Sydney FC cruise to win over 10-man Melbourne Victory

Updated: May 17, 2023, 12:08 am

Sydney FC bounced back to winning ways and piled more pain on A-League strugglers Melbourne Victory, with the reigning champions cruising to a 3-0 win over their 10-man rivals at AAMI Park.

Victory were down a man from the 32nd minute when Elvis Kamsoba received a second yellow card and Sydney took off from there with goals for Bobo, Kosta Barbarouses and Alexander Baumjohann sealing the three points.

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Kamsoba's first caution came in the 14th minute when he attempted to kick the ball in mid-air and instead struck Ryan McGowan in the head as the Sydney defender was stooping to head the ball.

Just four minutes after Victory almost took the lead when Andrew Redmayne tipped Adama Traore's sizzling long-range shot onto the post in the 28th minute, Kamsoba received a second yellow card for leaving a boot in on Paulo Retre.

Sydney took advantage of their numbers in the 42nd minute. Rhyan Grant released Barbarouses and the former forward played a one-two with Anthony Caceres, then slid the ball across the face for Bobo to tap home.

Kosta Barbarouses and Bob were both on the scoresheet for Sydney FC.
Graham Denholm/Getty Images

Less than five minutes into the second half, Sydney doubled their lead when Caceres slipped through a clever ball for Barbarouses, who took a touch then slid a shot past Matt Acton. Barbarouses then celebrated in front of the home team supporters, who responded by throwing plastic bottles at the former Victory forward.

Nick Ansell cleared Grant's goal-bound header off the line in the 58th minute and three minutes later Acton pulled off a brilliant low save to deny Caceres at the near post.

But Victory's night went from bad to worse when Dylan Ryan brought down McGowan just inside the 18-yard box. Referee Daniel Elder had originally given a free kick but after a VAR review determined the foul was inside the box, he awarded a penalty.

Baumjohann coolly slotted the spot-kick to make it 3-0 in the 84th minute, and, like Barbarouses earlier, celebrated in front of the home fans and was greeted with bottles.

McGowan looked to have made it 4-0 in injury time but after a VAR review, was ruled offside.

The win saw the Sky Blues consolidate their hold on sixth place while Victory remain anchored to the bottom of the table.