Bobo brace fires Sydney FC past 10-man Melbourne City

Sydney FC have bounced back from their first loss of the season to account for a 10-man Melbourne City 3-1 at AAMI Park on Friday night.

A brace from marquee Bobo and a classy free kick from Brandon O'Neill cancelled out Nick Fitzgerald's first-half stunner as Graham Arnold's side extended their lead at the top to 11 points. 

After a cagey start, Sydney FC took the lead against the run of play midway through the first half with Bobo converting from the penalty spot after a clumsy foul from Manny Muscat.  But the lead lasted less than 60 seconds with City hitting back immediately from the restart with  winger Nick Fitzgerald netting a stunning half-volley to restore parity.  
The complexion of the game changed just prior to the break with City defender Manny Muscat shown his second yellow card for a poor challenge on Alex Brosque.  And Sydney FC took full advantage after the break with Brandon O'Neill firing the visitors ahead with a well-taken free-kick before Bobo finished off a piece of brilliance from Milos Ninkovic. 
City threw numbers forward as the second half progressed but struggled to break down a well-organised Sydney defence, with Fernando Brandan going closest with a snapshot in the final 10 minutes.

GOALS
 0-1  Sydney FC: Bobo (pen), 24’ The Sky Blues were awarded a penalty after Manny Muscat brought down Filip Holosko who was through  on goal, with the defender lucky to only be shown a yellow card. Bobo stepped up and coolly slotted the spot kick into the bottom corner, sending Thomas Sorensen the wrong way. 
1-1 Melbourne City: Nick Fitzgerald, 25' City pumped the ball long immediately after conceding with the ball falling kindly to Fitzgerald, with the winger wriggling free of his defender before unleashing a stunning half-volley from the edge of the area which whistled into the top corner. 
1-2 Sydney FC: Brandon O'Neill, 55' City substitute Ruon Tongyik was penalised for a handball on the edge of the area and it proved costly with Brandon O'Neill exquisitely curling a sublime free kick into the top left corner. 
1-3 Sydney FC: Bobo, 67' Milos Ninkovic was afforded too much space on the edge of the box with the Serbian playing a splitting ball through the heart of the City defence, allowing Bobo to fire home from close range.

4:50 AM