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Sydney on top of the world after away ACL win

A disciplined Sydney FC have enjoyed one of their greatest nights in the Asian Champions League, scoring a 1-0 away win over South Korean side Pohang Steelers.

Mar 17, 2016, updated Mar 17, 2016
Sydney FC players jubilant after the win. Photo: Sydney FC, Twitter.

Sydney FC players jubilant after the win. Photo: Sydney FC, Twitter.

Chris Naumoff struck the ball sweetly from the right edge of the six-yard area in the 42nd minute, after he swept home a pass a from George Blackwood, whose pass went behind another Sydney player Matt Simon.

Sydney’s haul of six points is the most they have ever accumulated after three ACL games and they now have successive home games.

It was a first ACL home loss in 13 games and four years for three-time ACL champions Pohang, who hadn’t conceded a goal in their first two group matches of this season’s competition.

Well done @SydneyFC tonight – great win and top of the #ACL2016 Group H #SydneyIsSkyBlue #POHvSYD pic.twitter.com/sKQttsUfQZ

— Sydney FC (@SydneyFC) March 16, 2016

Sydney coach Graham Arnold made seven changes to the side that started against Wellington last Sunday and the rejigged lineup performed admirably.

After conceding three in each of their last two games, Sydney produced a much improved defensive display and survived a late onslaught from a desperate home side.

Sydney goalkeeper Vedran Janjetovic was rarely troubled, comfortably saving one tame first-half shot and the one time he was beaten, Ali Abbas cleared the ball close to his own line.

The visitors created little in the first half apart from the goal, but looked the more dangerous side in the first 15 minutes after after the break and missed three good chances in a matter of seconds.

Naumoff had one shot blocked by the goalkeeper and a follow up attempt cleared off the line, which fell to Andrew Hoole, who blazed over from close range.

Pohang had plenty of possession in the last half hour, but couldn’t get any shots on target despite some late goalmouth flurries.

“It’s a massive win,” said Arnold, who is reportedly on the verge of signing a contract extension with the club.

“I’ve always said you’ve got to get three points at home, if we get our points at home now, then we’ll go through to the last 16.

“This is a fantastic achievement for Sydney FC… I know that obviously the Wellington game [which Sydney lost 3-1 last Sunday] we let ourselves down, our fans down, hopefully this will repay a bit,” Arnold added in his post-match interview on Fox Sports.

Injured Sydney captain Alex Brosque said the win was probably a better than expected result.

“I think we would have taken a point before the game,” said Brosque speaking on Fox Sports.

“But to take all three and play the way we did and to limit them to playing the way they did, was a great all round performance.”

-AAP

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