Continued pressure and counter attack by Sydney FC laid the foundation for the a strong performance against the Newcastle Jets, ultimately claiming a 2-0 victory.

The Jets were pinned down in their own half for much of the opening period before settling into the game shortly after half time. But it was not enough to beat the two-time A-League champions with the Sky Blues bagging all three points at McDonald Jones Stadium on Saturday evening.

Sydney’s attacking striker, Alex Brosque received a perfect through ball from Milos Ninkovic to open the scoring in the 7th minute, easily finding the net in a one on one challenge with Jets’ goalkeeper Jack Duncan.

Joshua Brillante secured a corner for the Sky Blues at the 13th minute mark thanks to a slip from defender and Jets’ captain Nigel Boogaard on the goal line.

Jets winger Andrew Hoole returned the favour when he desperately took down Sydney’s Michael Zullo in a bid to regain the ball for his team.

At the 39th minute the ball finally made its way into Sydney’s 18-yard box, with Jets’ winger Jason Hoffman crossing into the danger area and forcing a sliding Sydney defence to deny an attacker’s boot.

Morten Nordstrand provided Newcastle with their first goal opportunity at the 43rd minute. The striker played a one-two in the box with Hoole before laying it off to the penalty spot for midfielder Steven Ugarkovic, who pushed the ball just past the right post.

Sky Blues’ Filip Holosko shot forced Duncan to make a diving save not long after, only to parry the ball into the path of Ninkovic. The Serbian made no mistake and hammered it home again and make the score 2-0 just after half time.

Jets’ defender Nicholas Cowburn was taken down in the 60th minute, before Hoole stepped up once again to cross the free kick on to the forehead of a jumping Benjamin Kantarovski.

The first yellow card of the game was handed to Sydney’s captain, Brosque soon after when he took down Nordstrand in front of the referee in the middle of the pitch.

Sydney defender Alexander Wilkinson followed suit and was awarded the second yellow card of the game at the 70th minute, granting Newcastle a corner kick.

Brillante took Jets’ sub Devante Clut down with three minutes of regular time left to secure himself the third yellow card of the match.

An intercept from Cowburn saw a break away for Hoole before he took an unfortunate touch in front of goal during extra time to deny the Jets’ another goal scoring opportunity, Sydney closing out the match 2-0.

Newcastle Jets FC 0
Sydney FC 2 (Brosque 7’ & 48’)

McDonald Jones Stadium
Attendance: 11,873

Referee: Daniel Elder
Assistant Referees: Ryan Gallagher, Stephen Cleal
Fourth Official: Stephen Lucas

Newcastle Jets FC: 20. Jack DUNCAN, 4. Nigel BOOGAARD, 5. Benjamin KANTAROVSKI (28. John KOUTROUMBIS 81′), 6. Steven UGARKOVIC, 7. Andrew HOOLE, 8. Mateo POLJAK, 10. Wayne BROWN (9. Aleksandr KOKKO 69’), 13. Ivan VUJICA, 16. Nicholas COWBURN, 19. Morten NORDSTRAND (23. Devante CLUT 77’)

Substitutes: 9. Aleksandr KOKKO 23. Devante CLUT, 27. Caio DE GODOY, 28. John KOUTROUMBIS, 30. Pierce CLARK

Sydney FC: 20. Daniel VUKOVIC, 4. Alexander WILKINSON, 5. Matthew JURMAN, 6. Joshua BRILLANTE, 7. Michael ZULLO 9. Bobo (18. Matthew Simon 78’), 10. Milos NINKOVIC (8. Milos DIMITRIJEVIC 88′), 13. Brandon O’NEILL, 14. Alex BROSQUE (17. David CARNEY 71’), 21. Filip HOLOSKO, 23. Rhyan GRANT

Substitutes: 1. Vedran JANJETOVIC, 8. Milos DIMITRIJEVIC, 17. David CARNEY, 18. Matthew SIMON, 22. Sebastian RYALL