Match Report – Sydney FC 2-1 Gold Coast United (Sydney FC Fan’s Perspective)

The game wasn’t one for the football purist but it was a win which was sorely needed for Sydney FC. The 2-1 victory, only their second at the Sydney Football Stadium this season, over bottom placed Gold Coast will loosen the collar of coach Vitezslav Lavicka, who many are calling to be replaced.
After conceding late against Perth and Brisbane, Sydney FC were determined not to give their opponents the chance to do the same, almost having the perfect start. An early foul, gave Brett Emerton a chance to curl in his freekick but it narrowly bounced away from goal.
Despite playing some fluent football including series of passes through the middle, Sydney couldn’t find the man in the middle to head it home, thus going into the sheds on level terms with pressure mounting on the sky blues and their coach, with another loss surely being the end of Lavicka’s reign at Sydney FC.
Frustration only mounted for Sydney when on 55 minutes, Gold Coast produced a sight too commonly seen at the SFS this season, the net bulging for an away goal. Ben Halloran the scorer, finding himself in space and knocking it in off the post to bring that familiar feeling of doom back for Sydney FC.
Looking to revive memories of Gold Coast’s 3-2 loss earlier this year at the SFS, Sydney started to press up the field, creating chances but time and again not going into the back of net. Mark Bridge had two of the best chances but only ended upgetting more and more frustrated with his lack of accuracy.
There was a reward for Sydney’s persistance when the unlikely duo of Pascal Bosschaart and Karol Kisel combined for the later to slot home the goal to bring the game to parity. Sydney couldn’t rest on that though, after a winless month, they needed the three points.
It didn’t seem the winner would come though when Vitezslav Lavicka subbed both Nick Carle and Terry Antonis off to the massive displeasure of the sidelines. His substitution paid off though with Bruno Cazarine latching onto an inch perfect Kisel cross to head home the winner and ensure pandemonium in the stands.
Sydney FC’s second home win keeps them sixth on the A-League ladder while Gold Coast continue to languish at the bottom. Next up for the sky blues is an Australia Day trip to Melbourne to take on Victory while Gold Coast host ladder topping Central Coast, the day after.