So they roared with approval in the 63rd minute,when the former Serbian international was slipped a perfect through ball by Sulejman Krpic which sent him one-on-one with Qatar-bound Socceroos goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne – the best chance of the game to that point.
It was a golden opportunity for Ninkovic to break the deadlock,but he dwelled on the ball for what seemed like an eternity before firing it straight into Redmayne’s chest. Theschadenfreudewas delicious for Sydney supporters,and they savoured every moment of it.
But a player of Ninkovic’s class rarely makes the same sort of mistake twice within a match,and seven minutes later,he held his nerve to set up Kusini Yengi for the opening goal.