Young Gan lifts Sydney FC out of slump

(AAP) - Super-sub Brendon Gan lifted Sydney FC out of their A-League form slump with a late winner in Sunday's 2-1 win over Newcastle at EnergyAustralia Stadium.

Gan, 20 and in only his second A-League appearance, fired home the winner in the
78th minute after goals to Jets midfielder Jobe Wheelhouse and Sydney defender Iain
Fyfe saw scores locked at 1-1 at halftime.
The win was Sydney's first since October and moved them back into the top four after
a disappointing run of results.
The Jets, reigning A-League champions, are in last place eight points outside the
top eight with their title defence effectively over with seven matches remaining.
Gan, the NSW state league players of the year, was introduced by Sydney FC coach
John Kosmina in the 73rd minute after making his debut with a nine-minute appearance
against Queensland last week.
It took him only five minutes to make an impact.
Sydney captain Steve Corica played Gan into space and the attacking midfielder made
no mistake with a curling shot into the right side of the net for a memorable first
A-League goal.
There were relatively few chances in the opening exchanges before Wheelhouse stunned
the visitors with the opener in the 11th minute in front of just 7872 fans.
Teenage winger Marko Jesic provided the cross and Wheelhouse finished superbly from
outside the box, steering the ball home for his first A-League goal in his fourth
season with the Jets.
But Sydney needed only five minutes to hit back when Fyfe nodded home his first goal
of the season.
Beau Busch and John Aloisi both got headed touches on a Shannon Cole kick and Fyfe
was there to finish from point blank range.
The best chance of the rest of the half fell to James Holland, who blasted over the
bar on the volley from a 35th-minute Wheelhouse cross.
Mark Bridge, who received a hostile reception from his former home fans, had
Sydney's first chance of the second half but failed to get enough power on his
header to trouble Ante Covic while Aloisi and Alex Brosque also came close.
Both sides then went on to miss golden opportunities in the 62nd minute with Corica
and Jesper Hakansson looking certain to score before blowing their chances.
The Jets had cries for a penalty turned away when Hakansson was brought down in the
box with 20 minutes remaining.
A sour point before the win was locked away came when Brosque was stretchered off in
injury time with what looked like an ankle injury.