Rampaging Reds outclass Sydney

Adelaide United overtook Sydney FC in fifth place on the A-League ladder by beating the Sky Blues 3-0 at Allianz Stadium on Saturday night.

The slick Reds gave Sydney a football lesson in the first half to take a two-goal lead and held back a second-half comeback from the home side to emerge worthy winners.

Sydney’s third defeat in four matches and seventh in 10 has put Sydney coach Frank Farina under pressure to keep his job.

Young Hagi Gligor should have put Sydney in the lead in its first attack after nine minutes but he snatched at his shot when set up by Ranko Despotovski.

Striker Bruce Djite put Adelaide in the lead after 16 minutes with a well-taken low shot to Vedran Janjetovic’s left after being served by Fabio Ferreira.

Adelaide was dominating and Matt Jurman cleared the ball on the line after Michael Zullo had beaten Janjetovic before Marcelo Carrusca saw his fierce shot hit the woodwork.

Sydney replied with a firm drive from Despotovic that was turned to corner by Eugene Galekovic.

The Reds however caught Sydney napping in the 26th minute when Ferreira flew past Gligor and planted the ball into the far corner of Janjetovic’s net to put his side two up.

During halftime security people ejected a group of fans who unfurled a banner asking for Farina to be sacked as the atmosphere at the stadium turned sour.

Sydney came out firing in the second half to get back into the game and Ali Abbas served Despotovic but his shot was blocked by Galekovic.

Sydney suddenly found a new gear and Despotovic should have done better when a loose ball came to him but he fluffed his shot.

Adelaide made the issue safe 10 minutes from time when substitute Jeronimo Neumann tapped the ball in at the end of a beautiful attack.

In other games Central Coast Mariners were beaten by Melbourne Victory 3-1 while Western Sydney and Brisbane Roar played out a 1-1 draw.

source: sbs.com.au