A-League wrap: Sydney, Newcastle post easy wins

Sydney FC posted consecutive victories for the first time this season after beating Gold Coast United 2-0 on Saturday night.

A brilliant strike by teenager Dimitri Petratos and a late goal by new Finnish signing Juho Makela separated the two sides, the victory keeping Sydney’s faint finals hopes flickering for another week at least.

Gold Coast’s difficult night was compounded by the sending off of defender Steve Fitsimmons in the second half for a crude tackle from behind on Sydney’s Hiro Moriyasu.

Without a win in their last three games, the Gold Coast started brightly but could not sustain it and it appears they are really struggling to create many opportunities without skipper and Socceroo Jason Culina away on international duty at the Asian Cup.

The Sky Blues deserved their win, their first against the Gold Coast in six attempts since the Queensland club entered the competition last season.

And they can thank lively youngster Petratos for ending the drought.

After winning possession in their own half Sydney broke forward at pace through Moriyasu with the midfielder playing a superb reverse pass in behind the Gold Coast defence to leave Petratos one-on-one with goalkeeper Glen Moss.

Despite a tricky angle on the left, Petratos hit an unstoppable shot across goal and into the top left-hand corner of the net for his first goal in the A-League.

Sydney wrapped up the points in stoppage time when Makela, playing his first game in front of his home fans, poked home from close range after a neat through ball from substitute Sebastian Ryall.

Meanwhile, the Newcastle Jets were too good for a dismal North Queensland Fury 3-1.

Fury substitute goalkeeper Sebastian Usai, in goals for the departing Justin Pasfield, had a shocker of a debut, with the 20-year-old conceding two goals within a horror three-minute period.

Ruben Zadkovich opened the scoring in the 12th minute through a free kick before Labinot Haliti pounced on a wayward pass to double the lead in the 15th minute and Ryan Griffiths knocked in a third in the 70th minute.

Mark Hughes received a consolation penalty goal in extra-time after Panagiotis Nikas was brought down in the box.