Sydney brushes Gold Coast aside

Matt Jurman's leg got caught under a collapsed advertising hoarding after Makela's goal sparked a crowd surge.

Sydney proceeded to completely dictate terms in possession after its first goal with quick passing, forcing an increasingly desperate Gold Coast into erratic mistakes.

Bas van den Brink summed up United's frustrations with a studs-up challenge on Stuart Musialik after both went in hard contesting for the ball.

It only got worse for the visitors, whose fate was sealed on 64 minutes when Steve Fitzsimmons was shown a straight red for an awful tackle from behind on Moriyasu.

The home side's defence worked hard to deny the visitors, forcing Gold Coast to scrap from long throws and weak long-range shots throughout the encounter.

Gold Coast United's only real chances came from the set-piece, but it could not capitalise from a number of corners and a free kick which Dino Djulbic blazed over the crossbar.

Sydney had opportunities late on to extend its lead - substitute Juho Makela flashed a header wide off Scott Jamieson's cross on 86 minutes, before Moss parried Shannon Cole's speculative hit from distance.

United had earlier looked to have the upper hand in the opening exchanges with Robson and Adama Traore combining down the left flank, but ultimately could not trouble the Sydney backline.

In the first half, Robson was able to power through midfield to feed targetman Bruce Djite, who found an on-rushing Zenon Caravella, who did well to dink past the defence and find space, only to hit it wide.

But Sydney gained the upper hand in midfield through Nick Carle, who dummied well on 16 minutes to combine with Bruno Cazarine.

Kristian Rees smothered the resulting attack, but the momentum had swung Sydney's way; its clean sheet never looking seriously troubled for the remainder of the match.

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