Sparkling Sydney FC ease past troubled Newcastle Jets

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:19 am

Sparkling Sydney FC found the goal touch which had eluded them in last week's A-League derby, with a crushing 4-1 home win over Newcastle at Leichhardt Oval.

As was the case against the Wanderers, the Sky Blues produced dazzling build-ups but their finishing on Friday night was far more clinical.

Both sides scored inside the first 10 minutes, with Milos Ninkovic netting for Sydney and Matt Millar for the Jets. The game was locked at 1-1 shortly before half time, but a slick Adam Le Fondre finish gave the Sky Blues the lead at the break.

They took little more than five minutes of the second half to increase their lead with a Ryan McGowan shot deflecting off John Koutroumbis and Kosta Barbarouses added a fourth.

The result lifts Sydney above the Wanderers to provisional first on goal difference and Newcastle drop to last, still searching for a first win.

Sydney FC enjoyed a commanding win over Newcastle Jets on Friday night.
Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

It was a horrid night at the office for Jets coach Ernie Merrick in his 300th game as an A-League mentor. While Newcastle had their chances going forward, they were opened up too easily, too often. Right back Rhyan Grant and playmaker Ninkovic were majestic for Sydney and each received a standing ovation after being substituted midway through the second half.

Brandon O'Neill, Luke Brattan and Alex Baumjohann were all threatening and Le Fondre and Barbarouses were lively up front.

Sydney made a sizzling start with Le Fondre lobbing an effort over the bar after just 16 seconds and Ninkovic shooting over in the third minute. Ninkovic made amends three minutes later with a classy sidefoot finish from the marauding Grant, who was also involved in the build-up to the two earlier chances.

Sydney barely had three minutes to savour their lead before the Jets equalised, with right back Millar scoring his first goal for the club with a firm header from a Dimi Petratos free-kick.