SYDNEY—Sydney FC returned to the top of the A-League ladder with a deserved 1-0 win over NSW rivals Central Coast at the Sydney Football Stadium on Monday.
Vitezslav Lavicka's side produced one of its best performances of the season in front of a decent home crowd of 13,887 to move a point clear of Melbourne Victory atop the competition.
The return of Terry McFlynn from a thigh injury paid instant dividends for Sydney, with the Northern Ireland midfielder netting the winner with a brilliant header in the 21st minute.
Sydney's passing game was their most polished of the season and their dominance in possession and chances was not reflected in the scoreline.
Winger Alex Brosque was again outstanding, despite being unable to break his goal drought, and Sydney could have run out comfortable winners had they been sharper in front of goal.
The Mariners, who missed key front-man Matt Simon due to a hip flexor injury, fought on gallantly despite being outplayed and could have snatched an equaliser.
Sydney FC started brightly, with Brosque in particular causing plenty of problems for the Mariners defence.
Defender Stephan Keller, returning from injury, had the first shot on target but he failed to get enough power on his header.
Central Coast's best chance of the first half came in the 14th minute when Dylan Macallister's headed attempt was denied only by a great diving save from Clint Bolton.
But Sydney broke the deadlock when McFlynn finished off a patient, well-executed build-up started by Stuart Musialik and Steve Corica.
Corica did well to keep possession and offloaded to Musialik, who floated in a cross for McFlynn to execute a pin-point header past Mariners 'keeper Danny Vukovic.
The sky blues continued to pile on the pressure and perhaps should have extended their lead on several occasions with Brosque and Corica going agonisingly close.
Bolton was forced into another good save late in the half when he turned a long-range, dipping Nigel Boogaard shot over the bar.
Central Coast almost equalised early in the second half after a howler from Bolton left Nik Mrdja facing virtually an open goal but the striker had a shocker of his own in slipping over the ball.
Mariners midfielder Michael McGlinchey forced another fingertips save from Bolton with a stunning volley from 30 metres out in the 69th minute but that was the closest they came to an equaliser.
As the heavens opened up in the dying minutes, Keller was stretchered off after a nasty head clash.
