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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
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.
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
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Besart Berisha
Striker Brisbane |
21 | 1 |
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Shane Smeltz
Striker Perth |
17 | 3 |
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Carlos Hernández
Midfielder Melbourne Victory |
10 | 3 |
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Mitch Nichols
Midfielder Brisbane |
10 | 1 |
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Ryan Alan Griffiths
Striker Newcastle Jets |
9 | 1 |