- Bobô (81' Pen)
- Josh Brillante (73')
- Brandán Fernando (31')
Bobo penalty earns Sydney FC draw with Melbourne City
Sydney FC avoided their first A-League defeat and their second to Melbourne City in 10 days thanks to a late Bobo penalty that cancelled out Fernando Brandan's first-half screamer.
The Sky Blues, out for revenge after being beaten by their interstate rivals in last week's FFA Cup final, mostly controlled Friday night's rematch at ANZ Stadium but again lacked the attacking ruthlessness to put City away.
What they did do is secure an important point that keeps them undefeated in 10 weeks and six points clear of John van 't Schip's men at the summit.
The 1-1 stalemate lacked a crowd -- only 14,668 turned up -- but wasn't short of drama as Sydney had a goal rightly disallowed and a penalty appeal waved away, while Brandan hit the deck after Rhyan Grant made contact with his head in the second half.
All that was before Josh Brillante was given his marching orders 20 minutes from time following a second yellow card for a late challenge on Neil Kilkenny.
How Sydney were not ahead at the break was anyone's guess as they moved forward dangerously and opened up City's vulnerable defence with ease.
The industrious Grant could have scored more than once and would have nicked the opener had his strike not been disallowed after it caught Bobo's hip in an offside position on the line on the way to the net.
City's Nicolas Colazo hit a brilliant free kick that hit the post as Sky Blues goalkeeper Danny Vukovic watched helplessly.
The Argentine continued his superb form to set countryman Brandan up for an opening goal that was just as stunning as it was unlikely. Against the run of play, Brandan ran on to Colazo's through ball, took a deft touch and blasted a brutal strike from outside the box.
Sydney, behind for just the second time this season, scrambled for an equaliser that would have promptly arrived only for Dean Bouzanis to smartly deny Milos Dimitrijevic's free kick.
Coach Graham Arnold was then incensed as cries for a penalty were waved away when Seb Ryall went down inside the box, his frustration only swelling when referee Kris Griffiths-Jones called back play for a foul on Bobo while Sydney had a clear advantage.
Arnold, also frustrated by Filip Holosko's ineffectiveness, dragged his marquee player off on the hour mark and installed the lively Bernie Ibini.
When Brillante received his second yellow card on 73 minutes, they chased the game a man down and Bobo finally found joy by scoring a soft penalty after Jakobsen grabbed his shirt.
Despite Tim Cahill's introduction with six minutes remaining, there would be no breakthrough for either team.
Game Information
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