Sydney FC with one hand on Premiership trophy

Sydney FC have all but confirmed they’ll be this season’s Hyundai A-League premiers after accounting for rivals Melbourne Victory 1-0 at a soggy Allianz Stadium on Friday night.

A close range finish from Sky Blues marquee Bobo just after the interval proved to be decisive in a Big Blue that had fans on the edge of their seats throughout, rain notwithstanding.

The match-ups between Victory forwards Marco Rojas and Jai Ingham and Sydney FC wing backs Michael Zullo and Rhyan Grant was a real feature of the contest, with all four players creating plenty of scoring chances.

A pulsating first half saw Bobo and Filip Holosko both come close to breaking the deadlock from dangerous balls across the face of goal, while skipper Alex Brosque had a couple of shots well saved by Lawrence Thomas.

At the other end Rojas terrorised Sydney’s backline with his pace, teeing up Ingham for their best chance but the 23-year-old blazed his effort straight at Danny Vukovic.

The home side took the lead early in the second stanza with Holosko setting up his former Besiktas teammate, who hammered home his 11th goal of the campaign.

Victory had a golden chance to equalise shortly after when Rojas played in Besart Berisha but the Albanian missed his chance to close in on the magical 100 A-League goal mark when he spooned his shot over the bar. The Sky Blues came close to doubling their advantage when Brosque had a point blank shot saved by Thomas late on but they held their nerve and now lead Victory by 11 points with five rounds to play. 
GOALS 
Sydney FC 1-0: Bobo, 50’ Josh Brillante chipped the ball over the heart of Victory’s defence, with Holosko lurking out wide to collect the clearance. The Slovakian floated the ball into the back post allowing Bobo to charge onto it and half-volley home from inside the six-yard box. 

6:50 AM