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Sydney FC stay top despite goalless draw against Brisbane Roar

Sydney FC maintained their spot at the top of the A-League standings following an arduous goalless draw with Brisbane.
Friday’s top-of-the-table blockbuster could have been mistaken for a session of curling, so slow was the affair at Allianz Stadium.
It also offered little indication unbeaten Sydney are finally going to make life tough for travelling teams, with the hosts giving up the ball over and over to a largely untroubled Roar defence.
Shane Smeltz provided one of the first half’s only shots on goal when the Sydney striker spun the ball towards the far post, only for in-form Brisbane goalkeeper Jamie Young to dive to his right and paw it to safety.
The usually high-playing Sebastian Ryall and Rhyan Grant sat deep, imprisoned on the flanks by Thomas Broich and the A-League’s lead scorer Brandon Borrello.
A frustrated manager Graham Arnold bellowed for his flat-footed team to “go forward”. But Brisbane had them in a spin, playing directly through the hosts’ static midfield, as John Aloisi’s side have done so efficiently this season.

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