After much huffing and puffing, Spanish attacker Víctor Campuzano's first A-League Men goal and Patrick Wood's sealer have lifted Sydney FC to a 2-0 victory over the Central Coast Mariners at Leichhardt Oval.
Looking to rebound from a disappointing round-one loss to Adelaide, the Sky Blues had handily controlled play approaching the hour mark but been frustrated in their attempts to break down a resolute Mariners defence.
When Al Hassan Toure fluffed his attempt to turn a Rhyan Grant cutback into the goal in the 58th minute it looked like another chance had gone begging.
However Spanish attacker Campuzano managed to dragged the ball back and, while falling, backheel it home to snatch a 1-0 lead.
Forced to stage Saturday's home fixture at Leichhardt due to work on the playing surface at the Sydney Football Stadium, it was a deserved goal for Ufuk Talay's side, who ended the evening outshooting their foes 23 to eight
Toure, Campuzano, and Joe Lolley had flashed danger to that point but a combination of wayward control, inaccurate shooting and some strong goalkeeping from former Sky Blues custodian Andrew Redmayne kept them at bay.
Stung by the goal, the Mariners finally roused themselves to produce a proper chance in the 65th, but the attempt from Alfie McCalmont deflected over the bar, with the resulting corner producing naught.
Abdelelah Faisal then produced their first shot on target in the 80th minute, one saved by Harrison Devenish-Meares.
But Wood put the result beyond doubt when he got in position to meet a Lolley cross with a first-time effort in the 90th.
"We always felt comfortable," Lolley told Paramount.
"We knew the game was there for the taking, and we just had to relax in the final third.
"We did that, the goals came, and it was a deserved win."
The result eases some of the pressure that had already started to build on Talay following the loss to Adelaide, with a trip to face Newcastle next Saturday afternoon to come, while the Mariners will host Wellington next Sunday.
"(Defending deeply) wasn't really the game plan," Mariner skipper Nathan Paull told Paramount.
"But they scored two good goals.
"We just weren't up for it – not good enough from us."
