IT was a scrappy way to start the season, but Sydney FC sidestepped an FFA Cup banana skin on the South Coast.

Two goals from Matt Simon and a late shot from David Carney in the second half punctured the determined resistance of Wollongong Wolves at WIN stadium, earning the Sky Blues a 3-0 win that was comfortable enough in the end.

Until Josh MacDonald struck the post late on for Wollongong, Danny Vukovic had been untroubled in the Sydney goal for almost the entire game. Under coach Jake Timpano, once a Sydney defender, the home side laboured but found little joy in attack.

media_camera Matt Simon was strong in the air for Sydney FC.

If there were satisfactory debuts for Vukovic, Michael Zullo, Josh Brillante and belatedly Alex Wilkinson, Sydney coach Graham Arnold learned little apart from the work still ahead of him in pre-season.

In what became an arm-wrestle of a first half, the elegance of Milos Ninkovic stood out. The Serbian midfielder’s craft is matched by a powerful work ethic, and it was his promptings that created what chances emerged.

media_camera A dejected Justin Pasfield after Sydney put three past him.

In fact Ninkovic should have given Sydney the lead before halftime, after playing a central role in them winning a penalty. His sweet pass out to the left landed obligingly for David Carney, who crossed the ball immediately into the box. As Carney chased the resultant loose ball, he surprised Wolves defender Blake McGinn enough that McGinn up-ended Carney clumsily to concede a penalty.

It should have been the moment Sydney took control, but the inspiration of playing a former team can be a powerful force. Justin Pasfield, also once a Sky Blue, leapt across his goal to turn aside Ninkovic’s penalty.

Not that Wollongong could draw much inspiration from the save, for the truth was that as an attacking threat they were as dangerous as the paper aeroplanes that swooped down from the upper reaches of the main stand.

Even as the second half became ever more attritional, there was a sense that Sydney still had quality in reserve - on 67 minutes they proved it. Michael Zullo’s crosses from left back had been a feature of the first half, but the one he struck with 23 minutes left was the most accurate of all - Pasfield came for it but came off second best as Simon flicked home a header from close range.

Nine minutes later it was two, with Simon again the scorer. It was a clever goal, with George Blackwood released in his own half and surging upfield. Drawing the defenders, he slipped a pass into the path of Simon, just inside the box, and the striker’s finish was emphatic into the bottom corner.