Kevin Muscat’s Yokohama F. Marinos will be among Sydney FC’s AFC Champions League opponents after the Sky Blues’ playoff success.
Kevin Muscat’s Yokohama F. Marinos await Sydney FC after the Sky Blues thrashed Filipino outfit Kaya FC 5-0 to reach the group stage of the AFC Champions League.
In wet and windy conditions that at one stage led to doubt whether the playoff would go ahead at Netsrata Jubilee Stadium, the Sky Blues were rarely threatened by the underdone visitors, whose domestic campaign is yet to start.
Second-half braces from Bobo and substitute Adam Le Fondre, and a first-half goal from Trent Buhagiar secured the Sydneysiders qualification in Group H of the Champions League.
Sydney’s group matches will take place during a two-week period next month in Vietnam, where they will meet Japan’s Marinos, who are coached by former Melbourne Victory mentor Muscat, South Korean outfit Jeonbuk Hyundai and Vietnamese side Hoang Anh Gia Lai.
The Sky Blues dominated early but it took them until the half-hour mark to grab the lead.
Buhagiar, who had earlier hit the crossbar, was the scorer following an impressive build-up involving right back Connor O’Toole and New Zealand international attacker Kosta Barbarouses.
A hesitant Bobo then wasted an opportunity on the stroke of half-time to double Sydney’s lead.
However, the Brazilian veteran made amends in the first five minutes of the second half which all but ended the match.
His first was a simple tap-in after Kaya goalkeeper Zach Banzon – who kept his side in the match in the first half – had parried a Max Burgess shot into the South American’s path.
Bobo’s second and Sydney’s third came from the penalty spot after a foul from Fitch Arboleda on Sky Blues right back Rhyan Grant.
English marksman Le Fondre then came off the bench to provide the icing on the cake with goals in the 71st and 81st minutes.