Barbarouses haunts former club as Sydney beat Victory

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:19 am

Two goals in seven minutes gave Sydney FC a 2-1 win over A-League rivals Melbourne Victory.

Former Victory champion now Sydney star Kosta Barbarouses scored the winning goal in Sunday evening's tense encounter at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium and made good on his prematch promise not to celebrate.

With the match tied at 1-1, Barbarouses scored against his former club in the 68th minute after Rhyan Grant's shot bounced off the crossbar in heavy traffic.

The 16,116-strong Sydney crowd went wild, but Barbarouses was stoic as he made good on his word not to react if he scored against his former team.

However, the assist from Grant was just as important in his 200th match for the club.

For Victory, it was a hostile welcome to the scene of last season's 6-1 loss in the finals to their Sydney counterparts.

And in case they had forgotten the dismal result, an enormous banner graced the northern end of the ground as a reminder, reading "one fateful night in Sydney..." along with illustrations of each of Sydney's six goals from the match.

Kosta Barbarouses was on target in Sydney FC's win over his former club Melbourne Victory.
Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

Sydney had all the ball early but failed to create promising chances to score.

They maintained the pressure through until the end of the first half, but Victory didn't yield - and it paid off just before halftime.

Prolific striker Ola Toivonen opened the scoring in the 45th minute with his fourth goal of the season, heading the ball in next to the post off a brilliant pass from Josh Hope to take the 1-0 lead.

The Swede had another chance when he was fouled just after halftime by Grant, but his kick sailed over the bar.

Sydney responded in the 61st minute as Adam Le Fondre headed in a goal after a wealth of possession to level at 1-1, followed soon after by the winning Barbarouses goal.

International duty robbed Victory of Storm Roux, Kenny Athiu, Thomas Deng and Elvis Kamsoba. German international Tim Hoogland (quad) and Socceroo Andrew Naboout (hamstring) remain sidelined with injury.

The depleted Victory, winning just one of six games this season, were valiant in defeat against their arch rivals.

Victory next play Adelaide United at Coopers Stadium, while Sydney FC travel to Perth to face the Glory.