John Aloisi has redeemed himself already by scoring two goals in a 3-2 win over new boys North Queensland Fury in what was an historic night for Australian football as the A-League went tropical.
Early in the first half the scene was set up beautifully in Townsville. A typically balmy winters evening almost saw God (Fowler) achieve a miracle and it only took three minutes into North QLD Fury’s historic first game in the A-league.
Robbie Fowler lined up a free-kick from just outside the box, the Fury players forgot they were playing a game and though they were watching one. Fowler struck the free kick forcefully and drew an acrobatic right hand save from Clint Bolton.
Shannon Cole then gathered the rebound and the right back’s clearance fell invitingly to the motoring Koffi Danning. Sydney’s new fan favourite then lobbed a beautiful pass to Aloisi and the Socceroos penalty hero at first looked like his first touch let him down. However the angle he created was perfect and his left shot went passed the out stretched hand left hand of the Fury keeper Paul Henderson. 1-0 to Sydney FC
The Fury simply forgot to defend after Fowler hit his free kick, the stood and watched and it looked like Moses had parted the sea the way Danning ran through the middle.
For most of the first half the Fury looked like a rabble as the early first goal they conceeded looked to have shocked the A-League new boys.
Fury Boss Ian Ferguson surprised everyone with his line up selecting Japanese import Kaijiro Kaimoto at right back, not including on loan Brondby striker David Williams instead Dutch born striker by the name of Dyron Daal. The Dutch Antilles international has experience playing in Scotland and was suprisingly selected to partner former Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler up front.
Sydney FC had Steve Corica on the bench and John Aloisi was selected as Captain.
The Fury defence featured Karl Dodd in the centre and the Wellington Phoenix reject and his brother David Dodd (Brisbane Roar) have created a reputation for themselves. The Dodd brothers remind me of the famous acting Baldwin Brothers. The name is ubiquitous and the performances are underwhelming.
Sydney was enjoying space to play their passes and on 28 mins right winger Koffi Danning scored a masterpiece of a goal. First off he skinned the young Fury left back Jack Hingert outside the box, the young Socceroos attacker then ran into the box with authority and blasted the ball with his right foot. Fury stopper Henderson had no chance as the ball flew past his right side and smashed into the net.
Danning is one of the few players featured in a A-League promotion campaign that can actually do the tricks that are shown in the advertisement.
The Fox Sports producer has no sense of drama constantly cutting away at the wrong times. Not for the first time Fox missed the goal celebration.
During the last 15 minutes of the half the NTH QLD Fury started to claw their way back into the game and scored on 41 minutes, with a neat header by Royston Griffiths off a Jason Spagnuolo corner.
Sydney appeared to play on the counterattack after they lead 2-0 and the Fury once a rabble was a team that started to fight back and even started to play some good football as an exciting first half of play came to an end.
Into the second half now and a shock when 59 minutes Fury attacker Jason Spangnualo skinned Shannon Cole in the box, Cole stuck a foot out, penalty to the Fury!
Fowler steps up and God scores! Clint Bolton a mere statute as Fowler places the ball calmly past the keeper’s right side and into the corner of the net, 2-2 game on!
David Williams came on for the ineffective Daal and Corica came on for Brendan Gan and straight away Williams owned the right hand side and caused Sydney FC many problems but he could not finish the move with a decent cross.
With 20 minutes to go it was anyone’s game.
Then a few moments later the hard working Alex Brosque ran onto a ball from Northern Irish Midfielder Terry Mcflynn the Fury keeper Henderson stuck out an arm and brought down Brosque; penalty to Sydney FC!
Aloisi steps up he hits the ball calmly but surely into the middle of the goal the keeper moves Goal to Sydney FC, 3-2 the score Sky Blues are back in the lead!!!!
It was a tense finish the home team did not give up but it was too no avail, Sydney held out and get a good first up win on the road. A great game for the neutral.