Hyundai A-League contracted list: club-by-club guide

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Kosta Barbarouses has signed with Melbourne Victory for the Hyundai A-League 2017/18 season.

Monday, 24 July 2017 –

Staff writer

With 11 weeks to go until the start of the 2017/18 Hyundai A-League season, the ten squads are filling out. Who is contracted at your club ahead of the new campaign?

Adelaide United

Johan Absalonsen, George Blackwood, Lachlan Brook, Baba Diawara, Tarek Elrich, Ben Garuccio, Ersan Gülüm, Isaias, Paul Izzo, Ryan Kitto, Nathan Konstandopoulos, Daniel Margush, Michael Marrone, Nikola Mileusnic, Jordan O’Doherty, Mark Ochieng, Taylor Regan, Ben Warland.

Brisbane Roar

Michael Theo, Luke DeVere, Daniel Bowles, Corey Brown, Thomas Kristensen, Jacob Pepper, Brett Holman, Jade North, Matt McKay, Jack Hingert, Shannon Brady, Jamie Young, Nick D’Agostino, Joe Caletti, Tomislav Bilic, Dane Ingham, Fahid Ben Khalfallah, Avraam Papadopoulos, Corey Gameiro, Massimo Maccarone.

Central Coast Mariners 

Storm Roux, Harry Ascroft, Blake Powell, Connor Pain, Trent Buhagiar, Kwabena Appiah, Adam Berry, Liam Rose, Jake McGing, Adam Pearce, Tom Hiariej, Alan Baro, Antony Golec, Andrew Hoole, Ben Kennedy, Kye Rowles, Josh Rose, Daniel De Silva, Josh Bingham.

Melbourne City

Manny Muscat, Osama Malik, Neil Kilkenny, Bruce Kamau, Nick Fitzgerald, Daniel Arzani, Tim Cahill, Dean Bouzanis, Ruon Tongyik, Michael Jakobsen, Bruno Fornaroli, Fernando Brandan, Denis Genreau, Dylan Pierias, Eugene Galekovic, Anthony Caceres, Scott Jamieson, Iacopo La Rocca.

Melbourne Victory

Matt Acton, Jason Geria, Leigh Broxham, Marco Rojas, Besart Berisha, Mitch Austin, James Donachie, Lawrence Thomas, Carl Valeri, Stefan Nigro, Jai Ingham, Rhys Williams, Thomas Deng, Kosta Barbarouses.

Newcastle Jets

Jack Duncan, Glen Moss, Jason Hoffman, Nigel Boogaard, Ivan Vujica, Nick Cowburn, Daniel Alessi, Lachlan Jackson, Daniel Georgievski, Nikolai Topor-Stanley, Steven Ugarkovic, Wayne Brown, Andrew Nabbout, John Koutroumbis, Devante Clut, Mario Shabow, Ben Kantarovski, Dimitri Petratos, Roy O’Donovan, Kosta Petratos.

Perth Glory

Liam Reddy, Nick Feely, Jacob Poscoliero, Shane Lowry, Alex Grant, Marc Warren, Joseph Mills, Scott Neville, Chris Harold, Rostyn Griffiths, Brandon Wilson, Joel Chianese, Mitch Nichols, Diego Castro, Joseph Knowles, Andy Keogh, Adam Taggart, Jamal Reiners.

Sydney FC

Andrew Redmayne, Alex Wilkinson, Jordy Buijs, Josh Brillante, Michael Zullo, Bobo, Milos Ninkovic, Brandon O’Neill, Alex Brosque, Matt Simon, Seb Ryall, Rhyan Grant, Aaron Calver, Charles Lokolingoy, David Carney, Paulo Retre.

Wellington Phoenix 

Ryan Lowry, Dylan Fox, Gui Finkler, Michael McGlinchey, Adam Parkhouse, Marco Rossi, Alex Rufer, James McGarry, Tom Doyle, Roy Krishna, Andrew Durante, Matthew Ridenton, Logan Rogerson, Louis Fenton, Hamish Watson, Sarpreet Singh, Oli Sail, Lewis Italiano, Scott Galloway, Goran Paracki.

Western Sydney Wanderers

John Hall, Vedran Janjetovic, Jerrad Tyson, Jonathan Aspropotamitis, Keanu Baccus, Aritz Borda, Jack Clisby, Robert Cornthwaite, Brendan Hamill, Josh Risdon, Michael Thwaite, Kearyn Baccus, Roly Bonevacia, Chris Herd, Steven Lustica, Jacob Melling, Marc Tokich, Mark Bridge, Jumpei Kusukami, Oriol Riera, Brendon Santalab, Lachlan Scott, Jaushua Sotirio, Álvaro Cejudo.

*Note – list is based on reports and information available. Best efforts have been made to ensure it is accurate as possible. 

 

 

Source  :  Football Federation Australia

Corey Gameiro has suffered another serious knee injury

In sad news, Melbourne City striker Corey Gamiero is facing another long stint on the sidelines after suffering his third serious knee injury in two years.

City confirmed on Thursday that the 23-year-old had ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee in an innocuous incident during training in Townsville this week.

It’s the third time Gameiro has endured an ACL injury, although the first two were to his left knee.

Gamiero will undergo surgery next week and immediately begin rehabilitation in the hope of making it back in time for the start of next season.

It’s a cruel blow for the talented youngster, who has scored five goals in 33 Hyundai A-League appearances for Wellington, Sydney FC and City and is one of the most exciting young prospects in the competition.

One of the more popular players in the Hyundai A-League, there was plenty of support for Gamiero from players and fans alike on Twitter.

@CoreyGameiro Gutted for you mate. Hope you are ok. Stay strong and keep fighting 👊💪

— Alex Wilkinson (@alexwilkinson84) September 15, 2016

Thoughts are with you @CoreyGameiro so sad to hear

— Adam Taggart (@adamtaggart22) September 15, 2016

Sending our best wishes to @CoreyGameiro for a speedy recovery! Stay strong mate 💪 pic.twitter.com/Uu3cDAbFDp

— Sydney FC (@SydneyFC) September 15, 2016

Football Federation Australia

Melbourne City FC signed Corey Gameiro

Melbourne City FC have added some more firepower to their forward line for next season with the club announcing the signing of Corey Gameiro.

The 22-year-old joins John van’t Schip’s squad on a two-year deal and will commence pre-season with his teammates at the end of June at the City Football Academy, Melbourne.

Gameiro, who played 21 matches for Sydney FC across the past two seasons, follows recent recruits, Socceroos defender Ivan Franjic and 18-year-old attacker Steve Kuzmanovski, who have signed for Melbourne City FC in recent weeks.

Gameiro offers a further option to City’s attacking third, with his ability demonstrated at the Hyundai A-League level, overseas and with Australia’s national set-up.

After signing with English Premier League club Fulham in August 2009, Gameiro spent time with FC Eindhoven in Holland before joining Wellington Phoenix in the A-League and moving to Sydney FC.

Despite missing a portion of Sydney FC’s campaign last season through injury, Gameiro emerged as a star of Sydney’s attack, having netted 12 goals in pre-season last year, followed by two goals in five A-League matches.

Melbourne City FC fans were exposed to Gameiro’s talent when he scored against van’t Schip’s team in the Westfield FFA Cup and netted a superb effort against City in the opening match of the 2014/15 campaign.

“We have been monitoring Corey’s progress and believe he has huge potential with us at Melbourne City FC,” van’t Schip said.

“Corey has proven he has what it takes to be a successful striker in the A-League, showing that he has the desire, skill and hunger to succeed.

“He is a great professional and is excited about his move to Melbourne and we are looking forward to welcoming him to the Club.”

Gameiro said he was eager to continue his rehab at the City Football Academy in Melbourne.

“I’m ahead of schedule at the moment, so I am doing well,” Gameiro said. “The facilities here are excellent and I am very happy to be here at the Club and continuing my rehabilitation in the Academy’s fantastic gym.

“I believe the Club is heading in the right direction, have the foundations right and have the potential now to achieve success and I want to be a part of it.”

Football Federation Australia

 

Graham Arnold fears Sasa Ognenovski’s career may be over

December 24, 2014 – 12:17PM

Darren Walton

Long road back: Sydney FC defender Sasa Ognenovski. Photo: Getty Images

Sydney FC coach Graham Arnold fears veteran defender Sasa Ognenovski may have played his last A-League game after being ruled out for the rest of the season with nerve damage.

The 35-year-old former Socceroo suffered the thigh injury in round six and missed five matches before finally calling an end to his 2014-15 campaign on Tuesday.

“He’s got a crushed nerve in his hip from a collision against Adelaide,” Arnold said on Wednesday.

“He actually played against Melbourne Victory the week after with a lot of pain, but he’s just got to the stage where he can’t run any more.

“Every time he tries to run it sends a shooting pain down his leg.

“Sasa’s a tough character and it shows you how tough it must be for him not to be able to do it.”

Arnold conceded he’d already held discussions with Ognenovski about his future.

“Sasa’s 35 years of age. It’s down to Sasa at that age of whether he wants to fight and whether he’s got the fight in him, after he’s had a fantastic career to date, to want to come back,” Arnold said.

“He’s out for the rest of the season, but it could be 12 months before he can actually run again – 12 to 18 months, and that’s a hell of long time.”

With utility Ali Abbas, midfielder Nick Carle and striker Corey Gameiro also ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering ACL knee injuries, Arnold said he’d had plenty of sleepless nights recently while beginning a global search for reinforcements.

After a fine start to the season, Sydney FC have slipped to fifth on the ladder and face a big test at home on Boxing Day against Adelaide United.

“All I want from Santa is three points and no more injuries,” Arnold said.

AAP

Depleted Sydney FC in search of foreign duo to replace Ali Abbas and Corey Gameiro

December 5, 2014 – 12:23AM

Dominic Bossi

Sports repórter

Sydney FC coach Graham Arnold has already begun looking for two foreign players to join the club in the January transfer window as injury replacement players for Ali Abbas and Corey Gameiro.

After losing their first game of the season in a 2-1 defeat to league leaders Perth Glory, Arnold admits his squad is no longer “balanced” as a result of the long-term injuries to the two first team players. Fairfax Media understands Arnold is looking to sign a foreign attacking midfielder, a number 10, which could lead to a slight alteration in the current playing system. Sydney’s coach lamented a loss of pace and a lack of left-sided players as a result of the season-ending injuries for the Gameiro and Abbas and has began scouring overseas for two players to join the club next month.

“We just need to drive forward this month”: Sydney FC coach Graham Arnold. Photo: Getty Images

“We’re down on numbers. It’s a big job and I’ve inherited players that have been at this club for the last few years and working with them everyday and the squad could be better balanced but it’s not at this moment and we just need to drive forward this month. In January we can get two injury replacement players in for the two first team players we lost and we just keep battling away,” Arnold said.

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Sydney came within seven minutes of clinching a 1-0 win that would have sent them to the top of the A-League table before conceding two late goals to Perth Glory at home which ended their undefeated start to the season. Arnold admits his team’s luck ran out as Perth equalised in the 83rd minute before being awarded a late contentious penalty that made up for an earlier harsh decision that went in Sydney’s favour. He was frustrated in the manner Perth equalised from a set piece which was one of the areas the club heavily scrutinised during their midweek analysis.

“We’ve probably ridden our luck over the past few weeks where we probably got away with some results but tonight it turned the other way,” Arnold said. “Look, we need to be ruthless, need to punish teams. We had them by the throat at one-nil and we probably could have strangled them but didn’t, we let them off. We gave away a cheap goal with the free kick. We warned the boys we showed them over and over again how strong they were on set pieces because of their height. That was the disappointing thing.”

Ali Abbas will miss the rest of the A-League season. Photo: Getty Images

Sydney expect Marc Janko to return to the starting team for next week’s clash against Melbourne Victory after the Austrian missed the loss to Glory with a groin strain.

 

Source : The Canberra Times

Sydney FC devastated after Corey Gameiro injury revealed

Corey Gameiro has a shot on goal during the Round 2 Sydney Derby.

Sydney FC striker Corey Gameiro has been left shattered by a potential season-ending knee injury suffered on international duty with the Olyroos on Tuesday night.

Gameiro ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in the first half of the Olyroos’ 1-0 win over South Korea in their four-nation tournament in China.

The 21-year-old, the Sky Blues’ top-scorer this season, went for scans on Thursday morning where it’s expected to confirm the worst, with surgery and a long road of rehab ahead.

“The kid is absolutely devastated,” Sydney FC coach Graham Arnold said on Thursday.

“I’m confident Corey will come back even stronger than before, he’s got the mental strength to do that, but it’s could be a long layoff and I just wish him a speedy recovery.

“The medical staff at the FFA rang me straight after the game and they’re 80 percent certain [it’s the ACL].”

The injury is a cruel blow for the pacy attacker, who has been in career-best from with the Sky Blues this season.

He found the back of the net in the Olyroos stunning 2-2 draw with Brazil last Friday and has been a revelation in the Hyundai A-League.

Gameiro scored 12 goals in the pre-season and carried that into the competition proper, with two goals in the first two matches.

It’s that sort of form which earned Gameiro a call-up to the Olyroos and even being mentioned in some quarters as a bolter for Ange Postecoglou’s Asian Cup squad.

“I don’t know how it happened, I just got the call, but we’ve got the depth and we’ve got the cover so we’ll get on with it but it’s sad for the kid,” Arnold said.

“It’s a big loss because the kid was doing so well.

“He was scoring goals and working hard and he was having a very good season after a bad season last year so it’s devastating.”

It’s not the first time Gameiro has battled a knee injury, dislocating his knee prior to last season during a promotional shoot at Fox Sports.

The shattering news is a blow to the unbeaten Sky Blues, who travel to AAMI Park on Saturday night to face Melbourne City.

Marquee man Marc Janko and midfielder Terry Antonis – fresh from signing a new two-year deal – are likely to return to the starting line-up.

Source : Football Federation Australia website

Olyroos stun 10-man Brazil to draw 2-2

Sydney FC’s Corey Gameiro netted the opening goal for the Olyroos.

​The Olyroos have drawn 2-2 with Brazil in China on Friday night with a 90th minute goal to Australia stunning Brazil who had a man sent off a minute earlier.

At the Wuhan Sports Centre, Wuhan, Sydney FC striker Corey Gameiro continued his good club form by opening the scoring on 21 minutes.

The Brazilians however equalised on the stroke of half-time before taking the lead on 66 minutes.

But in a frantic finish a red card to Brazil was followed by a final minute goal to end the game 2-2.

The Olyroos are in China for a four-team tournament also featuring home nation China PR and Korea Republic.

The squad consists of 12 players from the Hyundai A-League as well as 10 overseas-based players.

This will be the first time that the Olyroos have assembled since the AFC U-22 Championship in January where they were knocked out of the quarter-finals by Saudi Arabia.

Coach Aurelio Vidmar is looking forward to working with the players as he begins preparations for the next AFC U-22 Championship campaign which will double as the qualification tournament for the 2016 Olympic Games Football Tournament.

“When the opportunity came up to play three quality matches at this stage of our preparations we had no hesitation in accepting,“ said Vidmar.

“It has been a while since we have been together as group and I will be using this camp to assess how everyone is progressing.”

“This will also be the first time that a number players have joined the group and it will interesting to see how they fit into the playing style.

“Overall goal is for all players to get used to the playing style that we want to take into the qualification campaign,” concluded Vidmar‘

The Olyroos will face China PR U-22 in their second match on Sunday and then the Korea Republic U-22 in their final match of the tournament on Tuesday 18 November.

All matches will be played at the Wuhan Sports Centre, Wuhan, China.

The opening line-up for Australia against Brazil:

Jack Duncan (GK), Cameron Burgess, Corey Brown, James Donachie, Corey Gameiro , Ryan Edwards, Connor Pain,  Stefan Mauk, Jackson Irvine, Kwame Yeboah, Mustafa Amini

Subs – Cooper, Hoole, Hall, Lennox, Maclaren, D’Cunha, Williams, Woodcock, Ugarkovic, Gallifuoco.

Olyroos Squad for Chinese International Friendly Tournament – 14- 18 November 2014

Name	Club, Country
Mustafa AMINI	Borussia Dortmund, Germany
Corey BROWN	Brisbane Roar FC, Australia
Cameron BURGESS	Fulham FC, England
Travis COOPER	VVV Venlo, Netherlands
James DONACHIE	Brisbane Roar, Australia
Jack DUNCAN (gk)	Perth Glory, Australia
Ryan EDWARDS	Reading FC, England
Scott GALLOWAY	Melbourne Victory, Australia
Giancarlo GALLIFUOCO	Swansea A.F.C, Wales
Corey GAMEIRO	Sydney FC, Australia
Jason GERIA	Melbourne Victory, Australia
John HALL (gk)	Adelaide United, Australia
Andrew HOOLE	Newcastle Jets, Australia
Jackson IRVINE	Ross County FC, Scotland
Aaron LENNOX (gk)	QPR, England
Jamie MACLAREN	Perth Glory, Australia
Stefan MAUK	Melbourne City FC, Australia
Connor PAIN	Melbourne Victory, Australia
Steven UGARKOVIC	NK Osijek, Croatia
Ryan WILLIAMS	Barnsley, England (on-loan)
Riley WOODCOCK	Perth Glory, Australia
Kwame YEBOAH	Borussia Monchengladbach, Germany

Source : Football Federation Australia website

Sydney FC’s Corey Gameiro faces test against Western Sydney Wanderers

October 14, 2014 – 6:08PM

Dominic Bossi

Sports reporter

Shoot to thrill: Corey Gameiro fires another shot towards goal on Saturday night.

Sydney FC striker Corey Gameiro passed his first test of the season with flying colours in last week’s opener against Melbourne City but faces perhaps an even greater obstacle in keeping his place for this Saturday’s derby.

Gameiro scored the goal of the round against David Villa’s Melbourne City on Saturday night but will have a fight on his hands to retain his place in the starting line-up, with three internationals due back for the match against Western Sydney Wanderers. Marquee and Austrian captain Marc Janko is back and a near-certainty to start after returning early from international duty, while New Zealand striker Shane Smeltz recovered from a minor injury and Bernie Ibini is also due back from international duty.

Depending on the formation, the availability of all four could lead to a battle for just two places in the starting line-up. Gameiro did his case for retention no harm with last week’s performance but is the least experienced of the four and knows he is no guarantee to start against the Wanderers on Saturday night.

Wonder goal: Milos Dimitrijevic (right) congratulates Corey Gameiro on Saturday night. Photo: Getty Images

“Every day for me is a challenge to keep my spot,” Gameiro said. “Marc Janko, he’s very successful. He’s the captain of his country, which is massive. Shane Smeltz is one of the best scorers in the A-League we’ve ever had. [Alex] Brosque is Sydney FC’s best all-time scorer. These players for me, as much as they are competition, I’m learning every day from them. I’m the youngest out of all of them.”

The young striker didn’t train on Tuesday as he underwent extended recovery and gym work but expects to be fit and available for selection for the weekend. Even if he starts in the derby, Gameiro isn’t licking his lips at the prospect of taking on the Wanderers defence following their record 4-1 loss against Melbourne Victory last week. The Wanderers defensive woes proved costly in their heaviest defeat in their history but Gameiro doesn’t expect to face the same generosity offered to the Victory strikers.

“I don’t really think of it or take it that way at all. If anything it’s more of a challenge that defensively they’re a very, very good side,” Gameiro said.

Serbian midfielder Milos Dimitrijevic is set to play in his first derby match since joining the club last January as injury prevented him from playing in the 3-1 win at Allianz Stadium in March. The 30-year-old is in impressive form after the luxury of a full pre-season and completed more passes than any other player in the competition last week. Of his 67 pass attempts, Dimitrijevic found a teammate 62 times against Melbourne City last weekend while also maintaining a perfect tackle completion rate.

“I feel good, I feel much better. Last year I wasn’t good. I didn’t do my preparation but this season is much better … I need a few games to be better and after I think everything will be OK,” he said.

The former Nantes and Red Star Belgrade midfielder singled out the Wanderers’ Vitor Saba as the man to stop on Saturday, but is confident of containing him together with Terry Antonis.

“The Brazilian, Saba, for me is a very good player,” Dimitrijevic said. “They have good players, but we have good players too. I think we will be better on the pitch, in the midfield.”

Source : The Sydney Morning Herald

Sydney FC striker Corey Gameiro hopes wonder-goal a taste of things to come

October 12, 2014 – 10:15PM

Dominic Bossi

Sports reporter

Super strike: Corey Gameiro celebrates putting Sydney FC 1-0 up against Melbourne City on Saturday night. Photo: Getty Images

Sydney FC striker Corey Gameiro says his wonder-goal against Melbourne City on Saturday night was the first step in repaying the faith from his coach who pulled him out of the rut from last season’s year from hell.

Gameiro scored an early contender for goal of the season with a spectacular curved shot from the edge of the box in Saturday night’s 1-1 draw with Melbourne City and warned the rest of the league that it’s the start of what’s to come. The 21-year-old is intent on not only becoming a first-team starter but a regular on the score sheet and says Graham Arnold has given him the confidence to do it.

Under the new leadership at the club, Gameiro has now scored 13 goals in as many games including pre-season and FFA Cup fixtures. His new-found confidence was on display as he curled in a first-time shot from distance to score the opener but he says his form is not due to a change in position or improvement in technique, rather, a renewed mental approach.

“He [Gharham Arnold] has got a lot of confidence in me and he’s got a lot of belief in me, which is good… and really gives me the confidence to play and shoot. I really want to try and repay the faith and the confidence he has in me,” Gameiro said. “This is still the beginning for me. A reflection on how successful this team can be is the number of goals I can score. I can’t score unless the team is creating. For me now… it’s straight back to the training ground, analyse what I can do better and what we can do better.”

His morale was low after a nightmare campaign last season that was hampered by injury, internal problems and the disruption of international duty, all of which hindered his chances of first team football. The start of his season was delayed after a much publicised knee injury sustained during a promotional video shoot at the Fox Sports studios and Gameiro says the physical rehabilitation was easier to endure than the mental blow.

“Last year is the year to forget,” Gameiro said. “It was very difficult to try and work my way into the team, and then the injuries I had: silly, silly injuries. Mentally I was drained. I was feeling out of luck all the time and then Arnie came in and told me it’s not about luck, it’s about hard work.”

Gameiro’s stellar strike threatened to overshadow the introduction of Spain legend David Villa to the A-League. He scored a classy equaliser to deny the Sky Blues victory in Melbourne City’s first game as a new entity. But the Sydney forward isn’t concerned with eclipsing the former Atletico Madrid star just yet and says he’s simply happy to be mentioned alongside one of his idols. “His goal, if you’re a footballer you understand he had a lot to do. His first touch was incredible,” Gameiro said. “I’m 21. I watched him play a lot on TV. I bought him in all my FIFA Teams I had previously so for me to see that, that’s incredible. Good on him and I wish him all the best.”

Sydney FC host Western Sydney Wanderers in the Sydney derby next week and the Sky Blues are hoping to heap more woe on their rivals after their 4-1 capitulation against Melbourne Victory last week.

“We’re the bigger club and we want to show that. Next week you will see a Sydney FC that is going out there to take all three points,” Gameiro said.

Source : The Sydney Morning Herald

Sydney 3 x 1 West Ham

Sydney FC have bounced back from their thrashing at the hands of Newcastle to stun EPL side West Ham 3-1 in Wellington.

Corey Gameiro bagged a double as Sydney FC defeated West Ham 3-1 in Wellington on Saturday afternoon to hand the English Premier League side their second successive loss against A-League opposition.

Gameiro got his opener in just the fourth minute and Alex Brosque slotted home to give the Sky Blues a 2-0 lead at the break.

Gameiro’s second midway through the second half was shrouded in controversy as there appeared to be a handball in the build up. But despite West Ham’s protests the goal stood.

West Ham’s only goal was in fact a Sydney own-goal as captain Nikola Petkovic deflected the ball into his own net.

It summed up West Ham’s difficulties in the final third which were evident in their 2-1 defeat to the Wellington Phoenix on Wednesday night too.

The two losses, coupled with key striker Andy Carroll being ruled out for four months following ankle surgery, are sure to ramp up pressure on manager Sam Allardyce with the opening game of the Premier League season against Tottenham just three weeks away.

Sydney, who lost 4-0 to Newcastle United in the opening match of the Football United Tour on Tuesday night, got off to the dream start.

Having successfully defended a free-kick from right on the edge of their own box, Ali Abbas pounced on a loose pass from Hammers midfielder Mark Noble to break clear. He threaded a great pass to Gameiro who coolly slotted it past Adrian.

Allardyce bemoaned his side’s lack of finishing against the Phoenix and he would have been left equally frustrated with his side’s wastefulness at Westpac Stadium.

Noble fired a free-kick from just outside the box, straight to Sydney keeper Vedran Janjetovic in the 19^th minute after a heavy challenge on Matt Jarvis by Terry Antonis.

Hammers midfielder Mohamed Diame then wasted a gilt-edged chance four minutes later when having dispossessed Milos Dimitrijevic he scuffed his shot straight at the Sky Blues keeper.

Sydney made the Premier League outfit pay in the 26^th minute as they doubled their lead.

This time it was a counter-attack from Bernie Ibini-Isei, who passed to an unmarked Brosque on the left side of the box. He took one touch they fired the ball into the bottom right hand corner.

Ten minutes before the break West Ham defender Aaron Cresswell, who had come on for Guy Demel in the 13^th minute, saw his shot hit the side netting.  It summed up a disappointing 45 minutes for the Hammers.

Mauro Zarate was brought on for Carlton Cole at half-time but it was an element of luck that got the Hammers on the score sheet when Petkovic deflected the ball into his own net off Jarvis’ cross.

Abbas impressed for Sydney in his 63 minutes on the pitch. Aside from setting up Gameiro’s opener, he had a long-range shot go just over the bar and also showed excellent touch to lay up for Antonis who then blasted the ball over.

Sydney substitute Peter Trantis saw another effort just kiss the crossbar in the 63^rd minute before Gameiro grabbed his controversial second a minute later.

While the young striker showed coolness to round the keeper to score, replays suggested Antonis had handled the ball in the build-up.

It sparked protests from the English side but to no avail.

It was the last real action of the game as both sides turned to their benches and the match meandered to a low-key finish.

Sydney 3 (Gameiro 4, 64, Brosque 26), West Ham 1 (own goal 51). HT: 2-0 Sydney. 

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Source : Football Federation Australia