The most positive aspect of the win for Sydney was that all five goals came from their strikers. The Sky Blues entered this match on the back of a three-game losing streak and a string of matches in which they were guilty of missing several clear chances.
Against the less fancied Kaya,Sydney were far more clinical,and Tuesday night’s play-off thrashing could be the confidence booster their struggling forward line desperately needed.
Amid the cold,wet and wind,Sydney attacked Kaya from the opening whistle. Not even the soaked pitch could slow down the speed of their attack as Kosta Barbarouses forced a fine save from Kaya goalkeeper Zach Banzon with an early shot inside the box.
Minutes later,Buhagiar rattled the crossbar from metres out with a powerful shot off a Max Burgess cross. Banzon was the thorn in the side of the Sky Blues as his backline quickly became porous. He made another brilliant reflex save against Barbarouses before Sydney cried foul when a challenge on Connor O’Toole inside the box wasn’t met with a penalty.
After huffing and puffing for 30 minutes,Sydney found their breakthrough. Another Barbarouses shot from point-blank range was saved by Banzon but Buhagiar reacted quickest to the rebound to put Sydney in front.
Only lacklustre finishing prevented Sydney from doubling their tally before the break. Brazilian striker Bobo was put into space but lacked the pace to even make it to the box,spurning what should have been a one-on-one before a shot could present itself.
Bobo made amends immediately in the second half,pouncing on a loose ball to make it 2-0 a minute after the restart. Banzon did well deny Burgess’ well-placed shot but Bobo slotted the rebound into the roof of the net.