Sydney FC Roll 10-Man Melbourne 3-0

The Sky Blues returned to the winner’s circle with an emphatic 3-0 win over arch-rivals Melbourne Victory before 20,000 at Allianz Stadium, Joe Lolley claiming a first-half brace.

Entering the match in 9th place against the third-placed Victory, the Sky Blues were already ahead from a second-minute Lolley goal when Melbourne striker Zinedine Machach was shown a red card for an over-the-ball tackle on Jordan Courtney-Perkins,.

Sydney FC 3 (Lolley 2′, 26′, Kucharski 86′) def. Melbourne Victory 0

Joe Lolley celebrates his second-minute goal

Moments That Mattered

2′ | LOLLEY GOAL – A perfectly-weighted pass from Popovic releases Grant down the left, his drilled first-time cross met at the near post by Lolley, who lifts it past the ‘keeper at the second attempt.

5′ | LOLLEY SHOT – A lovely Costa pass after a darting run through the centre sets Lolley up for another shot, tipped over by the ‘keeper.

6′ | SEGECIC SHOT SAVED – Segecic sends in a rasping shot from the edge of the box after a cleared corner, but it nestles in the ‘keeper’s stomach.

16′ | MACHACH SENT OFF – A yellow becomes a red for Melbourne Victory striker Machach after his lunging attempted tackle leaves Courtney-Perkins writhing in agony.

Zinedine Machach is shown a red card from Referee Adam Kersey

18′ | COSTA ON SONG – Continuing his fast start, Costa glides across the top of the box before unleashing a stinging shot smothered at the second attempt by the ‘keeper.

26′ | LOLLEY GOAL – A Costa special, as he whips in a dipping cross from the right, Lolley losing his marker to thunder a downward header into the goal from inside the six-yard box.

43′ | SYDNEY FC DISALLOWED GOAL – Lolley is denied a first-half hat-trick from a near-post volley with the outside of his foot, Grant judged by VAR to be fractionally offside before sending in a cross.

46′ I COSTA WITHDRAWN – The Brazilian maestro clutches at his hamstring while dribbling, before being replaced by Kucharski.

48′ | SYDNEY FC DISALLOWED SECOND GOAL – Courtney-Perkins’ goal from a close-range scramble is ruled out after Lolley is judged to be interfering with play in the lead-up.

80′ | FORNAROLI FREE-KICK – With Melbourne looking to capitalise on a period of dominance, Fornaroli lines up a free kick from the edge of the area but curls it high and wide.

86′ | KUCHARSKI GOAL – Kucharski leads a counter-attack before feeding the ball to Lolley, his shot cannoning off the near post before a Grant cross is smashed home by Kucharski.

Douglas Costa sparks another attack

Match Report: Three goals and a clean sheet made for the perfect conclusion to 2024 for Sydney FC as they returned to the winner’s circle at Allianz Stadium against arch rivals Melbourne Victory.

Entering the match in ninth place after earlier results, the Sky Blues had two clear objectives against the third-placed Victory: stiffen a defence that had given up 17 goals in 8 matches, while breaking down a Melbourne backline that had conceded only 5 goals.

That objective became easier in the second minute when Joe Lolley, filling the central striker role, got a second nibble at a Rhyan Grant cross and chipped the ball into the roof of the net from close range.

Sydney FC’s mission was then given a further boost in the 16th minute when Melbourne striker Zinedine Machach, who had scored in each of his previous three outings against the Sky Blues, was sent off for a rash challenge on Jordan Courtney-Perkins following a review.

The next half an hour provided a highlight reel for Douglas Costa, in particular, as the Brazilian tormented the Victory defence with his full array of skills, interspersing stepovers with rasping shots and light-touch passing.

With Melbourne on the back foot, Costa in the 26th minute looked up, shifted the ball to his favoured left foot, and whipped in an inch-perfect cross to Lolley, who rolled off his marker and thundered a header in from inside the six-yard box for a deserved second goal.

Costa’s departure at the start of the second half – he had felt at his hamstring after a run – preceded a period where Sydney FC had to withstand constant pressure from an invigorated Victory, and manager Ufuk Talay would have been just as pleased to see them repel numerous attacks as he would have been with the first half display.

As he so often does, Jaiden Kucharski then provided the icing on the cake late in the game when he struck an 86th minute close-range goal to put the seal on the result.

Jaiden Kucharski in the build up to the third goal

What They Said: Ufuk Talay: “Definitely happy that we’ve won the game, scored three goals, kept a clean sheet at home. So I think it’s a good opportunity to try to build on this.

“Yeah, I think we started the game quite well. I think obviously the red card always changes things within the game.

“But I think even if the red card didn’t happen, I thought we were trending the right way within the game.

“We had good momentum going towards their goals.

“Joe did a great job playing as a nine with Patryk’s absence.”

Sydney FC: 12. Harrison DEVENISH-MEARES (GK), 4. Jordan COURTNEY-PERKINS, 5. Hayden MATTHEWS, 6. Corey HOLLMAN (16. Joel KING 87′), 7. Adrian SEGECIC, 8. Anas OUAHIM (20. Tiago QUINTAL 90+5′), 10. Joe LOLLEY (28. Nathan AMANATIDIS 87′),  11. Douglas COSTA (25. Jaiden KUCHARSKI 47′), 17. Anthony CACERES, 23. Rhyan GRANT (C), 41. Alex POPOVIC (3. Aaron GURD 87′).

Unused Subs: 13. Pat WOOD, 1. Andrew REDMAYNE (GK).

Yellow Cards: Segecic 68′.

Red Cards: None.

Melbourne Victory: 25. Jack DUNCAN (GK), 2. Jason GERIA, 5. Brendan HAMILL, 6. Ryan TEAGUE(18. Fabian MONGE 75′), 7. Daniel ARZANI (11. Clerismario SANTOS 46′), 8. Zinedine MACHACH, 9. Nikolaos VERGOS (10. Bruno FORNAROLI 46′), 14. Jordi VALADON, 21. Roderick MIRANDA (C), 27. Reno PISCOPO (19. Jing REEC 64′), 28. Kasey BOS.

Unused Subs: 3. Adama TRAORE, 22. Joshua RAWLINS, 30. Daniel GRASKOSKI (GK).

Yellow Cards: Geria 49′, Geria 51′ Reec 67′, Fornaroli 71′, Hamill 79′.

Red Cards: Machach 15′.

Venue: Allianz Stadium

Referee: Adam Kersey

Attendance: 20,015