06/10/2007 10:04 PM
Melbourne Victory striker Daniel Allsopp has stolen all three points for his side in a tense and tight Hyundai A-League affair against 10-man Sydney FC at the SFS on Saturday night.
The match between the first and second year A-League champions was meandering towards a scoreless draw until Allsopp bobbed up at the back post in the 81st minute to tuck home an Adrian Caceres cross and seal a 1-0 win.
Sydney was forced to play a man short for 65 minutes after midfielder Steve Corica was sent off following a rash challenge on Melbourne defender Steve Pantelidis.
The former Socceroo collected Pantelidis on the upper thigh with his studs up and referee Mark Shield had no hesitation in sending him from the field after just 25 minutes.
It may have been a slightly harsh decision but arguably the correct one.
Despite that setback Sydney - playing before a season-high home crowd of 18,346 - looked to have done enough to earn a point before Allsopp scored the only goal of a dour contest.
Shield booked eight players - four from both sides - in a match played with no shortage of passion but producing little in the way of goalmouth action.
Both teams felt each other out in the early stages, with no genuine scoring chances.
Sydney youngster Adam Casey grazed the crossbar with a long range shot after two minutes and Victory's Leandro replied with a low-hit drive a few minutes later - neither effort unduly worrying the respective keepers.
Ruben Zadkovich (Sydney) and Kevin Muscat (Melbourne) traded yellow cards before Corica's rush of blood saw his night end midway through the half.
Shield was busy keeping a lid on emotions, at one point approaching Sydney coach Branko Culina to tell him to calm down.
In between the yellow cards there was some football played, Muscat playing Allsopp in with a lovely pass in the 42nd minute.
The striker attempted to play the ball towards the penalty spot but Tony Popovic was there to clear.
The nippy Leandro brought a near post safe from Clint Bolton to end a scoreless first half.
Sydney FC newcomer Casey caused the odd problem for Melbourne and took the Victory defence on in the 52nd minute.
He launched an enticing cross towards the penalty spot but keeper Michael Theoklitos got to the ball just before Alex Brosque's arrival.
Brosque went close with an 80 minute free kick, his shot climbing over the wall but just past the right post.
A minute later Allsopp put the hosts to the sword with his second goal of the season.
The game ended on a nasty note, with several fans hurling plastic bottles in Shield's direction at fulltime.