Rudan strike sinks Knights

Sydney FC captain Mark Rudan booted his side clear of its mini-slump with a splendid winner in a 1-0 win over the New Zealand Knights in Auckland.

During the week Rudan asked his team mates to put a turbulent two weeks behind them and with one rasping volley he led from the front with a second half goal worthy of the crucial winner it proved to be.

It was not pretty, especially during a patchy first half, but Sydney FC got its title defence back on track on a slippery North Harbour Stadium.

Sydney FC Coach Terry Butcher made three changes to the side that drew 2-2 with the Newcastle United Jets last start as Jeremy Brockie, Ruben Zadkovich and Matthew Bingley came into the side for Alvin Ceccoli, Steve Corica and Sasho Petrovski.

The changes did little to help cohesion and the first 45 minutes saw Sydney FC look edgy and nervous with the only dangerous moves coming when Zadkovich found his way into the match. Sydney FC did look dangerous when Zadkovich managed to get on the ball but for the most part both sides looked anxious.

At the other end of the pitch the back four of Nikolai Topor-Stanley, Bingley, Rudan and Iain Fyfe offered very few opportunities for the home side.

As it often does, the half time break jolted the match into gear and it was Rudan who opened the scoring with a rasping left foot volley that thundered into the back of the net in the 58th minute.

A Mark Milligan throw in was dummied by Topor-Stanley and it fell to Rudan on the edge of the box and he gave Knights ‘keeper Michael Turnbull no chance.

Knights midfielder Malik Buari did have a golden chance to equalize just two minutes later but following the one stutter Sydney FC managed to stamp its authority on the match in the second half.

Milligan came close with a long range effort in the 71st minute and Brockie got in behind the Knights defence twice but could not find the goal to kill off game and Sydney FC held out for a much needed victory.

The 1-0 result moves Sydney FC up to third place on the A-League competition table with eight points but it was more important to get the win to put the team back on track.

Sydney FC’s next match is against rivals Adelaide United at Hindmarsh Stadium on Monday October 2.

Team Line-Ups

Sydney FC:
Clint Bolton (gk), Iain Fyfe, Mark Rudan, Ruben Zadkovich (Ufuk Talay 83), David Zdrilic, Jeremy Brockie, Alex Brosque, Terry McFlynn, Mark Milligan, Nikolai Topor-Stanley, Matthew Bingley. - Subs not used; Sasho Petrovski, Joel Theissen, Justin Pasfield (gk). Yellow Cards: David Zdrilic 62, Terry McFlynn 65.

New Zealand Knights:
Michael Turnbull (gk), Darren Bazeley, Gregory Duruz, Che Bunce, Neil Emblen, Richard Johnson, Scott Gemill, Dani Rodrigues, Malik Buari, Noah Hickey (Adam Casey 71), Sime Kovacevic. - Subs not used; Danny Milosevic, Sean Devine, Jonti Richter. Yellow Cards: Che Bunce 9, Darren Bazeley 91.

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