Played
February 5, 2012 5:00 PM EST
Sydney Football Stadium — Sydney
Referee:‬ M. Gillett‎
Attendance:‬ 10232‎
 

Match report: Sydney FC 2 Newcastle Jets 5

A first-half onslaught from the Jets - with goals from three former Sydney FC men - set up the visitors' win, with the Sky Blues leaving their run too late.

By Adam Lucius

A-League - Newcastle Jets
Getty

Sydney FC's hopes of sending coach Vitezslav Lavicka out an A-League winner have taken a severe battering as three former players helped Newcastle ran away 5-2 winners at the Sydney Football Stadium.

Nikolai Topor-Stanley scored the Jets' opening goal after 22 minutes and Ruben Zadkovich rubbed further salt into Sydney's wound with a wonderful strike seven minutes later.

New Zealand international Jeremy Brockie added a third on 38 minutes, and by that stage Lavicka - with the club announcing he would be departing at season's end - must have wished he was on the first plane back to Prague.

But second half goals to Hirofumi Moriyasu and Michael Beauchamp - the defender's first senior goal in an Australian league match - threatened to turn the game on its head, before Brockie put the result to bed with his second in the 87th minute.

Ali Abbas completed the rout with an injury time goal - the first time Sydney have conceded five goals at home.  

The Sky Blues could have gone five points clear in sixth place but instead have been relegated to seventh, with the Jets taking their spot inside the top six.

They have now been dragged into a dogfight that threatens to ruin plans to farewell the popular Lavicka with a finals appearance.

Adding to the pain, it was three players who once called the SFS home that did the damage.   

Topor-Stanley, Zadkovich and Brockie all spent time at Sydney and delighted in putting their old club to the sword.

Liam Reddy did well to block Ryan Griffiths' attempt at goal but the rebound fell for Topor-Stanley, who expertly looped his header just inside the far post for the first of the match's seven goals.

If that stunned the Sydney faithful, they were sent further into shock when another old boy doubled the advantage in the 29th minute.

Tarek Elrich headed a pass into Zadkovich's path and the No.10 let fly with a first-time half-volley that screamed past Reddy and into the right-hand corner of the net.

Zadkovich provoked the Sydney fans by celebrating at their end, turning his back and pointing to the name on his shirt as the abuse rained down on him.

Sky Blues fans had more to worry about when a diving Brockie headed home a beautiful cross from Elrich to fire the Jets ahead 3-0 just before the break.

The home side was booed off at half-time and were stung into action as a result.

Moriyasu pulled a goal back just two minutes in, cutting back on his right foot and slamming a hard, low drive past Ben Kennedy's outstretched left hand.

Beauchamp had never scored a goal in more than 100 league appearances in Australia but broke his duck in the 72nd minute to set the game alight.

But despite pouring on the pressure, the hosts could not buy a third goal.

Brockie's second three minutes from time sealed Sydney's fate before Abbas added to the embarrassment.



Sydney FC

1
Liam Reddy
Goalkeeper
-
5
-
21
Scott Jamieson
Defender
-
23
Rhyan Grant
Defender
-
4
Pascal Bosschaart
Midfielder
-
6
Hirofumi Moriyasu
Midfielder
47′ 78′
-
8
Karol Kisel
Midfielder
-
10
-
15
Terry McFlynn
Midfielder
23′ 63′
-
9
-
19
Mark Bridge
Striker
36′
-

Newcastle Jets

-
1
Ben Kennedy
Goalkeeper
-
2
Taylor Regan
Defender
53′ 73′
-
4
-
5
Tiago
Defender
-
11
Tarek Elrich
Defender
73′
-
10
Ruben Zadkovich
Midfielder
30′
-
12
Jobe Wheelhouse
Midfielder
-
-
Jacob Pepper
Midfielder
67′
-
8
-
23
-
24

Substitutes

20
Ivan Necevski
Goalkeeper
-
22
Nathan Sherlock
Defender
78′
-
16
J. Cáceres
Midfielder
63′
-
18
Juho Mäkelä
Striker
36′
-

Substitutes

-
19
Matthew Nash
Goalkeeper
-
13
Sung-Hwan Byun
Defender
73′
-
22
Ali Abbas
Midfielder
73′ 95′
-
9

Coach/Manager

Coach/Manager

-
-
 
  • Goal
  • Own Goal
  • Penalty
  • Penalty Missed
  • Yellow Card
  • Assist
  • Penalty Save
  • Penalty Shootout Goal
  • Penalty Shootout Miss
  • Yellow Card / Red Card
  • Red Card
  • Substitution IN
  • Substitution OUT
  • Injury
  • Goal.com Rating
  • Goal.com Man of the Match
  • Goal.com Flop of the Match
  • Top & Flop Global Ranking
  • Fans' Man of the Match
  • Fans' Flop of the Match
Results
 
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Besart Berisha Besart Berisha
Striker
Brisbane
21 1
Shane Smeltz Shane Smeltz
Striker
Perth
17 3
Carlos Hernández Carlos Hernández
Midfielder
Melbourne Victory
10 3
Mitch  Nichols Mitch Nichols
Midfielder
Brisbane
10 1
Ryan Alan Griffiths Ryan Alan Griffiths
Striker
Newcastle Jets
9 1