BILLED AS… The F3 Derby.

IN REALITY… Juninho’s inclusion in the starting line-up had fans from both sides salivating, even if Branko Culina had tried his best to hose down everyone’s expectations of what the little fella would deliver. The match could easily have turned into “The Juninho Show” had Mile Jedinak not done such a good job in shadowing the Brazilian star. In the end though, Sydney’s #22 didn’t do much aside from a few flashes of trickery and some nice exchanges with Steve Corica.

THE GOOD… What is it about strikers who play their old clubs and always being able to get themselves on the scoresheet? Sasho Petrovski’s pin-point left-footed finish was impressive, no matter which side you were behind.

THE BAD… Some of Dean Heffernan’s tackles were marginal but his body-check on Mark Milligan was outright blatant. We just hope the Heff shows us some of the other stuff he learned while he was in Germany.

THE UGLY… The weather! Sydney put on a very unwelcoming rain-soaked night for the occasion. Bravo to the 18,457 people who braved it.

THEY SAID WHAT… “I think it was wonderful. It’s nice to get an early goal and get that monkey off my back nice and early in the season.” Former Sydney FC striker Sasho Petrovski left his old stomping ground a happy man.

THE FALLOUT… Sydney FC sit dead last after one round – they were only side to lose.

Sydney FC Clint Bolton (Gk), Iain Fyfe (Robbie Middleby 71’), Mark Rudan, Tony Popovic (Cptn), Steve Corica, Alex Brosque, Terry Mcflynn (David Zdrilic, 84’), Mark Milligan, Adam Biddle (Ruben Zadkovich 46’), Juninho, Ufuk Talay
Bookings Ufuk Talay 43’
Goalscorers None

Central Coast Mariners Danny Vukovic (Gk), Andre Gumprecht (Greg Owens 63’), John Hutchinson, Dean Heffernan, Nik Mrdja, Damien Brown, Nigel Boogaard, Matthew Osman, Alex Wilkinson (Cptn), Adam Kwasnik (Tom Pondeljak 71’), Sasho Petrovski (Matt Simon 78’), Mile Jedinak
Bookings Dean Heffernan 41, Mile Jedinak 42, Sasho Petrovski 52, Andre Gumprecht 61’
Goalscorer Sasho Petrovski 7’

MATCHRATING 3/5