Sydney FC have ended their three-match A-League losing run with a 2-0 win over Perth Glory at HBF Park, sending the Sky Blues back into the top six.
Sydney FC coach Steve Corica hopes Saturday's 2-0 A-League win over Perth Glory will prove to be the reboot his team desperately needed.
Perth Glory - Sydney FC
- Sydney beat Perth 2-0 on Saturday in the A-League.
- Goals from Barbarouses and Yazbek secured the win.
- The Sky Blues are sixth in the ladder, Glory have fallen to last place.
More A-League news can be found on FTBL.
The Sky Blues entered the match on the back of a rare three-match A-League Men losing streak, but goals to Kosta Barbarouses and 19-year-old Patrick Yazbek sealed the win.
The result followed Tuesday's 5-0 thumping of Kaya FC that helped Sydney secure a spot in the AFC Champions League.
Corica hopes the double dose of wins will help his team build momentum.
"Definitely I think so. We're building on it," Corica said after the win that sent Sydney back into the top six.
"We obviously needed that three points. It probably wasn't our best performance, but it was more important the three points in the end.
"Until that second goal went in, (I felt) fairly nervous. We've been conceding a few goals of late.
"It's pleasing when you win, especially with a clean sheet."
Barbarouses, playing just his fifth match of an injury-interrupted campaign after fracturing his ankle during the pre-season, scored in the seventh minute to set the tone.
An intercept and sharp run down the left from defender Callum Talbot helped set it up, with Barbarouses volleying home the cross from point-blank range.
Kosta Barbarouses is back amongst the goalscorers!
— Isuzu UTE A-League (@aleaguemen) March 12, 2022
The winger found himself on the end of a Callum Talbot cross to fire @SydneyFC in front.
Catch all the action LIVE on @ParamountPlusAU 📺
Follow live: https://t.co/0vlP0pZtZW#PERvSYD #WeAreALeagues @IsuzuUTE pic.twitter.com/UmYnSPw1Hx
The woodwork saved Sydney in the 59th minute when Bruno Fornaroli unleashed a curling strike from outside the box.
Yazbek's goal 11 minutes later was somewhat controversial given a Glory player was taken out in the lead-up.
The goal stood, however, and the Glory couldn't get on the scoresheet themselves despite setting up several more good chances.
Patrick Yazbek gets his first @isuzuUTE A-League goal 🏃â€â™‚ï¸
— Isuzu UTE A-League (@aleaguemen) March 12, 2022
The beautiful team goal gives @SydneyFC the 2⃣-0⃣ lead at HBF Park.
Follow live: https://t.co/0vlP0qhDe4#PERvSYD #WeAreALeagues pic.twitter.com/agoxcfh15N
Glory captain Brandon O'Neill suffered a serious shoulder injury in the 63rd minute after being felled in a sliding tackle from former teammate Alex Wilkinson.
Barbarouses came off in the 77th minute, but Corica played down any injury concerns.
The 32-year-old will now link up with New Zealand for their World Cup qualifiers.
"He's fine. He's been out injured, so it's only his second start of the season. He was just tired," Corica said.
Glory are now languishing in last spot on the table, and coach Richard Garcia was left frustrated at his team's lacklustre start to the match.
"Very pleasing that they created enough chances, but I'm disappointed in the start," Garcia said.
"We can't start in the manner that we did."
The full A-League Men's schedule can be found using this link.
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