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Necevski was reinstated over Liam Reddy after the 5-2 loss to Newcastle and the former Jets ‘keeper hasn’t looked out of place since returning to the starting XI.
Adelaide United coach John Kosmina was left wondering how his side failed to take all three points from the visitors after dominating play for the majority of the second half.
“Was it our finishing or was it Ivan Necevski had a great game?” Kosmina mused.
“It was probably more the second. I think Ivan made some great stops, good reflex stuff on more than one occasion,” he said.
Sydney coach Vitezslav Lavicka reserved particular praise for his ‘keeper, believing the 31-year-old saved his side just as Adelaide began to take control of the match.
“They scored and were very close to scoring again but our goalkeeper Ivan Necevski had some good saves and kept us alive,” Lavicka said.
Youngster Joel Chianese opened the scoring for Sydney at the end of the first half with a well taken volley before the Reds bounced back after the break. Fabian Barbiero found the net in the 56th minute as the Reds started a period of attacking pressure which would bear no fruit for the home side.
The 8259 fans were stunned in the 80th minute as Mitchell Mallia came off the bench to fire Sydney into a 2-1 lead and cement sixth spot on the Hyundai A-League ladder.
Kosmina praised his side’s performance in the second half and felt his side deserved more from the match.
“I don’t think anybody at the ground tonight including the Sydney people could disagree,” Kosmina said.
“Coley [Sydney FC Football Director Gary Cole] described it as bank robbery.
“That’s the way it bounces sometimes.”
The Reds are now seven points away from finals football with just six games remaining in the Hyundai A-League season.
Sydney captain Terry McFlynn praised the late-season resurgence of the Sky Blues after wins over Perth last week and now United keep them in sixth spot and in the hunt for finals football.
“Tonight probably wasn’t the prettiest game of football but when you’ve got two teams that are fighting for their lives to get in the top six, it’s just about who is brave enough to take the three points,” McFlynn said.
Sydney will look for their third consecutive win when they host the Phoenix next Saturday while the Reds travel to Newcastle with hopes to boost their fading finals aspirations.
The Football Sack's 'Player of the Year' points:
3 Ivan Necevski
2 Francisco Usucar
1 Joel Chianese