¤ 13 October 2006: Sydney FC vs Central Coast Mariners FC, Bluetongue Central Coast Stadium, 8:00pm (A-League – Rd 8)
Benito Carbone scores a curling free kick to put Sydney in front, but Central Coast dominate from then on, with Matthew Bingley especially having a horror day at the back. Carbone limps off injured early in the second stanza, by which stage Sydney are already two behind before Damian Mori completes the 1-3 loss with his second goal.[A-L][A-L]
Central Coast Mariners 3 (O’Grady 40′, Mori 52′, 90′) def. Sydney FC 1 (Carbone 12′)
Sydney FC: 1 Clint Bolton (gk), 2 Iain Fyfe, 3 Alvin Ceccoli, 4 Mark Rudan (c), 6 Ufuk Talay (9 David Zdrilic 80′), 10 Steve Corica, 11 Sasho Petrovski, 14 Alex Brosque, 15 Terry McFlynn, 22 Matthew Bingley, 23 Benito Carbone (8 Ruben Zadkovich 57′)
Central Coast Mariners: 20 Danny Vukovic (gk), 3 Paul O’Grady, 4 Noel Spencer (c), 7 John Hutchinson (19 Adam Kwasnik 90+2′), 8 Jamie McMaster, 10 Tom Pondeljak (2 Wayne O’Sullivan 77′), 12 Stewart Petrie, 13 Tony Vidmar (17 Matthew Osman 67′), 15 Andrew Clark, 18 Alex Wilkinson, 25 Damian Mori
Cautions: Fyfe 28′, Brosque 64′
¤ 17 October 2006: Benito Carbone‘s guest stint at Sydney FC comes to an end after three matches, with the Italian unable to agree to terms for an extension with Sydney FC. Fox Sports News reports that Carbone is ‘furious’ over his pay, as the club apparently quoted figures in gross terms whilst Carbone expected the sums after tax. He returns to Italy three days later, saying that he is “desperately sad to be leaving like this.”[TWG][FS]
¤ 21 October 2006: Sydney FC vs Melbourne Victory FC, Aussie Stadium, 7:00pm (A-League – Rd 9)
Over 20,000 spectators on a rainy night see Sydney go 1-0 up early during a dominant first half, before an Archie Thompson double steals the win for Melbourne. Steve Corica and Mark Milligan both succumb to hamstring injuries near half-time.[A-L][A-L]
Melbourne Victory 2 (Thompson 50′, 73′) def. Sydney FC 1 (Corica 8′)
Sydney FC: 1 Clint Bolton (gk), 2 Iain Fyfe, 3 Alvin Ceccoli, 4 Mark Rudan (c), 8 Ruben Zadkovich (9 David Zdrilic 88′), 10 Steve Corica (13 Jeremy Brockie 41′), 11 Sasho Petrovski, 14 Alex Brosque, 15 Terry McFlynn, 16 Mark Milligan (6 Ufuk Talay 46′), 21 Nikolai Topor-Stanley
Melbourne Victory: 1 Michael Theoklitos (gk), 2 Kevin Muscat (c), 3 Daniel Piorkowski (6 Steve Pantelidis 46′), 8 Fred, 9 Danny Allsopp, 10 Archie Thompson (13 Kristian Sarkies 90+3′), 12 Rodrigo Vargas, 14 Adrian Caceres (18 Alessandro 87′), 15 Adrian Leijer, 16 Simon Storey, 17 Grant Brebner
Cautions: Milligan 7′, Muscat 10′, Corica 30′, Petrovski 37′, Brosque 61′, Ceccoli 62′, Thompson 82′, Pantelidis 86′
¤ 23 October 2006: Reports surface that Sydney FC shareholder Anthony LaPaglia was behind a push to oust manager Terry Butcher during a board meeting the previous Friday, but could not garner sufficient support. Butcher responds the following day by saying “not that I’ll ever watch Without a Trace again.”[DT][TWG][TWG]
¤ 29 October 2006: Sydney FC vs Perth Glory FC, Aussie Stadium, 5:00pm (A-League – Rd 10)
With only three men (including reserve goalkeeper Justin Pasfield) on the bench, Sydney score early through a David Zdrilic header. Luka Glavas’ 75th minute equaliser though makes it four games for Sydney without a win, leaving them in fourth position. Glory striker Stuart Young, susbtituted early due to injury, gives Fox Sports viewers a special surprise in the change rooms at half-time.[A-L][A-L][TW]
Sydney FC 1 (Zdrilic 15′) drew Perth Glory 1 (Glavas 75′)
Sydney FC: 1 Clint Bolton (gk), 2 Iain Fyfe, 3 Alvin Ceccoli, 4 Mark Rudan (c), 6 Ufuk Talay, 7 Robbie Middleby (22 Matthew Bingley 83′), 8 Ruben Zadkovich, 9 David Zdrilic (27 Joel Theissen 88′), 11 Sasho Petrovski, 14 Alex Brosque, 21 Nikolai Topor-Stanley
Perth Glory: 20 Aleks Vrteski (gk), 3 David Tarka, 5 Jamie Harnwell (c), 10 Bobby Despotovski, 11 Stan Lazaridis (6 Jeremy Christie 66′), 12 Leo Bertos, 13 Ante Kovacevic, 14 Jamie Coyne, 16 Adrian Webster (24 Paul Pezos 89′), 17 Stuart Young (9 Luka Glavas 18′), 19 Naum Sekulovski
Cautions: Bertos 3′, Kovacevic 53′, Rudan 80′
¤ 31 October 2006: Sydney FC extend Matthew Bingley‘s short-term contract for a further two weeks, with Sydney struggling to fill their substitutes bench for the upcoming match against Newcastle United. Mark Rudan’s fourth yellow card forces a one-match suspension, joining Steve Corica (hamstring), Mark Milligan, David Carney (shoulder), Terry McFlynn (hamstring) and Jacob Timpano (groin) on the sidelines.[SFC]
¤ 04 November 2006: Sydney FC vs Newcastle United Jets FC, EnergyAustralia Stadium, 7:00pm (A-League – Rd 11)
Playing with just two substitutes and the real possibility that reserve goalkeeper Justin Pasfield could enter the game as an outfield player, Sydney make it four consecutive games in which they have scored first but failed to take the three points thanks to Tim Brown’s late equaliser. Matthew Bingley ends his Sydney FC stint with a red card for time wasting, which will see him suspended next week.[A-L][A-L][SFC]
Sydney FC 1 (Zdrilic 14′) drew Newcastle United Jets 1 (Brown 86′)
Sydney FC: 1 Clint Bolton (gk; c), 2 Iain Fyfe, 3 Alvin Ceccoli, 6 Ufuk Talay, 7 Robbie Middleby, 8 Ruben Zadkovich, 9 David Zdrilic (13 Jeremy Brockie 87′), 11 Sasho Petrovski, 14 Alex Brosque, 21 Nikolai Topor-Stanley, 22 Matthew Bingley
Newcastle United Jets: 20 Ben Kennedy (gk), 2 Steve Eagleton, 5 Milton Rodriguez (19 Mark Bridge 71′), 6 Andrew Durante, 8 Matt Thompson, 9 Vaughan Coveny, 10 Nick Carle, 12 Paul Okon (c), 15 Stuart Musialik, 18 Joel Griffiths, 24 Paul Kohler (25 Tim Brown 71′)
Cautions: Durante 17′, Zadkovich 27′, Ceccoli 29′, Bingley 45+3′, Carle 68′, Bingley 90+1′
Sent off: Bingley 90+1′
¤ 07 November 2006: Sydney FC finally close the door on the possibility of Benito Carbone returning to the club as marquee player, with CEO George Perry saying that whilst the club is “still interested” in marquee players, it must be more “financially responsible”. Carbone had previously expressed his desire to return to Sydney FC, but Perry says the gap between Carbone’s asking price and what the club was prepared to pay is too high.[SMH][FS][FS]
¤ 10 November 2006: Sydney FC vs New Zealand Knights FC, Aussie Stadium, 8:00pm (A-League – Rd 12)
David Carney makes a timely return from injury, scoring a goal as Sydney take their first win in six matches and score more than two goals at Aussie Stadium for the first time since game #1 there, against New Zealand in the 2005 Pre-Season Cup. The match is Knights’ manager Paul Nevin’s last game in charge before being replaced by Barry Simmonds.[A-L][A-L][A-L]
Sydney FC 4 (Petrovski 37′, 53′, Zdrilic 65′, Carney 89′) def. New Zealand Knights 0
Sydney FC: 1 Clint Bolton (gk), 2 Iain Fyfe, 3 Alvin Ceccoli, 4 Mark Rudan (c), 6 Ufuk Talay, 7 Robbie Middleby, 8 Ruben Zadkovich, 9 David Zdrilic (13 Jeremy Brockie 80′), 11 Sasho Petrovski (12 David Carney 74′), 14 Alex Brosque, 21 Nikolai Topor-Stanley
New Zealand Knights: 12 Mark Paston (gk), 2 Darren Bazeley (c; 18 Michael White 73′), 3 Gregory Duruz, 4 Che Bunce, 6 Neil Emblen (26 Fernando 46′), 8 Scot Gemmill, 11 Jonti Richter, 14 Malik Buari, 16 Noah Hickey, 19 Sime Kovacevic, 27 Dustin Wells
Cautions: Talay 28′, Kovacevic 57′, Duruz 69′, Buari 78′, Brockie 85′
¤ 19 November 2006: Sydney FC vs Adelaide United FC, Aussie Stadium, 5:00pm (A-League – Rd 13)
Almost back to full-strength (Jacob Timpano is the only player on the injury list), Sydney make it two wins in a row by fighting back after going down early. Talay converts a penalty after a Michael Valkanis handball, with Mark Rudan scoring the winner from a Robert Bajic parry seven minutes later. Adelaide pick up a league record seven yellow cards.[A-L][A-L][SFC]
Sydney FC 2 (Talay 15′ pen, Rudan 22′) def. Adelaide United 1 (Aloisi 9′)
Sydney FC: 1 Clint Bolton (gk), 2 Iain Fyfe, 3 Alvin Ceccoli, 4 Mark Rudan (c), 6 Ufuk Talay, 7 Robbie Middleby (14 Alex Brosque 85′), 9 David Zdrilic (11 Sasho Petrovski 70′), 10 Steve Corica, 12 David Carney (21 Nikolai Topor-Stanley 90+3′), 15 Terry McFlynn, 16 Mark Milligan
Adelaide United: 20 Robert Bajic (gk), 2 Richie Alagich, 3 Kristian Rees, 4 Angelo Costanzo, 5 Michael Valkanis, 6 Ross Aloisi (c), 8 Carl Veart (12 Greg Owens 64′), 10 Fernando (9 Mathew Kemp 78′), 13 Travis Dodd, 14 Aaron Goulding, 21 Jason Spagnuolo (16 Bobby Petta 72′)
Cautions: Rees 21′, Aloisi 53′, Veart 61′, Bolton 61′, McFlynn 78′, Goulding 78′, Owens 81′, Dodd 85′, Petta 90+1′
¤ 21 November 2006: The AFC rejects the FFA’s appeal to be able to nominate Australia’s two AFC Champions League teams after the conclusion of the A-League season. The decision forces the FFA to nominate Adelaide United and Sydney FC, as Premiers and Champions from the 2005-06 season, for the 2007 competition.[AFC][A-L]
¤ 24 November 2006: Sydney FC vs Queensland Roar FC, Aussie Stadium, 8:00pm (A-League – Rd 14)
Sydney FC take their third straight win on the back of an early Chad Gibson send-off for the visitors. Ufuk Talay nets his second penalty in consecutive weeks, with Steve Corica and Robbie Middleby sealing the match.[A-L][A-L]
Sydney FC 3 (Talay 23′ pen, Corica 64′, Middleby 89′) def. Queensland Roar 0
Sydney FC: 1 Clint Bolton (gk), 2 Iain Fyfe, 3 Alvin Ceccoli, 4 Mark Rudan (c), 6 Ufuk Talay, 7 Robbie Middleby, 9 David Zdrilic (14 Alex Brosque 62′), 10 Steve Corica (11 Sasho Petrovski 83′), 12 David Carney, 15 Terry McFlynn, 16 Mark Milligan
Queensland Roar: 20 Liam Reddy, 2 Andrew Packer, 4 Chad Gibson, 5 Josh McCloughan (c), 10 Ante Milicic (18 Dario Vidosic 67′), 11 Reinaldo (3 Remo Buess 23′), 13 Spase Dilevski, 15 Matt McKay, 16 Seo Hyuk-Su (6 Stuart McLaren 67′), 17 Damian Mori, 19 Sasa Ognenovski
Cautions: Talay 12′, Gibson 18′, Reddy 21′
Sent off: Gibson 20′
¤ 30 November 2006: Sydney FC vs Manly United FC, Pittwater Park, 7:00pm (Friendly)
Jacob Timpano returns from injury in what was not much more than a kick-around, played in 25-minute thirds. Sydney played the last portion of the match with 10 men, whilst a player from Manly who was sent off was allowed to return later on.[SFCU]
Sydney FC 2 (Petrovski, Brosque) def. Manly United 1 (pen)
Sydney FC (incomplete): Justin Pasfield (gk), Nikolas Tsattalios, Ruben Zadkovich, Sasho Petrovski, Jeremy Brockie, Alex Brosque, Jacob Timpano, Nikolai Topor-Stanley, Jason Naidovski, Brodie Mooy, Nathan Sherlock, Laurence Braude [+ Ring-Ins]
¤ 03 December 2006: On the day of Sydney FC’s match against Central Coast Mariners, striker Sasho Petrovski causes a stir by telling the media that Terry Butcher’s tactics are ‘killing’ the team. Petrovski, who has started the last two matches from the substitute’s bench, complains that Butcher never explained the reason for his demotion, suggesting that “maybe I’m scoring too many goals. The club might be paying me too many bonuses,” and calls for Butcher to play both himself and David Zdrilic up front.[FS]
¤ 03 December 2006: Sydney FC vs Central Coast Mariners FC, Bluetongue Central Coast Stadium, 5:00pm (A-League – Rd 15)
The first time in 21 league matches that Sydney is kept scoreless, with both teams spoiling many chances for a 0-0 draw. Terry Butcher describes the result as a “great battling point” for the team.[A-L][A-L][SFC]
Sydney FC 0 drew Central Coast Mariners 0
Sydney FC: 1 Clint Bolton (gk), 2 Iain Fyfe, 3 Alvin Ceccoli, 4 Mark Rudan (c), 6 Ufuk Talay, 7 Robbie Middleby (8 Ruben Zadkovich 88′), 9 David Zdrilic (11 Sasho Petrovski 79′), 10 Steve Corica, 12 David Carney, 15 Terry McFlynn (14 Alex Brosque 72′), 16 Mark Milligan
Central Coast Mariners: 20 Danny Vukovic (gk), 2 Wayne O’Sullivan, 6 Andre Gumprecht, 9 Nik Mrdja (7 John Hutchinson 79′), 10 Tom Pondeljak, 11 Damien Brown, 12 Stewart Petrie, 13 Tony Vidmar (15 Andrew Clark 27′), 18 Alex Wilkinson (c), 19 Adam Kwasnik, 23 Mile Jedinak
Cautions: McFlynn 39′, Jedinak 62′, Wilkinson 84′
¤ 09 December 2006: Sydney FC vs Melbourne Victory FC, Telstra Dome, 8:00pm (A-League – Rd 16)
A second consecutive scoreless draw for Sydney FC, witnessed by 50,333 spectators – a new record for an Australian domestic football match. The result leaves Sydney second on the ladder, although it only delays Melbourne’s Premiership by one week.[A-L][A-L]
Sydney FC 0 drew Melbourne Victory 0
Sydney FC: 1 Clint Bolton (gk), 2 Iain Fyfe, 3 Alvin Ceccoli, 4 Mark Rudan (c; 8 Ruben Zadkovich 79′), 6 Ufuk Talay, 7 Robbie Middleby, 10 Steve Corica, 11 Sasho Petrovski, 12 David Carney (14 Alex Brosque 71′), 15 Terry McFlynn, 16 Mark Milligan
Melbourne Victory: 1 Michael Theoklitos (gk), 2 Kevin Muscat (c), 4 Mark Byrnes, 6 Steve Pantelidis, 8 Fred, 9 Danny Allsopp, 10 Archie Thompson, 12 Rodrigo Vargas, 15 Adrian Leijer, 16 Simon Storey, 18 Alessandro (14 Adrian Caceres 50′)
Cautions: Carney 3′, Middleby 72′
¤ 14 December 2006: Sydney FC vs Perth Glory FC, Aussie Stadium, 8:00pm (A-League – Rd 17)
Sydney wins and holds on to second position despite an early red card to captain Mark Rudan for pulling down Leo Bertos just outside the area. Alex Brosque scores his first league goal for Sydney with a header to steal the match.[A-L][A-L]
Sydney FC 1 (Brosque 80′) def. Perth Glory 0
Sydney FC: 1 Clint Bolton (gk), 2 Iain Fyfe, 3 Alvin Ceccoli, 4 Mark Rudan (c), 6 Ufuk Talay, 7 Robbie Middleby, 10 Steve Corica, 12 David Carney (8 Ruben Zadkovich 46′), 14 Alex Brosque (11 Sasho Petrovski 90′), 15 Terry McFlynn, 16 Mark Milligan
Perth Glory: 50 Tommi Tomich (gk), 3 David Tarka (16 Adrian Webster 76′), 4 Simon Colosimo, 5 Jamie Harnwell (c), 6 Jeremy Christie, 11 Stan Lazaridis (19 Naum Sekulovski 58′), 12 Leo Bertos (9 Luka Glavas 63′), 13 Ante Kovacevic, 14 Jamie Coyne, 17 Stuart Young, 25 Mark Lee
Cautions: Colosimo 30′, Bertos 52′, Glavas 65′, Kovacevic 85′, Webster 88′
Sent off: Rudan 28′
¤ 22 December 2006: The draw for the 2007 AFC Champions League is held in Kuala Lumpur. Sydney FC is drawn in Group E alongside Japanese champions Urawa Red Diamonds, Chinese runners-up Shanghai Shenhua and Indonesian champions Persik Kediri. Sydney’s first match will be away to Shanghai on March 7.[AFC][SFC]
Benito Carbone scores a curling free kick to put Sydney in front, but Central Coast dominate from then on, with Matthew Bingley especially having a horror day at the back. Carbone limps off injured early in the second stanza, by which stage Sydney are already two behind before Damian Mori completes the 1-3 loss with his second goal.[A-L][A-L]
Central Coast Mariners 3 (O’Grady 40′, Mori 52′, 90′) def. Sydney FC 1 (Carbone 12′)
Sydney FC: 1 Clint Bolton (gk), 2 Iain Fyfe, 3 Alvin Ceccoli, 4 Mark Rudan (c), 6 Ufuk Talay (9 David Zdrilic 80′), 10 Steve Corica, 11 Sasho Petrovski, 14 Alex Brosque, 15 Terry McFlynn, 22 Matthew Bingley, 23 Benito Carbone (8 Ruben Zadkovich 57′)
Central Coast Mariners: 20 Danny Vukovic (gk), 3 Paul O’Grady, 4 Noel Spencer (c), 7 John Hutchinson (19 Adam Kwasnik 90+2′), 8 Jamie McMaster, 10 Tom Pondeljak (2 Wayne O’Sullivan 77′), 12 Stewart Petrie, 13 Tony Vidmar (17 Matthew Osman 67′), 15 Andrew Clark, 18 Alex Wilkinson, 25 Damian Mori
Cautions: Fyfe 28′, Brosque 64′
¤ 17 October 2006: Benito Carbone‘s guest stint at Sydney FC comes to an end after three matches, with the Italian unable to agree to terms for an extension with Sydney FC. Fox Sports News reports that Carbone is ‘furious’ over his pay, as the club apparently quoted figures in gross terms whilst Carbone expected the sums after tax. He returns to Italy three days later, saying that he is “desperately sad to be leaving like this.”[TWG][FS]
¤ 21 October 2006: Sydney FC vs Melbourne Victory FC, Aussie Stadium, 7:00pm (A-League – Rd 9)
Over 20,000 spectators on a rainy night see Sydney go 1-0 up early during a dominant first half, before an Archie Thompson double steals the win for Melbourne. Steve Corica and Mark Milligan both succumb to hamstring injuries near half-time.[A-L][A-L]
Melbourne Victory 2 (Thompson 50′, 73′) def. Sydney FC 1 (Corica 8′)
Sydney FC: 1 Clint Bolton (gk), 2 Iain Fyfe, 3 Alvin Ceccoli, 4 Mark Rudan (c), 8 Ruben Zadkovich (9 David Zdrilic 88′), 10 Steve Corica (13 Jeremy Brockie 41′), 11 Sasho Petrovski, 14 Alex Brosque, 15 Terry McFlynn, 16 Mark Milligan (6 Ufuk Talay 46′), 21 Nikolai Topor-Stanley
Melbourne Victory: 1 Michael Theoklitos (gk), 2 Kevin Muscat (c), 3 Daniel Piorkowski (6 Steve Pantelidis 46′), 8 Fred, 9 Danny Allsopp, 10 Archie Thompson (13 Kristian Sarkies 90+3′), 12 Rodrigo Vargas, 14 Adrian Caceres (18 Alessandro 87′), 15 Adrian Leijer, 16 Simon Storey, 17 Grant Brebner
Cautions: Milligan 7′, Muscat 10′, Corica 30′, Petrovski 37′, Brosque 61′, Ceccoli 62′, Thompson 82′, Pantelidis 86′
¤ 23 October 2006: Reports surface that Sydney FC shareholder Anthony LaPaglia was behind a push to oust manager Terry Butcher during a board meeting the previous Friday, but could not garner sufficient support. Butcher responds the following day by saying “not that I’ll ever watch Without a Trace again.”[DT][TWG][TWG]
¤ 29 October 2006: Sydney FC vs Perth Glory FC, Aussie Stadium, 5:00pm (A-League – Rd 10)
With only three men (including reserve goalkeeper Justin Pasfield) on the bench, Sydney score early through a David Zdrilic header. Luka Glavas’ 75th minute equaliser though makes it four games for Sydney without a win, leaving them in fourth position. Glory striker Stuart Young, susbtituted early due to injury, gives Fox Sports viewers a special surprise in the change rooms at half-time.[A-L][A-L][TW]
Sydney FC 1 (Zdrilic 15′) drew Perth Glory 1 (Glavas 75′)
Sydney FC: 1 Clint Bolton (gk), 2 Iain Fyfe, 3 Alvin Ceccoli, 4 Mark Rudan (c), 6 Ufuk Talay, 7 Robbie Middleby (22 Matthew Bingley 83′), 8 Ruben Zadkovich, 9 David Zdrilic (27 Joel Theissen 88′), 11 Sasho Petrovski, 14 Alex Brosque, 21 Nikolai Topor-Stanley
Perth Glory: 20 Aleks Vrteski (gk), 3 David Tarka, 5 Jamie Harnwell (c), 10 Bobby Despotovski, 11 Stan Lazaridis (6 Jeremy Christie 66′), 12 Leo Bertos, 13 Ante Kovacevic, 14 Jamie Coyne, 16 Adrian Webster (24 Paul Pezos 89′), 17 Stuart Young (9 Luka Glavas 18′), 19 Naum Sekulovski
Cautions: Bertos 3′, Kovacevic 53′, Rudan 80′
¤ 31 October 2006: Sydney FC extend Matthew Bingley‘s short-term contract for a further two weeks, with Sydney struggling to fill their substitutes bench for the upcoming match against Newcastle United. Mark Rudan’s fourth yellow card forces a one-match suspension, joining Steve Corica (hamstring), Mark Milligan, David Carney (shoulder), Terry McFlynn (hamstring) and Jacob Timpano (groin) on the sidelines.[SFC]
¤ 04 November 2006: Sydney FC vs Newcastle United Jets FC, EnergyAustralia Stadium, 7:00pm (A-League – Rd 11)
Playing with just two substitutes and the real possibility that reserve goalkeeper Justin Pasfield could enter the game as an outfield player, Sydney make it four consecutive games in which they have scored first but failed to take the three points thanks to Tim Brown’s late equaliser. Matthew Bingley ends his Sydney FC stint with a red card for time wasting, which will see him suspended next week.[A-L][A-L][SFC]
Sydney FC 1 (Zdrilic 14′) drew Newcastle United Jets 1 (Brown 86′)
Sydney FC: 1 Clint Bolton (gk; c), 2 Iain Fyfe, 3 Alvin Ceccoli, 6 Ufuk Talay, 7 Robbie Middleby, 8 Ruben Zadkovich, 9 David Zdrilic (13 Jeremy Brockie 87′), 11 Sasho Petrovski, 14 Alex Brosque, 21 Nikolai Topor-Stanley, 22 Matthew Bingley
Newcastle United Jets: 20 Ben Kennedy (gk), 2 Steve Eagleton, 5 Milton Rodriguez (19 Mark Bridge 71′), 6 Andrew Durante, 8 Matt Thompson, 9 Vaughan Coveny, 10 Nick Carle, 12 Paul Okon (c), 15 Stuart Musialik, 18 Joel Griffiths, 24 Paul Kohler (25 Tim Brown 71′)
Cautions: Durante 17′, Zadkovich 27′, Ceccoli 29′, Bingley 45+3′, Carle 68′, Bingley 90+1′
Sent off: Bingley 90+1′
¤ 07 November 2006: Sydney FC finally close the door on the possibility of Benito Carbone returning to the club as marquee player, with CEO George Perry saying that whilst the club is “still interested” in marquee players, it must be more “financially responsible”. Carbone had previously expressed his desire to return to Sydney FC, but Perry says the gap between Carbone’s asking price and what the club was prepared to pay is too high.[SMH][FS][FS]
¤ 10 November 2006: Sydney FC vs New Zealand Knights FC, Aussie Stadium, 8:00pm (A-League – Rd 12)
David Carney makes a timely return from injury, scoring a goal as Sydney take their first win in six matches and score more than two goals at Aussie Stadium for the first time since game #1 there, against New Zealand in the 2005 Pre-Season Cup. The match is Knights’ manager Paul Nevin’s last game in charge before being replaced by Barry Simmonds.[A-L][A-L][A-L]
Sydney FC 4 (Petrovski 37′, 53′, Zdrilic 65′, Carney 89′) def. New Zealand Knights 0
Sydney FC: 1 Clint Bolton (gk), 2 Iain Fyfe, 3 Alvin Ceccoli, 4 Mark Rudan (c), 6 Ufuk Talay, 7 Robbie Middleby, 8 Ruben Zadkovich, 9 David Zdrilic (13 Jeremy Brockie 80′), 11 Sasho Petrovski (12 David Carney 74′), 14 Alex Brosque, 21 Nikolai Topor-Stanley
New Zealand Knights: 12 Mark Paston (gk), 2 Darren Bazeley (c; 18 Michael White 73′), 3 Gregory Duruz, 4 Che Bunce, 6 Neil Emblen (26 Fernando 46′), 8 Scot Gemmill, 11 Jonti Richter, 14 Malik Buari, 16 Noah Hickey, 19 Sime Kovacevic, 27 Dustin Wells
Cautions: Talay 28′, Kovacevic 57′, Duruz 69′, Buari 78′, Brockie 85′
¤ 19 November 2006: Sydney FC vs Adelaide United FC, Aussie Stadium, 5:00pm (A-League – Rd 13)
Almost back to full-strength (Jacob Timpano is the only player on the injury list), Sydney make it two wins in a row by fighting back after going down early. Talay converts a penalty after a Michael Valkanis handball, with Mark Rudan scoring the winner from a Robert Bajic parry seven minutes later. Adelaide pick up a league record seven yellow cards.[A-L][A-L][SFC]
Sydney FC 2 (Talay 15′ pen, Rudan 22′) def. Adelaide United 1 (Aloisi 9′)
Sydney FC: 1 Clint Bolton (gk), 2 Iain Fyfe, 3 Alvin Ceccoli, 4 Mark Rudan (c), 6 Ufuk Talay, 7 Robbie Middleby (14 Alex Brosque 85′), 9 David Zdrilic (11 Sasho Petrovski 70′), 10 Steve Corica, 12 David Carney (21 Nikolai Topor-Stanley 90+3′), 15 Terry McFlynn, 16 Mark Milligan
Adelaide United: 20 Robert Bajic (gk), 2 Richie Alagich, 3 Kristian Rees, 4 Angelo Costanzo, 5 Michael Valkanis, 6 Ross Aloisi (c), 8 Carl Veart (12 Greg Owens 64′), 10 Fernando (9 Mathew Kemp 78′), 13 Travis Dodd, 14 Aaron Goulding, 21 Jason Spagnuolo (16 Bobby Petta 72′)
Cautions: Rees 21′, Aloisi 53′, Veart 61′, Bolton 61′, McFlynn 78′, Goulding 78′, Owens 81′, Dodd 85′, Petta 90+1′
¤ 21 November 2006: The AFC rejects the FFA’s appeal to be able to nominate Australia’s two AFC Champions League teams after the conclusion of the A-League season. The decision forces the FFA to nominate Adelaide United and Sydney FC, as Premiers and Champions from the 2005-06 season, for the 2007 competition.[AFC][A-L]
¤ 24 November 2006: Sydney FC vs Queensland Roar FC, Aussie Stadium, 8:00pm (A-League – Rd 14)
Sydney FC take their third straight win on the back of an early Chad Gibson send-off for the visitors. Ufuk Talay nets his second penalty in consecutive weeks, with Steve Corica and Robbie Middleby sealing the match.[A-L][A-L]
Sydney FC 3 (Talay 23′ pen, Corica 64′, Middleby 89′) def. Queensland Roar 0
Sydney FC: 1 Clint Bolton (gk), 2 Iain Fyfe, 3 Alvin Ceccoli, 4 Mark Rudan (c), 6 Ufuk Talay, 7 Robbie Middleby, 9 David Zdrilic (14 Alex Brosque 62′), 10 Steve Corica (11 Sasho Petrovski 83′), 12 David Carney, 15 Terry McFlynn, 16 Mark Milligan
Queensland Roar: 20 Liam Reddy, 2 Andrew Packer, 4 Chad Gibson, 5 Josh McCloughan (c), 10 Ante Milicic (18 Dario Vidosic 67′), 11 Reinaldo (3 Remo Buess 23′), 13 Spase Dilevski, 15 Matt McKay, 16 Seo Hyuk-Su (6 Stuart McLaren 67′), 17 Damian Mori, 19 Sasa Ognenovski
Cautions: Talay 12′, Gibson 18′, Reddy 21′
Sent off: Gibson 20′
¤ 30 November 2006: Sydney FC vs Manly United FC, Pittwater Park, 7:00pm (Friendly)
Jacob Timpano returns from injury in what was not much more than a kick-around, played in 25-minute thirds. Sydney played the last portion of the match with 10 men, whilst a player from Manly who was sent off was allowed to return later on.[SFCU]
Sydney FC (incomplete): Justin Pasfield (gk), Nikolas Tsattalios, Ruben Zadkovich, Sasho Petrovski, Jeremy Brockie, Alex Brosque, Jacob Timpano, Nikolai Topor-Stanley, Jason Naidovski, Brodie Mooy, Nathan Sherlock, Laurence Braude [+ Ring-Ins]
¤ 03 December 2006: On the day of Sydney FC’s match against Central Coast Mariners, striker Sasho Petrovski causes a stir by telling the media that Terry Butcher’s tactics are ‘killing’ the team. Petrovski, who has started the last two matches from the substitute’s bench, complains that Butcher never explained the reason for his demotion, suggesting that “maybe I’m scoring too many goals. The club might be paying me too many bonuses,” and calls for Butcher to play both himself and David Zdrilic up front.[FS]
¤ 03 December 2006: Sydney FC vs Central Coast Mariners FC, Bluetongue Central Coast Stadium, 5:00pm (A-League – Rd 15)
The first time in 21 league matches that Sydney is kept scoreless, with both teams spoiling many chances for a 0-0 draw. Terry Butcher describes the result as a “great battling point” for the team.[A-L][A-L][SFC]
Sydney FC 0 drew Central Coast Mariners 0
Sydney FC: 1 Clint Bolton (gk), 2 Iain Fyfe, 3 Alvin Ceccoli, 4 Mark Rudan (c), 6 Ufuk Talay, 7 Robbie Middleby (8 Ruben Zadkovich 88′), 9 David Zdrilic (11 Sasho Petrovski 79′), 10 Steve Corica, 12 David Carney, 15 Terry McFlynn (14 Alex Brosque 72′), 16 Mark Milligan
Central Coast Mariners: 20 Danny Vukovic (gk), 2 Wayne O’Sullivan, 6 Andre Gumprecht, 9 Nik Mrdja (7 John Hutchinson 79′), 10 Tom Pondeljak, 11 Damien Brown, 12 Stewart Petrie, 13 Tony Vidmar (15 Andrew Clark 27′), 18 Alex Wilkinson (c), 19 Adam Kwasnik, 23 Mile Jedinak
Cautions: McFlynn 39′, Jedinak 62′, Wilkinson 84′
¤ 09 December 2006: Sydney FC vs Melbourne Victory FC, Telstra Dome, 8:00pm (A-League – Rd 16)
A second consecutive scoreless draw for Sydney FC, witnessed by 50,333 spectators – a new record for an Australian domestic football match. The result leaves Sydney second on the ladder, although it only delays Melbourne’s Premiership by one week.[A-L][A-L]
Sydney FC 0 drew Melbourne Victory 0
Sydney FC: 1 Clint Bolton (gk), 2 Iain Fyfe, 3 Alvin Ceccoli, 4 Mark Rudan (c; 8 Ruben Zadkovich 79′), 6 Ufuk Talay, 7 Robbie Middleby, 10 Steve Corica, 11 Sasho Petrovski, 12 David Carney (14 Alex Brosque 71′), 15 Terry McFlynn, 16 Mark Milligan
Melbourne Victory: 1 Michael Theoklitos (gk), 2 Kevin Muscat (c), 4 Mark Byrnes, 6 Steve Pantelidis, 8 Fred, 9 Danny Allsopp, 10 Archie Thompson, 12 Rodrigo Vargas, 15 Adrian Leijer, 16 Simon Storey, 18 Alessandro (14 Adrian Caceres 50′)
Cautions: Carney 3′, Middleby 72′
¤ 14 December 2006: Sydney FC vs Perth Glory FC, Aussie Stadium, 8:00pm (A-League – Rd 17)
Sydney wins and holds on to second position despite an early red card to captain Mark Rudan for pulling down Leo Bertos just outside the area. Alex Brosque scores his first league goal for Sydney with a header to steal the match.[A-L][A-L]
Sydney FC 1 (Brosque 80′) def. Perth Glory 0
Sydney FC: 1 Clint Bolton (gk), 2 Iain Fyfe, 3 Alvin Ceccoli, 4 Mark Rudan (c), 6 Ufuk Talay, 7 Robbie Middleby, 10 Steve Corica, 12 David Carney (8 Ruben Zadkovich 46′), 14 Alex Brosque (11 Sasho Petrovski 90′), 15 Terry McFlynn, 16 Mark Milligan
Perth Glory: 50 Tommi Tomich (gk), 3 David Tarka (16 Adrian Webster 76′), 4 Simon Colosimo, 5 Jamie Harnwell (c), 6 Jeremy Christie, 11 Stan Lazaridis (19 Naum Sekulovski 58′), 12 Leo Bertos (9 Luka Glavas 63′), 13 Ante Kovacevic, 14 Jamie Coyne, 17 Stuart Young, 25 Mark Lee
Cautions: Colosimo 30′, Bertos 52′, Glavas 65′, Kovacevic 85′, Webster 88′
Sent off: Rudan 28′
¤ 22 December 2006: The draw for the 2007 AFC Champions League is held in Kuala Lumpur. Sydney FC is drawn in Group E alongside Japanese champions Urawa Red Diamonds, Chinese runners-up Shanghai Shenhua and Indonesian champions Persik Kediri. Sydney’s first match will be away to Shanghai on March 7.[AFC][SFC]