Silver Heart defeat Sydney 1-0

On the night before the night before Christmas, all was bright at the Sydney Football Stadium. In a colourful night, players donned rainbox shoelaces in aid of the Zaidee charity, which calls for children to become registered organ donors. Heart poetically won the silverware on offer (Zaidee Rainbow Foundation Cup) with a 1-0 win.

The evening immediately started off with even more colour, Wayne Srhoj receiving a yellow card 15 seconds into play - surely the quickest booking in the A-League's history.


Liam Reddy returned to the first team this week and made a good case for continuing to do so for the rest of season, coming into action on a number of occasions to rescue a hapless Sydney.

The first of which came in the 6th minute, with John Aloisi driving a freekick from centimetres outside of the box around the wall. Reddy safely held the Heart striker's powerful effort.

Aloisi made himself busy against his former club, and had three arial chances throughout the first half, none of which on target.

Sung Hwan Byun looked lively and got himself into the match with a number of excellent crosses into the opposition penalty box. His teammates, however, were not up to the task.

On 28 minutes a good effort by Dimitri Petratos hit the side-netting, as close as Sydney would come all night.

Rutger Worm was seemingly playing on a much larger pitch than the players around him, on three occasions unforcedly putting the ball out of play. On the 33rd minute he blasted a ball on target, which was dangerously deflected by Sydney defender Stefan Kellar, but subsequently out for a corner.

While Reddy was solid most of the night, he fumbled a pair of chances. The latter, right on half time, found a waiting Behich, whose shot found the back of the empty SFS stands.

The second half, apart from the goal, was forgettable. Substitutes were made, including Nicky Carle's much awaited return. He looked a shadow of the man that played so dominantly against Melbourne Victory in the opening round of the season.

The goal came toward the end in the 85th, with Sydney captain Terry McFlynn making a horrible touch that led to the goal.

Gerald Sibon picked up the loose high ball from McFlynn and played an on-running Adrian Zahra. Zahra cooly slotted home with the outside of the right foot past a frustrated Liam Reddy. It would remain 1 nil in the dying embers of the match.

Captain McFlynn's starting berth will no doubt come under heavy scrutiny this week, and rightly so.

A meagre 6636 fans turned up for what could have been a festive match. The fans who did make the effort tonight will be left hoping a very large, expensive gift is left under the tree from Santa, as that might be the only thing to help them forget their team's woeful season.

As horrible as the night turned for fans of the Sky Blues, Heart fans must be thankful that finally the good football they have been playing all season is starting to pay off with two late wins in as many matches.

If the second Melbourne team can keep this momentum they will hold onto their top six spot and may be dark horses for a decent finals run.