Sydney FC have bounced back from their midweek FFA Cup heartbreak with a 2-0 win over the Newcastle Jets at McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday.
Second-half goals to Milos Ninkovic (63') and subsitute Bernie Ibini (80') on his league return ensured the Sky Blues sealed all three points.
The result sees Sydney stretch their lead at the top of the table to six points while the Jets remain in 8th, with Wellington Phoenix still to play.
Graham Arnold made a host of changes to the side that lost the FFA Cup final to Melbourne City, handing starts to David Carney, Milos Dimitrijevic and George Blackwood.
The changes showed, with Sydney unable to capitalise on their dominance in the opening stanza against a listless Jets outfit.
But the visitors clicked into gear after the break and could have won by more if not for wasteful finishing and the brilliance of Jets keeper Jack Duncan.
Well the trip to Newcastle was well worth it this afternoon with Sydney FC winning 2-0! #NEWvSYD #SydneyIsSkyBlue pic.twitter.com/EpZmcMbqL2
— Mat H (@mjh_73) December 4, 2016
GOALS
0-1 Sydney FC: Milos Ninkovic, 63’
The Serbian midfielder picked the ball up 30 metres from goal and surged into the Jets penalty area, beating four defenders before unleashing a curling effort into the back of the net.
0-2 Sydney FC: Bernie Ibini, 80’
The striker surged into the area and beat a host of Newcastle defenders before pulling the trigger from a tight angle which well saved by Duncan before Ibini bundled in the rebound.
Fulltime at McDonald Jones Stadium and @NewcastleJetsFC have gone down 2-0 to @SydneyFC #NEWvSYD #ALeague pic.twitter.com/X35l3X8PWg
— McDonaldJonesStadium (@MJStadium) December 4, 2016
OPTA DATA
-Sydney have won ten of their last 11 games against Newcastle Jets (D1).
-Since 2005, Newcastle have won just one of 17 games against the Sky Blues when playing on home soil (D4, L12).
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