Sydney thumps City
AN Adam Le Fondre brace propelled Sydney FC to an emphatic 3-0 win against Melbourne City at AAMI Park.
Le Fondre continued the outstanding start to his ALeague career, taking his tally to four goals from his first three appearances for his new club.
Paulo Retre, who scored just once in five seasons with City, returned to haunt his old d side with the first goal of last t night’s free-flowing contest in n the 16th minute.
He then set up Le Fondre’s first goal in a strong showing from Steve Corica’s men in n front of 12,086 fans.
The clash was Sydney’s third in six days, just 72 hours after its FFA Cup final loss to Adelaide, but the visitors opened full of energy.
Michael Zullo picked Riley McGree’s pocket on the edge of the penalty area to set up Sydney’s opener. He found Rhyan Grant, who had time and space to tee off on a longrange shot, which flashed through a forest of legs, with Retre getting the decisive last touch. Le Fondre spurned a gilt-edged opportunity to make it 2-0 in the dying seconds of the first half when he scuffed his shot from close range.
Dario Vidosic, who started after scoring as a substitute against Central Coast, came close to equalising after the restart but his close-range header went straight at Andrew Redmayne.
Le Fondre made it three goals in three A-League appearances in the 61st minute. Grant and Retre were involved again, the former finding the latter on the edge of the box.
Retre’s scything pass put Le Fondre clear on goal, the English striker chipping over the advancing Eugene Galekovic.
Le Fondre put the icing on the cake two minutes into stoppage time when he capitalised on some sloppy defending to slam home his fourth goal of the campaign.
City hosts Wellington in round four, while Sydney travel to Newcastle to take on the Jets.