Melbourne Victory was edged 1-0 by Sydney FC in the A-League on Tuesday.
Summary
Without the likes of Adama Traore, Robbie Kruse, Marco Rojas, Jake Brimmer and Callum McManaman due to injury and suspension, Victory had its chances at Jubilee Stadium.
But Bobo’s sixth-minute header proved to be enough for Sydney.
Sydney made a fast start and opened the scoring in the sixth minute as Bobo headed in a cross from Luke Brattan from the right.
Victory tried to hit on the break in the first half, with the Sky Blues dominating most of the possession.
Sydney went close again in the 34th minute, but Victory goalkeeper Matt Acton desperately dived on a loose ball following a scramble in the area.
Victory should have equalised nine minutes before half-time through Ben Folami.
Making his first A-League start, Lleyton Brooks’ well-weighted cross picked out Folami, whose header was saved by Sydney goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne.
Brooks threatened again before the break, his driven low effort well saved by Redmayne after he was played in by Rudy Gestede, while Jacob Butterfield saw a shot fly wide.
Victory pushed to begin the second half and Brooks hit the post from a Butterfield cross in the 53rd minute.
At the other end, Kosta Barbarouses was denied by Acton in a one-on-one.
Acton was needed again in the 62nd minute, tipping over a Barbarouses effort on the turn, before the shot-stopper brilliantly denied Ryan McGowan.
The more open nature of the contest continued and Acton smartly stopped a Milos Ninkovic strike in the 68th minute.
Victory looked for a late equaliser but was unable to find a way through against Sydney.
Player in focus
What they said – Acton
on the game…
“We had our chances, just unfortunate not to take them, we take one or two of those it’s a different game, obviously disappointing to lose the game, but I think we can hold our heads high.”
on building into the game…
“We felt out there that we were building as the first half went on nicely. It’s just disappointing to give them that goal so early on in the game and you can’t give Sydney goals and expect to be in the game. It’s obviously disappointing the way we started in those first 10-15 minutes, but the words at half-time weren’t a rocket or anything, it was just hang in there and we’ll get our chances and unfortunately tonight we couldn’t take them.”
Result
Hyundai A-League 2020/21
Sydney FC 1 (Bobo 6′)
Melbourne Victory 0
Sydney FC: Redmayne (gk); Grant, McGowan, Wilkinson, King; Brattan, Retre; Baumjohann (Buhagiar 64′), Caceres (Ninkovic 64′); Barbarouses, Bobo (Ivanovic 81′).
Melbourne Victory: Acton (gk); Roux, Ansell, Ryan, Broxham (c); Butterfield, Barnett; Brooks (Lauton 64′), Kamsoba, Folami; Gestede.
Yellow cards: Folami 83′, Barnett 86′
Red cards: Nil
Attendance: TBA
Venue: Jubilee Stadium
Next up
Victory is back at AAMI Park on Sunday, when it hosts the Central Coast Mariners.
