently without a club after being sacked by Newcastle Jets.-Club career:...
under increasing pressure to make their team perform, especially after some controversial comments in the media during the week. However the crowd of just over 10,000 would be shocked to the foundations when early in the first half, young player Rhyan Grant
Rhyan Grant
Rhyan Grant is an Australian football player who currently plays for A-League club Sydney FC as well as Australia's U-20 team.-Sydney FC:...
gave away a penalty, former Sydney FC striker Michael Bridges
Michael Bridges
Michael Bridges is an English football striker who currently plays for A-League club, Newcastle Jets. Bridge has previously played over 200 Premier League games.-Sunderland:...
who played for the club on loan from then Premier League club Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
stepped up to take the penalty, and despite loud heckling from the Sydney supporters, put the ball past Bolton. If Sydney fans were not worried, they now had a reason to be, as Sydney had never come back from a 1-0 deficit. The Halftime Scoreline read 1-0, but early into the second period of play, a momentarily lapse in concentration by the Sydney defence gave Michael Bridges
Michael Bridges
Michael Bridges is an English football striker who currently plays for A-League club, Newcastle Jets. Bridge has previously played over 200 Premier League games.-Sunderland:...
his second, and his fifth for the season. The fans fell silent for the first time all day, and would be stunned to their seats minutes later when Newcastle club captain and new Melbourne Heart recruit Matt Thompson knocked in a third to make it 3-0 to the visitors. Sydney managed to pull back a consolation goal through some good tough attacking play by Marquee player John Aloisi
John Aloisi
John Aloisi is a retired Australian football player who played as a striker, and the current youth team manager at Melbourne Heart....
who put in a cross to Alex Brosque
Alex Brosque
Alex Brosque is an Australian professional football player who currently plays for J. League side Shimizu S-Pulse...
who knocked it in, but it was a case of too little, too late for the Sky blues, leaving them languishing in second place, 5 points behind rivals Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory Football Club is an Australian professional football club based in Melbourne, Victoria, that plays in the A-League....
and only one point clear of Gold Coast United and Central Coast Mariners, as well as reeling from their third straight loss, and in the midst of a form slump.
V North Queensland Fury (home at Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney)
North Queensland Fury are considered the Dark Horses of the Hyundai A-League, and Sydney FC treated this match very carefully, knowing full well that North Queensland had come away from the Sydney Football Stadium with a 1-0 victory earlier in the season, However it was clear from the outset, that the form slump that had been troubling Sydney FC in the previous month had cleared, as a well defined attack tore the North Queensland defence to shreds. Sydney FC were up 2-0 at the half time break, thanks to goals by marquee John Aloisi
John Aloisi
John Aloisi is a retired Australian football player who played as a striker, and the current youth team manager at Melbourne Heart....
and in-form Striker Alex Brosque
Alex Brosque
Alex Brosque is an Australian professional football player who currently plays for J. League side Shimizu S-Pulse...
. The second half was a similar tale to that of the first, Brosque got his second goal of the game, after a free kick left him with a mile of space to head the ball home, and despite North Queensland getting a scrappy goal late in the half, Sydney FC would be too powerful, with ageing star midfielder Steve Corica rising above players much younger than him to head the ball into the back of the net from a cross, to give Sydney 4 goals, and a much needed 3 points.
V Wellington Phoenix (away at FMG Stadium, Palmerston North
Palmerston North
Palmerston North is the main city of the Manawatu-Wanganui region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is an inland city with a population of and is the country's seventh largest city and eighth largest urban area. Palmerston North is located in the eastern Manawatu Plains near the north bank...
, New Zealand)
Wellington and Sydney games had always been closely contested affairs, but Wellington had already lost twice against the Sky Blues, and were undefeated at home at their regular home ground of Westpac Stadium
Westpac Stadium
Westpac Stadium, is a major sporting venue in Wellington, New Zealand. Due to its shape and silver coloured external walls, it is colloquially known as The Cake-Tin to the locals and other New Zealanders...
, Wellington. It was a very windy day with winds of up to 100 km/h recorded, making it difficult to keep possession. However a penalty won by striker Alex Brosque
Alex Brosque
Alex Brosque is an Australian professional football player who currently plays for J. League side Shimizu S-Pulse...
in the first half would prove to be the difference between the teams with Captain and team veteran Steve Corica
Steve Corica
Stephen Christopher Corica is a former Australian football player who last played for Australian A-League team Sydney FC. A technically gifted and skillful player playing primarily as an attacking midfielder, he is very versatile, able to play both centrally or out wide, or even pushed up as a...
slotting the goal home. Goalkeeper Clint Bolton
Clint Bolton
Clint Brian Bolton is an Australian football player who plays as a goalkeeper for Melbourne Heart in the Australian A-League. He was one of the most experienced goalkeepers in the history of the National Soccer League, which preceded the A-League...
made vital saves during the game to keep Sydney in the lead, and move them to the top of the ladder.
V Central Coast Mariners (home at Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney)
Round 19 for the 2009/10 season had been scheduled so that each team would play a midweek game. Sydney FC and the Mariners squared off on 23 December and a healthy crowd of 12,689 were present to witness Sydney FC defeat their F3 Freeway rivals 1-0 via an Alex Brosque
Alex Brosque
Alex Brosque is an Australian professional football player who currently plays for J. League side Shimizu S-Pulse...
goal in the 34th minute of play. It turned into a dirty match with the Central Coast picking up several yellow cards towards the end of the game, capping a good 9 points in 3 games for the team from Sydney.
V Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory Football Club is an Australian professional football club based in Melbourne, Victoria, that plays in the A-League....
(away at Etihad Stadium, Melbourne)
The Sydney V Melbourne rivalry was played in front of a crowd of approximately 30,000 people at Melbourne's Docklands, in a match which always provided excitement, flair, controversy and some good football. Both teams had strong squads, and at the current time were sitting first and second respectively on the ladder, the winner of the match to either keep or take first spot. However Melbourne started the game the stronger but Sydney FC's waterproof defence held its nerve once more and refused to give in, despite some shots going off the cross bar from Archie Thompson
Archie Thompson
Archibald Gerald Thompson is a New Zealand-born Australian professional football player, currently playing for Melbourne Victory in the Hyundai A-League, where he holds the League all time scoring record...
and Carlos Hernández. Sydney counter-attacked when it was able too, but could not break the Victory defence either. At the end of 90 minutes the game was still locked at 0-0 and the game finished a draw, both sides taking a point from the encounter.
V Adelaide United (home at Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney)
Adelaide United came to Sydney with low expectations despite beating Sydney 2-1 at Hindmarsh Stadium
Hindmarsh Stadium
Hindmarsh Stadium is a rectangular stadium located in Adelaide, South Australia. It is the home of the Australian A-League team, Adelaide United....
earlier in the year. On the bottom of the ladder, low on confidence and goals, with their coach Aurelio Vidmar
Aurelio Vidmar
Aurelio Vidmar is an Australian football player and former captain of the Australian national team. He is currently not tied to any A-league club...
being in the news for all the wrong reasons, they had nothing to lose and everything to gain. However they were never in the game from the start, and some good solid possession from Sydney, kept Adelaide at bay, and despite Sydney FC winning 1-0, possession wise it was a thrashing. Sydney remained at the top of the ladder, keeping Adelaide rooted to the bottom of the ladder, scratching their heads looking for more answers then excuses.
V Perth Glory (away at ME Bank Stadium, Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
)
Sydney's first game after the new year would be a tough one, having several key players out (Alex Brosque
Alex Brosque
Alex Brosque is an Australian professional football player who currently plays for J. League side Shimizu S-Pulse...
& Simon Colosimo
Simon Colosimo
Simon Colosimo is an Australian football player who plays as a central defender for Melbourne Heart. He has represented the Australia national team on over twenty-five occasions.-Club career:...
out in Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
on national team duty, and Matthew Jurman
Matthew Jurman
Matthew Jurman is an football player who currently plays for Brisbane Roar as a centre back, or occasionally as a left back . He graduated from Westfields Sports High School in 2007.-Sydney FC:...
, Rhyan Grant
Rhyan Grant
Rhyan Grant is an Australian football player who currently plays for A-League club Sydney FC as well as Australia's U-20 team.-Sydney FC:...
, Seb Ryall
Sebastian Ryall
Sebastian Ryall is an Australian football player who currently plays as a defender for Sydney FC.-Melbourne Victory:Ryall played junior football for West Pymble Soccer Club in Sydney...
, Kofi Danning
Kofi Danning
Kofi Danning is an Ghanaian born Australian football player who plays for the A-League club Brisbane Roar. -Early life:Kofi Danning was born in Kumasi in southern central Ghana...
all out injured for the rest of the season. Now lacking depth in the defence, Vitezslav Lavicka
Vítezslav Lavicka
Vítězslav Lavička is a Czech football manager and former player currently in charge of Australian A-League club Sydney FC.-Playing career:...
quickly signed former Socceroo Hayden Foxe
Hayden Foxe
Hayden Vernon Foxe is a former Australian football player. He last played with A-League club Sydney FC.-Europe:...
on a short-term deal until the end of the season, and promoted Sam Gallagher
Sam Gallagher
Sam Gallagher is an Australian football player who currently plays for Central Coast Mariners.- Club career :Gallagher spent his junior career at Gladesville Spirit, the NSW Institute of Sport and then Manly United FC before being signed for the Sydney FC National Youth League team.He was called...
from Sydney's youth squad. Confidence was high, as Sydney were sitting 5 points ahead of rivals Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory Football Club is an Australian professional football club based in Melbourne, Victoria, that plays in the A-League....
and held on to a 0-0 draw, with Sydney unlucky not to score 2 goals at the death via captain Steve Corica
Steve Corica
Stephen Christopher Corica is a former Australian football player who last played for Australian A-League team Sydney FC. A technically gifted and skillful player playing primarily as an attacking midfielder, he is very versatile, able to play both centrally or out wide, or even pushed up as a...
and young striker Chris Payne
Chris Payne
Christopher 'Chris' Payne is an Australian football player currently signed with A League club Newcastle Jets.-Sydney FC:...
.
V Gold Coast United (home at Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney)
Gold Coast United under coach Miron Bleiberg
Miron Bleiberg
Miron Bleiberg is an Israeli-Australian football manager, currently the head coach and director of football operations at A-League club Gold Coast United.-Biography:...
had become a force to reckon with in their inaugural season, unlike their counterparts North Queensland Fury, Gold Coast had built a strong squad around Socceroo Jason Culina
Jason Culina
Jason Culina is an Australian footballer who plays for the Australia national football team.- Club career :Culina started off with Sydney United under his father, Branko, before moving on to Ajax where he struggled in the reserves. Only after moving to FC Twente did Culina begin to shine at the...
, and marquee player and New Zealand Striker Shane Smeltz
Shane Smeltz
Shane Edward Smeltz is a New Zealand professional association football player. He plays as a striker for Perth Glory FC.-Club career:...
. Gold Coast had overtaken Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory Football Club is an Australian professional football club based in Melbourne, Victoria, that plays in the A-League....
into 2nd on the ladder after 2 strong performances the week previously against Adelaide United and Newcastle Jets. Sydney started the game poorly, coming under a lot of pressure from a fired up, confident Gold Coast team. Gold Coast would end up scoring the only goal of the game halfway through the first half through former Hartlepool United striker Joel Porter
Joel Porter
Joel William Porter is an Australian football player who plays as a striker for the Hyundai A-League team Gold Coast United...
. Despite a good performance from John Aloisi
John Aloisi
John Aloisi is a retired Australian football player who played as a striker, and the current youth team manager at Melbourne Heart....
Sydney failed to hit the straps and shoot, and succumbed, dropping one place to second on the ladder, with Gold Coast snatching the top spot by 1 point.
V Newcastle Jets (away at EnergyAustralia Stadium
EnergyAustralia Stadium
Newcastle International Sports Centre is a multi-purpose sports stadium located in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. It is the home ground of the Newcastle Knights and the Newcastle United Jets teams. It is owned by the New South Wales government and administered by the Hunter Region...
, Newcastle
Newcastle, New South Wales
The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas...
)
After going down to Gold Coast United the week before Sydney were keen to avenge their 1-3 loss earlier in the season to Newcastle at home at the Sydney Football Stadium. Sydney started the game the better side, unlucky not to get a couple of early goals, however the Jets patience paid off when Jobe Wheelhouse
Jobe Wheelhouse
Jobe Wheelhouse is an Australian football player. He currently plays as an attacking midfielder for the Australian A-League club Newcastle United Jets.-Club career:...
scored for the home team a little over half an hour into the game. This spelt bad news for the travelling sky blues, as they had a curse of not being able to come back after conceding. However the gods were smiling upon the Sydney faithful when marquee player John Aloisi
John Aloisi
John Aloisi is a retired Australian football player who played as a striker, and the current youth team manager at Melbourne Heart....
broke through the Jets defence in Extra Time of the first half and slotted the ball into the side netting for the Sky Blues, leading them into the half time whistle 1-1. The goal was an obvious puncture in Newcastle's balloon, and they came out a deflated side, Sydney all over the home side, and halfway through the second period Sydney FC were rewarded when midfielder (and former Newcastle Jets grandfinalist) Stuart Musialik
Stuart Musialik
Stuart Musialik is an Australian football player who currently plays for Central Coast Mariners in the A-League.- Club career :...
fired off a shot from 28 meters out, beating a stunned Newcastle defence, and an even more shocked Ben Kennedy
Ben Kennedy
Ben Kennedy , is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s...
who failed to move a muscle due to him not being able to see the shot. Young striker Chris Payne
Chris Payne
Christopher 'Chris' Payne is an Australian football player currently signed with A League club Newcastle Jets.-Sydney FC:...
sealed the victory late into Extra Time of the second period when he danced around several tired Newcastle defenders and fired a low shot past the Keeper to seal a 3-1 victory for Sydney FC.
V Brisbane Roar (away at Suncorp Stadium
Suncorp Stadium
Lang Park is the original name of the site located in the Brisbane suburb of Milton, Queensland, Australia, now occupied by the major sports facility known by its sponsorship name, Suncorp Stadium...
, Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
)
A win against Brisbane would see Sydney FC back to the top of the ladder however their record away from home at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium
Suncorp Stadium
Lang Park is the original name of the site located in the Brisbane suburb of Milton, Queensland, Australia, now occupied by the major sports facility known by its sponsorship name, Suncorp Stadium...
was far from good, having last won there in the early rounds of the A-League 2007-08
A-League 2007-08
The A-League 2007-08 season was the third season of the Australian A-League football competition, won by the Newcastle Jets. Football Federation Australia hoped to build on the success of the previous two seasons and on the interest generated by and playing in the 2007 AFC Champions League, and...
season. Both teams were playing some good football, and Sydney FC had the majority of the chances, but like most weeks, despite their good ball passing and possession they failed to put their chances away. Goalkeeper Clint Bolton
Clint Bolton
Clint Brian Bolton is an Australian football player who plays as a goalkeeper for Melbourne Heart in the Australian A-League. He was one of the most experienced goalkeepers in the history of the National Soccer League, which preceded the A-League...
can thank some poor refereeing for not being sent off midway through the first half, when he clearly handled the ball outside the 18-yard box after attempted to save an on-target attempt from Brisbane Brazilian striker Reinaldo
Reinaldo Elias da Costa
Reinaldo Elias da Costa , commonly known in Brazil as Reinaldo Mineiro, is a Brazilian Australian football player who currently plays for Al-Ahli Dohain the Qatar Stars League.-Club career:...
. Despite several clear cut chances, Sydney failed to score, and Brisbane grabbed a goal at the death, from their leading goalscorer and striker Serginho van Dijk
V Perth Glory (home at Parramatta Stadium
Parramatta Stadium
Parramatta Stadium is a sports stadium situated in Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia.The stadium is used primarily as the home ground of Australian National Rugby League club the Parramatta Eels...
, Sydney)
A must win game this was for Sydney FC, as it would keep them in contention for a top 2 finish providing Gold Coast United lost. Sydney started strongly and got their reward when Shannon Cole
Shannon Cole
Shannon Cole is a midfielder who currently plays in the Australian football A-League for Sydney FC.-Early life:Shannon attended St Ambrose primary school, Concord West, and St Patrick's College, Strathfield...
was tripped in the box early in the first half. Steve Corica
Steve Corica
Stephen Christopher Corica is a former Australian football player who last played for Australian A-League team Sydney FC. A technically gifted and skillful player playing primarily as an attacking midfielder, he is very versatile, able to play both centrally or out wide, or even pushed up as a...
slotted the resulting penalty straight down the middle to give Sydney a 1-0 lead. However Perth equalised on the stroke of half time, through Wayne Srhoj after some sloppy Sydney FC defending from a corner levelled the scored at 1-1. However Sydney would retake the lead through marquee man John Aloisi
John Aloisi
John Aloisi is a retired Australian football player who played as a striker, and the current youth team manager at Melbourne Heart....
when he mistimed kick appeared to have been cleared, however the ball controversially went through a hole in the side netting, with referee Chris Beath
Chris Beath
Chris Beath is an Australian football referee in the A-League.He has refereed at the National Youth Championships in 2003 and in 2004.Beath was the referee of the tournament at the 2002 Kanga Cup....
ruling no goal. Protests from the Sydney players, led by a fired up Aloisi led to Beath consulting with his assistant on the Eastern side of the ground who confirmed it was a goal. Beath overruled his earlier decision and ruled a goal, much to the delight of the Sydney FC fans and supporters, however 10 minutes later Perth would score again, through Daniel McBreen
Daniel McBreen
Daniel James McBreen is a football player who plays for the Central Coast Mariners as a striker.-Club career:McBreen was born in Burnley, Lancashire, England but moved to Australia six weeks later after his father took up an offer to play football there...
who scored his 4th goal for the club in as many games. It looked like the game would finish a tie, however Swiss import Stephan Keller
Stephan Keller
Stephan Keller is a Swiss footballer who plays for Willem II.-Europe:Keller is a defender, born in Zürich, who played 13 years youth career for Grasshopper Club Zürich...
launched a cross which found a leaping John Aloisi who headed the ball powerfully past the keeper into the back of the net to give Sydney a 3-2 win, and ultimately put the decider against Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory Football Club is an Australian professional football club based in Melbourne, Victoria, that plays in the A-League....
next the next week.
V Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory Football Club is an Australian professional football club based in Melbourne, Victoria, that plays in the A-League....
(home at Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney)
The title decider had come to the final game of the final round, between the A-Leagues biggest rivals, Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory. The pressure was on Sydney, who needed to win to claim the Premiership, with Melbourne needing a draw at worst. Nearly 26,000 fans packed into the SFS to watch the game, with the majority of those clad in Sky Blue. Both teams started the game off strongly with early chances for both sides, however in the 34th minute Sydney's Slovakian import Karol Kisel
Karol Kisel
Karol Kisel is a Slovak footballer who is currently playing for Sydney FC in the Australian A-League. He is the Vice-Captain of Sydney.-Club career:...
who had been criticised all season for his inaccurate shooting, sent the Sydney fans in the stands into raptures, when a shot from 25 meters out fired into the back of the net. A 1-0 lead was crucial and it sent the Melbourne fans in the away bay crazy, turning on each other, with a fight starting. Police and security rushed to the away bay , but it took a good 10 minutes to calm the away bay, after several flares had been lit, and bottles and beer cups thrown onto the field. The second half started the same way it had finished both sides testing each others strengths and it would be Sydney who broke the game in half, with marquee man, and hero John Aloisi
John Aloisi
John Aloisi is a retired Australian football player who played as a striker, and the current youth team manager at Melbourne Heart....
getting the ball on the half way line and sprinting up the field uncontested, before launching a rocket of a shot into the net, past a stunned Mitchell Langerak
Mitchell Langerak
Mitchell James Langerak is an Australian football goalkeeper, currently playing for Borussia Dortmund in the German Bundesliga.-Melbourne Victory:...
who could do nothing but watch as the ball bounced past him. The Sydney players and fans went wild, and it took a good 4 minutes for play to restart. With 10 minutes to go the fans were getting edgy and glancing at the clock, and with 2 minutes to go started a countdown till the final whistle. Sydney would hold onto the 2-0 lead, and claim the championship, sending the fans into celebration, despite the pouring rain which had started earlier. It would also be Steve Corica
Steve Corica
Stephen Christopher Corica is a former Australian football player who last played for Australian A-League team Sydney FC. A technically gifted and skillful player playing primarily as an attacking midfielder, he is very versatile, able to play both centrally or out wide, or even pushed up as a...
s final game for the club, who had announced his retirement at the end of the season, however an injury in the 18th minute of play meant that he would ultimately not play in the finals series, however he received a well earned standing ovation and did a lap of honour with the premiers plate.
Finals
Semi final Leg 1
V Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory Football Club is an Australian professional football club based in Melbourne, Victoria, that plays in the A-League....
(away at Etihad Stadium, Melbourne)
Sydney travelled back down to Melbourne for the third time this season to play Melbourne in the first leg of the major semi final. Sydney were without team legend Steve Corica
Steve Corica
Stephen Christopher Corica is a former Australian football player who last played for Australian A-League team Sydney FC. A technically gifted and skillful player playing primarily as an attacking midfielder, he is very versatile, able to play both centrally or out wide, or even pushed up as a...
who had announced his retirement due to a hamstring injury. As a result Vitezslav Lavicka promoted youth team midfielder Iain Ramsay
Iain Ramsay
Iain Ramsay is an Australian born football player who currently plays for in the Australian A-League.-Career:...
. The pitch at Etihad Stadium was a disgrace, with many parts of it brown and dead, after having an ACDC concert earlier in the week. Melbourne got the upper hand early, when Nick Mrja, Melbourne controversial loan signing scored in the 16th minute. Later in the half Costa Rican international
Costa Rica national football team
The Costa Rica national football team, nicknamed La Sele, is the national team of Costa Rica and is controlled by the Federación Costarricense de Fútbol. Costa Rica is the third most successful team in CONCACAF after Mexico and the United States...
Carlos Hernandez scored to make it 2-0. However John Aloisi
John Aloisi
John Aloisi is a retired Australian football player who played as a striker, and the current youth team manager at Melbourne Heart....
scored 3 minutes later to peg one back. However the score remained the same, meaning for Sydney to win, they need to win 1-0 during the next leg in Sydney.
Semi final Leg 2
V Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory Football Club is an Australian professional football club based in Melbourne, Victoria, that plays in the A-League....
(home at Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney)
A large crowd greeted the two rivals back up to Sydney and despite Melbourne coming into the game 2-1 up, the knowledge that the last time they had come up to Sydney they had lost the Premiership 2-0. However it would be Melbourne who would strike first Robbie Kruse
Robbie Kruse
Robbie Thomas Kruse is an Australian football player who currently plays as a forward for German side Fortuna Düsseldorf in the 2. Bundesliga and the Australian national team...
turned his defender from 25 years and fired in a shot that slammed into the top corner, inching past the fingetips of a flying Clint Bolton
Clint Bolton
Clint Brian Bolton is an Australian football player who plays as a goalkeeper for Melbourne Heart in the Australian A-League. He was one of the most experienced goalkeepers in the history of the National Soccer League, which preceded the A-League...
, it looked possibly over for the habourside team. However Sydney would get right back in it when striker Alex Brosque
Alex Brosque
Alex Brosque is an Australian professional football player who currently plays for J. League side Shimizu S-Pulse...
was tripped in the box. Slovakian International Karol Kisel
Karol Kisel
Karol Kisel is a Slovak footballer who is currently playing for Sydney FC in the Australian A-League. He is the Vice-Captain of Sydney.-Club career:...
slotted home the penalty to even the scores at 1-1. They went into half time 1-1, however Sydney would come out the stronger team and soon after the second half started, Mark Bridge
Mark Bridge
Mark Bridge is an Australian football player. He currently plays as a striker for Australian A-League club Sydney FC.-Newcastle United Jets FC:...
fired home a goal from just outside the penalty box. Sydney led 2-1 and the scores were locked at 2-2 on aggregate. The rest of the half was played out at an exciting tempo - both sides attacking, with Melbourne and Sydney both coming close to taking the lead. However full time blew with Sydney leading 2-1 but on aggregate only 2-2. The game went into Extra Time, both sides well aware of a possible penalty shootout - however late into extra time it would be Melbourne who would score the decisive goal. A dubious handball call on Sydney FC's Terry McFlynn
Terry McFlynn
Terence Martin "Terry" McFlynn is a football player from Swatragh, Northern Ireland. He plays as a central midfielder for the Australian A-League team Sydney FC. He is the current captain.-Club career:...
allowed Melbourne a free kick just outside of the penalty box. However Sydney were slow to react and make the blocking wall - many player still arguing with the referee. Melbourne took a quick free kick and Archie Thompson
Archie Thompson
Archibald Gerald Thompson is a New Zealand-born Australian professional football player, currently playing for Melbourne Victory in the Hyundai A-League, where he holds the League all time scoring record...
slotted the ball past a stunned Clint Bolton to level the scores at 2-2 and give Melbourne a 3-2 aggregate lead. Melbourne would go on to win the game, and gain their spot in the Grand Final down in Melbourne, Sydney would be forced to play the Wellington Phoenix in the Preliminary final, who had earlier defeated the Newcastle Jets 3-1 at Westpac Stadium
Westpac Stadium
Westpac Stadium, is a major sporting venue in Wellington, New Zealand. Due to its shape and silver coloured external walls, it is colloquially known as The Cake-Tin to the locals and other New Zealanders...
.
Preliminary final
V Wellington Phoenix (home at Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney)
A smaller than expected crowd of just over 13,000 showed up at the SFS to watch the Premiers take on the Wellington Phoenix whose run into the finals had been very good. However, it was tipped that Sydney would dominate the game from the start and that's exactly what happened. Chris Payne
Chris Payne
Christopher 'Chris' Payne is an Australian football player currently signed with A League club Newcastle Jets.-Sydney FC:...
would be the hero for Sydney - scoring first. However Wellington would equalise and claw back into the game, but the turning point of the match would be late in the first half from a free kick. Karol Kisel
Karol Kisel
Karol Kisel is a Slovak footballer who is currently playing for Sydney FC in the Australian A-League. He is the Vice-Captain of Sydney.-Club career:...
whipped the ball into the box, and from the initial play, it appeared Payne had headed the ball into the net past a stunned Liam Reddy
Liam Reddy
Liam Reddy is an Australian football player who is currently on a three year contract with the Hyundai A-League team, Sydney FC-Club career:...
- however despite celebrations from the Sydney team, the entire Wellington team blew up at the referee. Replays would show, that whilst attempting to head the ball into the net, the ball had deflected off his hand. The goal was dubbed 'Hand of Payne' and later in the post-match interviews, Wellington manager Ricki Herbert
Ricki Herbert
Ricki Lloyd Herbert, CNZM is a New Zealand former association football player who represented his country at the 1982 FIFA World Cup in Spain...
would compare the goal to Theirry Henry's deliberate handball against Ireland
Republic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
'Hand of Frog' and Diego Maradona
Diego Maradona
Diego Armando Maradona is a retired Argentine football player and widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time. Over the course of his professional club career Maradona played for Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Napoli, Sevilla and Newell's Old Boys, setting...
's imfamous 'Hand of God'. However Wellington never recovered from the incident and in the second half, two great goals from Alex Brosque
Alex Brosque
Alex Brosque is an Australian professional football player who currently plays for J. League side Shimizu S-Pulse...
and Mark Bridge
Mark Bridge
Mark Bridge is an Australian football player. He currently plays as a striker for Australian A-League club Sydney FC.-Newcastle United Jets FC:...
stretched the lead to 4-1, however Eugene Dadi
Eugène Dadi
Eugène Dadi is an Ivorian association football Striker who is playing for Manado United on Liga Primer Indonesia side. He has previously played for clubs in Switzerland, France, Austria, Scotland, England, Israel, Australia, New Zealand and currently played in Indonesia...
would get a consolation goal back for Wellington in the dying seconds of the second half, in pouring rain. Sydney went on to win 4-2 and book their spot in the 2010 A-League Grand Final
2010 A-League Grand Final
The 2010 A-League Grand Final took place at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne, Australia on 20 March 2010.It was the final match in the A-League 2009–10 season, and was played between premiers and runners-up...
.
Grand Final
Main Article 2010 A-League Grand Final
2010 A-League Grand Final
The 2010 A-League Grand Final took place at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne, Australia on 20 March 2010.It was the final match in the A-League 2009–10 season, and was played between premiers and runners-up...
V Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory Football Club is an Australian professional football club based in Melbourne, Victoria, that plays in the A-League....
(away at Etihad Stadium, Melbourne)
The grand final that, the FFA
Football Federation Australia
Football Federation Australia is the governing body for the sport of football in Australia. Before 1 January 2005, it was known as the Australian Soccer Association , which succeeded Soccer Australia in this role in 2003...
, A-League
A-League
The A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company...
, and football fans all around Australia had been waiting 5 years for. A grand final between the two best teams in Australia, Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory. Throughout the season they had been at loggerheads with each other, never allowing either to be on top of the table for more than 2 games at a time. However Sydney had already dealt a blow to Melbourne, taking the Premiership plate off them back in the Round 27 clash at the Sydney Football Stadium, however Melbourne had got a little revenge by winning the semi-final - allowing them to host the final. Melbourne were also looking to win te grand final in consecutive year, the first time they would have done that - it was the first time any A-League team had been in the grand final in consecutive years, so it was only fitting that Melbourne went into the game as favourites. A crowd of 48,000 packed out Melbournes Etihad Stadium the tension had been building all week. Melbourne's hopes took a massive blow early on in the game when start striker and marquee player Archie Thompson
Archie Thompson
Archibald Gerald Thompson is a New Zealand-born Australian professional football player, currently playing for Melbourne Victory in the Hyundai A-League, where he holds the League all time scoring record...
suffered an Anterior cruciate ligament
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
injury, scans later revealing this, meaning he would not play for at least 12 months. The scores were deadlocked 0-0 at half time, with what had been described as a uneventful game up until half time. This would all change in the second half. In the 63rd minute Rodrigo Vargas
Rodrigo Vargas
Rodrigo Alejandro "Roddy" Vargas is a Australian football player. He currently plays as a central defender for the Australian A-League club Melbourne Victory.-Club career:...
looked to have scored for Melbourne, however his celebrations were cut short by an offside flag. In the confusion that followed Sydney counter attacked and 10 seconds later, Mark Bridge
Mark Bridge
Mark Bridge is an Australian football player. He currently plays as a striker for Australian A-League club Sydney FC.-Newcastle United Jets FC:...
scored, sending the away bay into fits of hysteria. Sydney were up 1-0 and Melbourne looked shellshocked, Sydney had the opportunity to go 2-0 up, however nerves got the better of young striker Chris Payne
Chris Payne
Christopher 'Chris' Payne is an Australian football player currently signed with A League club Newcastle Jets.-Sydney FC:...
who missed an open goal shot. However Sydney's defence got sloppy, and later in the 81st minute, it would be Adrian Leijer
Adrian Leijer
Adrian Leijer is an Australian football player who currently plays as a centre back for A-League team Melbourne Victory and is also the Captain of the side.-Early years:...
who equilised for the home side, sending the entire stadium bar the Sydney away bay into celebrations. As a result Sydney's confidence took a blow to the belly, and Melbourne could smell blood in the water, and can be considered very unlucky when young Aziz Behich
Aziz Behich
Aziz Behich is an Australian football player who currently plays for Melbourne Heart in the A-League and the Australia Under-23 national team. He was the first player to play for both Melbourne Victory and Melbourne Heart having being transferred in 2010.-Green Gully:Behich played in the junior...
missed a chance to go 2-1 up.
With the Fulltime scores locked at 1-1, the game went into extra time, however neither side managed to have many good attacking opportunities, fatigue getting the better of most of the players. With the end of extra time - 120 minutes, still deadlocked at 1-1 the game went into penalties, yet another first for a grand final. It was deemed Sydney would take the first shot on goal.
Simon Colosimo
Simon Colosimo
Simon Colosimo is an Australian football player who plays as a central defender for Melbourne Heart. He has represented the Australia national team on over twenty-five occasions.-Club career:...
calmly put the ball past Mitchell Langerak
Mitchell Langerak
Mitchell James Langerak is an Australian football goalkeeper, currently playing for Borussia Dortmund in the German Bundesliga.-Melbourne Victory:...
to give Sydney a 1-0 advantage. Kevin Muscat
Kevin Muscat
Kevin Muscat is an Australian football player who currently plays for Victorian State League Division 1 side Sunshine George Cross and is assistant coach of Melbourne Victory...
stepped up next, however his shot hit the right upright, sending Sydney players and fans alike into celebrations. It would be a bad omen for Melbourne. Shannon Cole
Shannon Cole
Shannon Cole is a midfielder who currently plays in the Australian football A-League for Sydney FC.-Early life:Shannon attended St Ambrose primary school, Concord West, and St Patrick's College, Strathfield...
next stepped up for Sydney, however his shot was saved, dragging Melbourne right back into the shootout. Grant Brebner
Grant Brebner
Grant Ian Brebner is a Scottish association football player, who currently plays for Australian A-League side Melbourne Victory. Born in Edinburgh, Brebner joined Manchester United as a 16-year-old in 1994, and although he was a member of the club's successful youth side, he failed to break into...
would level the scores at 1-1 putting all the pressure back onto Sydney. However, if there was any pressure, the Sydney players were not showing it, Hayden Foxe
Hayden Foxe
Hayden Vernon Foxe is a former Australian football player. He last played with A-League club Sydney FC.-Europe:...
nearly ripped the net off with his penalty, whilst Clint Bolton
Clint Bolton
Clint Brian Bolton is an Australian football player who plays as a goalkeeper for Melbourne Heart in the Australian A-League. He was one of the most experienced goalkeepers in the history of the National Soccer League, which preceded the A-League...
pulled off a wonderful save from Melbourne's Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
n international Marvin Angulo
Marvin Angulo
Marvin Angulo is a Costa Rican professional footballer. He currently plays for CS Herediano.-Club career:On October 1, 2009 it was thought he will join the Melbourne Victory from CS Herediano as an injury replacement player for Billy Celeski. The deal was agreed in principle on September 21, 2009...
. Karol Kisel
Karol Kisel
Karol Kisel is a Slovak footballer who is currently playing for Sydney FC in the Australian A-League. He is the Vice-Captain of Sydney.-Club career:...
would score his penalty to give Sydney a 3-1 lead. Leigh Broxham
Leigh Broxham
Leigh Broxham is an Australian football player who currently plays as a central midfielder for the Melbourne Victory in the Hyundai A-League.-Club career:...
would give Melbourne a faint glimmer of hope, when he scored to make it 3-2, however Sydney FC's Korean import Byun Sung-Hwan
Byun Sung-Hwan
Byun Sung-Hwan is a South Korean footballer player who plays for the A-League club Newcastle Jets.-Sydney FC:...
stepped up to take the final penalty. If he scored, Sydney won, if he missed or it was saved the shootout would continue. However he calmly stepped up and sent Langerak the wrong way. Sydney FC had won the 2010 Grand Final, doing what nobody had predicted at the beginging of the season - not only winning the grand final, doing the double, and taking the Premiership and Championship of Melbourne.
Pre-season matches
Leading up to the start of the A-League 2009-10 season, clubs will have to organise their own pre season matches as the Pre Season Cup competition has been scrapped.Sydney FC
Sydney FC
Sydney FC is a professional football club based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and competes in the country's premier football competition, the A-League...
failed to snare Fulham FC as well as Everton FC, with Fulham playing other A-League clubs on their tour. Sydney still have the opportunity to snare other Asian or Middle Eastern clubs. Sydney have arranged several matches with New South Wales Premier League
New South Wales Premier League
The New South Wales Premier League is the highest state-level men's soccer competition in New South Wales, Australia. Nationally, it is considered one grade lower than the A-League...
clubs for preparation for the 2009/10 season. It has also been revealed that Sydney FC has managed to get Premier League club Middlesbrough on a friendly on 18 June.
2009-10 Hyundai A-League Fixtures
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Semi-final
----Preliminary final
Grand Final
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Stadiums
Sydney FC will play 13 home games at the Sydney Football Stadium and 1 game at Parramatta StadiumParramatta Stadium
Parramatta Stadium is a sports stadium situated in Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia.The stadium is used primarily as the home ground of Australian National Rugby League club the Parramatta Eels...
.
The reason for the match against Perth Glory being moved from the SFS to Parramatta Stadium is due to the Edinburgh Military Tattoo
Edinburgh Military Tattoo
The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is an annual series of Military tattoos performed by British Armed Forces, Commonwealth and International military bands and display teams in the Scottish capital Edinburgh...
. Sydney have played at the western Sydney stadium before when they moved their venue of the AFC Champions League
AFC Champions League
The AFC Champions League is the premier Asian club football competition hosted annually by Asian Football Confederation . The tournament is contested among the top thirty-two clubs from the top 10 Asian leagues, two of which must qualify through the playoffs...
group match against Persik Kediri
Persik Kediri
Persik, an acronym for Persatuan Sepakbola Indonesia Kediri is an Indonesian professional association football team located in Kediri, East Java, Indonesia. The club was founded in 1950 by Raden Muchamad Machin, T.H.D. Rahmat, and M. Sanusi. In media, the tautology Persik Kediri is often...
to Parramatta due to the annual Anzac Day NRL match between the Sydney Roosters
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
and St. George Illawarra Dragons.
| Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|
| Sydney Football Stadium | 45,500 |
| Parramatta Stadium Parramatta Stadium Parramatta Stadium is a sports stadium situated in Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia.The stadium is used primarily as the home ground of Australian National Rugby League club the Parramatta Eels... |
20,857 |
Other venues that Sydney FC will play away from home are:
| Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|
| Bluetongue Stadium | 20,059 |
| Dairy Farmers Stadium Dairy Farmers Stadium The Willows Sports Complex, currently known as Dairy Farmers Stadium due to sponsorship rights, is a grass football stadium situated in Townsville, Queensland, Australia. It has historically been used mainly for rugby league, and is the home ground of the National Rugby League club the North... |
26,500 |
| Energy Australia Stadium | 26,000 |
| Etihad Stadium | 56,437 |
| FMG Stadium | 18,000 |
| Hindmarsh Stadium Hindmarsh Stadium Hindmarsh Stadium is a rectangular stadium located in Adelaide, South Australia. It is the home of the Australian A-League team, Adelaide United.... |
15,600 |
| Members Equity Stadium Members Equity Stadium Perth Oval, known by its sponsored name nib Stadium since July 2010, is a sports stadium in Perth, Western Australia. It has been the home of A-League club Perth Glory since 1996 and has housed the administrative facilities of the Western Australia Rugby League since 2003... |
18,156 |
| Skilled Park | 27,400 |
| Suncorp Stadium Suncorp Stadium Lang Park is the original name of the site located in the Brisbane suburb of Milton, Queensland, Australia, now occupied by the major sports facility known by its sponsorship name, Suncorp Stadium... |
52,500 |
| Westpac Stadium Westpac Stadium Westpac Stadium, is a major sporting venue in Wellington, New Zealand. Due to its shape and silver coloured external walls, it is colloquially known as The Cake-Tin to the locals and other New Zealanders... |
26,500 |
Table
Leading scorers
Sydney FC A-League Top Scorers| Total | Player | Team | Goals per Round | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | Total | |||||
| 9 | |
John Aloisi John Aloisi John Aloisi is a retired Australian football player who played as a striker, and the current youth team manager at Melbourne Heart.... |
2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 7 | |
Steve Corica Steve Corica Stephen Christopher Corica is a former Australian football player who last played for Australian A-League team Sydney FC. A technically gifted and skillful player playing primarily as an attacking midfielder, he is very versatile, able to play both centrally or out wide, or even pushed up as a... |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | |
Mark Bridge Mark Bridge Mark Bridge is an Australian football player. He currently plays as a striker for Australian A-League club Sydney FC.-Newcastle United Jets FC:... |
1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | |
Alex Brosque Alex Brosque Alex Brosque is an Australian professional football player who currently plays for J. League side Shimizu S-Pulse... |
1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | |
Karol Kisel Karol Kisel Karol Kisel is a Slovak footballer who is currently playing for Sydney FC in the Australian A-League. He is the Vice-Captain of Sydney.-Club career:... |
1 | 1 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | |
Kofi Danning Kofi Danning Kofi Danning is an Ghanaian born Australian football player who plays for the A-League club Brisbane Roar. -Early life:Kofi Danning was born in Kumasi in southern central Ghana... |
1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | |
Brendan Gan Brendan Gan Brendan Gan is an Australian footballer who currently plays for Sabah FA in the Malaysian Super League.-Club career:Gan began playing football for his local club, the Marton Hammers before he signed for the Sutherland Sharks in 2000 when he was twelve years old and came up through their youth... |
1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 |  |
Terry McFlynn Terry McFlynn Terence Martin "Terry" McFlynn is a football player from Swatragh, Northern Ireland. He plays as a central midfielder for the Australian A-League team Sydney FC. He is the current captain.-Club career:... |
1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | |
Stuart Musialik Stuart Musialik Stuart Musialik is an Australian football player who currently plays for Central Coast Mariners in the A-League.- Club career :... |
1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | |
Chris Payne Chris Payne Christopher 'Chris' Payne is an Australian football player currently signed with A League club Newcastle Jets.-Sydney FC:... |
1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| EWLINE |
A goal was scored from a penalty kick Penalty kick A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play... |
|
| EWLINE |
Two goals were scored from penalty kicks |
(Current as of Round 26)
Discipline
| Name | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Byun Sung-Hwan Byun Sung-Hwan Byun Sung-Hwan is a South Korean footballer player who plays for the A-League club Newcastle Jets.-Sydney FC:... |
4 | 0 | 0 |
| Simon Colosimo Simon Colosimo Simon Colosimo is an Australian football player who plays as a central defender for Melbourne Heart. He has represented the Australia national team on over twenty-five occasions.-Club career:... |
1 | 0 | 0 |
| Shannon Cole Shannon Cole Shannon Cole is a midfielder who currently plays in the Australian football A-League for Sydney FC.-Early life:Shannon attended St Ambrose primary school, Concord West, and St Patrick's College, Strathfield... |
2 | 0 | 0 |
| Steve Corica Steve Corica Stephen Christopher Corica is a former Australian football player who last played for Australian A-League team Sydney FC. A technically gifted and skillful player playing primarily as an attacking midfielder, he is very versatile, able to play both centrally or out wide, or even pushed up as a... |
1 | 0 | 0 |
| Rhyan Grant Rhyan Grant Rhyan Grant is an Australian football player who currently plays for A-League club Sydney FC as well as Australia's U-20 team.-Sydney FC:... |
1 | 0 | 0 |
| Terry McFlynn Terry McFlynn Terence Martin "Terry" McFlynn is a football player from Swatragh, Northern Ireland. He plays as a central midfielder for the Australian A-League team Sydney FC. He is the current captain.-Club career:... |
1 | 0 | 0 |
| Karol Kisel Karol Kisel Karol Kisel is a Slovak footballer who is currently playing for Sydney FC in the Australian A-League. He is the Vice-Captain of Sydney.-Club career:... |
1 | 0 | 0 |
| Brendan Gan Brendan Gan Brendan Gan is an Australian footballer who currently plays for Sabah FA in the Malaysian Super League.-Club career:Gan began playing football for his local club, the Marton Hammers before he signed for the Sutherland Sharks in 2000 when he was twelve years old and came up through their youth... |
1 | 0 | 0 |
| Sebastian Ryall Sebastian Ryall Sebastian Ryall is an Australian football player who currently plays as a defender for Sydney FC.-Melbourne Victory:Ryall played junior football for West Pymble Soccer Club in Sydney... |
1 | 0 | 0 |
| Alex Brosque Alex Brosque Alex Brosque is an Australian professional football player who currently plays for J. League side Shimizu S-Pulse... |
1 | 0 | 0 |
(Current as of Round 9)
International Selections
2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification
The 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification saw various countries take part to determine 10 spots to the final tournament in Qatar under the new qualification system set by the Asian Football Confederation ....
The following players from Sydney FC were chosen to represent their country in the 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification
2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification
The 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification saw various countries take part to determine 10 spots to the final tournament in Qatar under the new qualification system set by the Asian Football Confederation ....
for the 2011 Asian Cup:
Alex Brosque
Alex Brosque
Alex Brosque is an Australian professional football player who currently plays for J. League side Shimizu S-Pulse...
VS (
Oman, Kuwait, Indonesia) Simon ColosimoSimon Colosimo
Simon Colosimo is an Australian football player who plays as a central defender for Melbourne Heart. He has represented the Australia national team on over twenty-five occasions.-Club career:...
VS (
Kuwait, Indonesia) Clint BoltonClint Bolton
Clint Brian Bolton is an Australian football player who plays as a goalkeeper for Melbourne Heart in the Australian A-League. He was one of the most experienced goalkeepers in the history of the National Soccer League, which preceded the A-League...
VS (
Indonesia) Shannon ColeShannon Cole
Shannon Cole is a midfielder who currently plays in the Australian football A-League for Sydney FC.-Early life:Shannon attended St Ambrose primary school, Concord West, and St Patrick's College, Strathfield...
VS (
Indonesia) Stuart MusialikStuart Musialik
Stuart Musialik is an Australian football player who currently plays for Central Coast Mariners in the A-League.- Club career :...
VS (
Indonesia)2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup
2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup
The 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup, was the 17th U-20 tournament, which was hosted by Egypt from 24 September to 16 October, in the cities of Cairo, Alexandria, Port Said, Suez and Ismaïlia...
The following players from Sydney FC were chosen to represent their country in the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup
2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup
The 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup, was the 17th U-20 tournament, which was hosted by Egypt from 24 September to 16 October, in the cities of Cairo, Alexandria, Port Said, Suez and Ismaïlia...
in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
:
Kofi Danning
Kofi Danning
Kofi Danning is an Ghanaian born Australian football player who plays for the A-League club Brisbane Roar. -Early life:Kofi Danning was born in Kumasi in southern central Ghana...
Rhyan Grant
Rhyan Grant
Rhyan Grant is an Australian football player who currently plays for A-League club Sydney FC as well as Australia's U-20 team.-Sydney FC:...
Matthew Jurman
Matthew Jurman
Matthew Jurman is an football player who currently plays for Brisbane Roar as a centre back, or occasionally as a left back . He graduated from Westfields Sports High School in 2007.-Sydney FC:...
Sam Munro Sam Gallagher
Sam Gallagher
Sam Gallagher is an Australian football player who currently plays for Central Coast Mariners.- Club career :Gallagher spent his junior career at Gladesville Spirit, the NSW Institute of Sport and then Manly United FC before being signed for the Sydney FC National Youth League team.He was called...
AFC U-19 Championship 2010 qualification
AFC U-19 Championship 2010 qualification
-The Draw:The draw for the 2010 AFC U-19 Championship will take place at AFC House on February 20, 2009.A total of 42 teams will come out of the pots...
The following players from Sydney FC were chosen to represent their country in the AFC U-19 Championship 2010 qualification
AFC U-19 Championship 2010 qualification
-The Draw:The draw for the 2010 AFC U-19 Championship will take place at AFC House on February 20, 2009.A total of 42 teams will come out of the pots...
in Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
:
Rhyan Grant
Rhyan Grant
Rhyan Grant is an Australian football player who currently plays for A-League club Sydney FC as well as Australia's U-20 team.-Sydney FC:...
Kofi Danning
Kofi Danning
Kofi Danning is an Ghanaian born Australian football player who plays for the A-League club Brisbane Roar. -Early life:Kofi Danning was born in Kumasi in southern central Ghana...
Kerem Bulut
Kerem Bulut
Kerem Bulut is an Australian footballer currently playing for FK Mladá Boleslav in the Czech Republic's Gambrinus liga and the Australia under-20 national team...
Dimitrios Petratos Sam Gallagher
Sam Gallagher
Sam Gallagher is an Australian football player who currently plays for Central Coast Mariners.- Club career :Gallagher spent his junior career at Gladesville Spirit, the NSW Institute of Sport and then Manly United FC before being signed for the Sydney FC National Youth League team.He was called...
Team Kit
A new kit was designed for the upcoming 2009-10 season. The home kit is a sky blue shirt with dark blue trim, dark blue shorts, and sky blue socks. The away kit is very similar to previous season's kits, white shirt with sky blue trim, sky blue shorts and white socks. Bing LeeBing Lee
Bing Lee is an Australian retailing company, a chain of superstores specializing in consumer electronics, computer and telecommunication goods. Bing Lee is the largest privately-held electrical retail business in New South Wales with 41 stores and a turnover of about $490 million...
will be the home shirt sponsor for the upcoming season and Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
Australia will be the away kit sponsor.
Home
Away