Sydney FC have climbed back into sixth place on the ladder after staging an impressive comeback to beat Newcastle Jets 3-2 at Allianz Stadium, having fallen behind by two goals.
The Jets made a promising start, taking the lead in the 18th minute when Lachie Rose converted from close range. Sydney FC protested for a foul during the build-up, but referee Shaun Evans dismissed their claims.
Stunned by the opener, the home side found themselves trailing 2-0 just four minutes later as Japanese winger Kota Mizunuma scored the second goal, finishing off an exquisite move orchestrated by Clayton Taylor.
Brazilian star Douglas Costa handed Sydney FC a lifeline just before half-time, making it 2-1 in the 36th minute with a deflected left-footed strike that nestled in the near post.
The equaliser came in the 55th minute, as Golden Boot contender Adrian Segecic found the net from inside the box after the Jets surrendered possession in a dangerous area.
Finally, a remarkable turnaround was completed in the 83rd minute when forward Jaiden Kucharski struck a low shot into the net from a challenging angle, giving the home side a 3-2 lead.
This victory has allowed Sydney FC to reclaim a top-six position, edging out Adelaide United, and now holds a slender one-point advantage over the Reds as the season approaches its final two matches.
Meanwhile, Newcastle Jets, managed by Rob Stanton, remain in ninth place following their eleventh defeat of the season.
Before the match, there were emotional scenes as the Sydney FC fans stood to honour legendary goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne, whose departure from the Sky Blues is anticipated at season’s end.
Just 90 seconds into the match, the Jets had the first chance at goal when Lachie Rose fired a low shot from the right edge of the Sydney box, only to be comfortably saved by Harrison Devenish-Meares.
Forward Kucharski, starting in place of Patryk Klimala, drew the first save from Jets goalkeeper Scott with a low shot following some excellent build-up play from Douglas Costa.
Both teams enjoyed plenty of possession, but it was the Jets who broke the deadlock in the 18th minute amidst a hint of controversy. Winger Eli Adams appeared to trip defender Jordan Courtney-Perkins in pursuit of the ball before it fell to Rose, who finished from close range.
A VAR review followed, but referee Shaun Evans ruled the contact was accidental, allowing the goal to stand.
While there was some debate over the initial goal, the Jets’ second was thoroughly deserved. Taylor advanced down the left flank, and instead of shooting, he delivered a brilliant cross to Mizunuma at the back post, who calmly finished to make it 2-0.
Shell-shocked, Sydney FC sought to rally as Adrian Segecic, a persistent threat, missed a chance to pull one back by shooting wide of the near post from inside the box.
However, the Sky Blues found their footing, with Costa scoring a left-footed shot that went in at the near post in the 35th minute, giving his side hope.
Pressing for an equaliser before the break, Kucharski missed a golden opportunity, dragging his shot wide after evading the challenge of Kosta Grozos.
Frustration mounted for Sydney FC at the start of the second half when Jets midfielder Charles M’Mombwa, already on a yellow card, committed a foul on Segecic without being penalised.
Newcastle almost extended their lead to 3-1 in the 50th minute when Taylor fired a powerful shot from a tight angle, which clipped Devenish-Meares’ fingertips before crashing off the bar.
After surviving that scare, Sydney FC capitalised on a Jets error to equalise at 2-2. Skipper Rhyan Grant won the ball off M’Mombwa in the box and squared it to Segecic, who scored with a left-footed shot that hit the near post on its way in.
Segecic was relentless, and a potential second goal was denied by a brilliant save from Scott, as he tipped a fierce shot over the bar.
In the 82nd minute, substitute Ben Gibson almost restored the Jets’ lead, but his effort went wide following a strong challenge to connect with a through ball from fellow substitute Dane Ingham.
This miss proved costly. In the closing minutes, Grant picked up a loose ball in midfield, shrugged off a challenge, and played Kucharski through on goal, who coolly finished for 3-2.
Despite the Jets pushing forward, even including goalkeeper Scott in their desperate search for an equaliser, Sydney FC nearly sealed the win in stoppage time when Wataru Kamijo’s long-range effort went narrowly wide, allowing the home side to secure a vital three points.
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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