Melbourne Victory spoiled Sydney FC's return to the Sydney Football Stadium by recording an entertaining 3-2 win in the first Big Blue of the 2022-23 A-League Men (ALM) season on Saturday evening.
Finding themselves in a hole after 15 minutes after new signing Robert Mak put Sydney ahead, Victory responded when Nick D'Agostino headed home a powerful effort in the 31st minute to tie things up, before Nani teed up second-half substitute Chris Ikonomidis to give them the lead in the second half.
James Donachie headed in a Diego Caballo free kick to restore parity, but the Victorians were able to respond again and delivered what would prove to be the killing blow when Ikonomidis set up Josh Brillante for a simple tap-in to win it.
JUMP TO: Player ratings | Best/worst performers | Highlights and notable moments | Post-match quotes | Key stats | Upcoming fixtures
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Not quite a storybook ending
Saturday evening was mooted as the beginning of a new era for Sydney, so much so that a tifo bearing the message "Our future begins now" was displayed by active supporter group "The Cove" ahead of kick-off and the club opted to film the final episode of their all-access documentary series at the game. Give it a hopeful ending and all that.
The game was also the first the Sky Blues would play in the newly renovated Sydney Football Stadium after being forced into a nomadic existence across the past few seasons, with the pregame festivities only adding to the sense of occasion and grandeur.
But while the game was an entertaining affair, full of twists and turns, it didn't go the way the hosts were planning. Indeed, Sydney discovered that you can't script these kinds of Hollywood moments and, if you attempt to, you're much more likely to find your tale turned into a tragedy.
Defensive slip-ups cost Sydney
Riding a wave of emotion born of the homecoming festivities, Sydney had the better of the opening exchanges without being utterly dominant. And while their first shot of the game did find the net, they subsequently allowed Victory to get on top and force their way back into the game with the leveller from a set piece.
Promptly seeing more of the ball and winning the territory battle, the Harboursiders again showed some good signs but lacked a cutting edge in the final third throughout the remainder of the contest -- striker Adam Le Fondre not recording a single shot in his 77 minutes. This cost them after Nani was afforded far too much space by a wrong-footed Caballo to thread the needle pass for Ikonomidis. Donachie then dragged them back from a set piece, but the hosts' defence subsequently went to sleep yet again and left keeper Andrew Redmayne exposed as Victory broke in transition and Brillante found the winner.
Not the kind of start that Steve Corica and the Sky Blue faithful would have wanted but it wasn't a wasted night for the hosts. Or at least, one not without some hints for the future. One of the touted features of the Sky Blues' new system this season was the role that wingers would play and while one game does not a season make, the play of Joe Lolley and Mak on Saturday would certainly indicate that's set to be a feature in 2022-23.
Victory's vanguard
Of course, whereas Sydney entered the contest looking to put a disappointing 2021-22 in the rearview mirror, Victory were hoping to use last season as a foundation to launch a title challenge. And while coach Tony Popovic would have been far from happy with how his side coughed up either goal, they were able to respond to adversity and find a way to take all three points in challenging conditions. Popovic would have been pleased that it wasn't star player Nani that was the driving force in the initial comeback, but instead his side's young-ish attacking core of D'Agostino, Ben Folami and Jake Brimmer, a day after he praised their growth the campaign prior, is another bonus. So too was the game-breaking appearance of Ikonomidis off the bench. As demonstrated by his sublime assist, Nani's class is eternal, and he's only going to get better as he finds his groove and gets used to the Australian conditions. If the 35-year-old's young teammates can take their game to another level alongside him Victory will be well-placed for success.
One potential question, however, is in defence. With first-choice Matthew Spiranovic dropped, Popovic opted to start veteran utility player Leigh Broxham alongside Roderick Miranda at the heart of his side's defence and relegated nominal back-up centre-back George Timotheou to the bench. Broxham was promptly exposed on Sydney's opening goal. Victory rebounded and got the win, but if Broxham has overtaken Timotheou in Popovic's estimation the obvious issue is if their defensive depth is going to be sufficient for a full season.
Player Ratings
Sydney: Redmayne 6, Caballo 6, Wilkinson 6, Donachie 6, Grant 7, Caceres 6, Brattan 6, Yazbek 7, Mak 8, Le Fondre 5, Lolley 7
Subs: Retre 6
Melbourne Victory: Izzo 6, Cadete 6, Broxham 6, Miranda 6, Nigro 6, Marchan 7, Brillante 7, Nani 7, Brimmer 7, Folami 7, D'Agostino 7
Subs: Ikonomidis 8
Best and worst performers
BEST: Ikonomidis
Victory's embarrassment of riches up front meant that Ikonomidis was forced to come off the bench for the season opener, but the 27-year-old attacker proved just how dangerous he could be in his 28 minutes on the park; registering a goal and an assist and reminding everyone of just why he's a 17-time Socceroo.
WORST: Alex Wilkinson
Wilkinson doesn't earn a worst for his performance but instead because he was forced off at half-time with a groin injury. Not only did that force a reshuffle in the Sydney defence that likely helped contribute to their second-half errors but Sydney can't afford to lose him for an extended period with Jack Rodwell already under a fitness cloud.
A supplemental and more direct worse were the fans who threw bottles onto the field and forced a delay to play late in the game. It was a dangerous act, not what the game wants or needs, and worthy of eviction and sanction.
Highlights and notable moments
Nani fed Ikonomidis to put Victory ahead.
VICTORY TAKE THE LEAD!!
— Paramount+ Australia (@ParamountPlusAU) October 8, 2022
Nani ➡️ Ikonomidis. How many more times will we see that combination this season? A well-worked goal gives @gomvfc the advantage. #SYDvMVC is live now on Paramount+ 📺 pic.twitter.com/QELVrX1Y6a
But Ikonomidis then turned provider to set up Brillante for the winner.
3-2 VICTORY!!! 🤯🤯
— Paramount+ Australia (@ParamountPlusAU) October 8, 2022
Ikonomidis turns provider this time, Brillante tapping in @gomvfc's 3rd goal.
An insane game goes to another level, live now on Paramount+ #SYDvMVC pic.twitter.com/kV3oFZjhkT
After the match: What the managers, players said
Corica on the game: "That was the most difficult thing at the end of the day, the result. I think there were a lot of positives out of the game, [we] played really well. Switched off at a couple of moments, at the back post with their balls across the face of the goal. So that's the disappointing bit but in general, I thought we probably dominated the game. We created the better chances, I think. I was happy with the way the performance was."
Popovic on the game and Ikonomidis: "I didn't think we were behind the eight ball the whole game, I think that's the wrong statement. We scored three away goals in a fantastic stadium, [against] a tough opponent. It's a big win, a great win.
"[Ikonomidis had a very good preseason. He's recovered from the issues that he had with his knee. It was a choice today not to start Chris but not due to his performances in preseason. He came on and made the impact that we know he can. That will give him more belief, not in his ability but in his body."
Nani to Network Ten: "It was amazing, a great night for us. It was a tough game. The opponent was very tough at the beginning of the game. It was a bit hard, the field was a bit heavy -- it was raining all day -- but congratulations to both teams, we made a spectacle for the fans."
Key stats
- Sydney have now lost four straight ALM games stretching back to last season, their worst run of form since 2012. They haven't kept a clean sheet in the last 11 games.
- Also stretching back to last season, Victory are now undefeated in their last 16 ALM games, although Saturday was the first game in that stretch where they have conceded more than one goal.
- The last time Sydney lost their opening game of an ALM season was in 2012 against Wellington.
Up next
Sydney FC: Looking to shake off the disappointment of the season-opener, the Sky Blues will head to Melbourne for round two of the season, set to take on Western United at AAMI Park on Sunday evening.
Melbourne Victory: After a sizable contingent of their fans made the trek to Sydney for the first game of their campaign, Victory will commence a two-game homestand next week: facing Western Sydney Wanderers in their home opener on Saturday evening and then locking horns with crosstown foes Melbourne City seven days later.