Sydney FC were embarrassed by their 3-0 defeat to Kashima at the SFS last month and will be desperate to restore some pride.
Date: Tuesday May 10
Kick-off: 4pm (AEST)
Venue: National Stadium
Television: Live and exclusive on Fox Sports
Head-to-head
The two sides met last month with Kashima’s class shining through for a comprehensive 3-0 win over the Sky Blues at the Sydney Football Stadium. Nozawa, Gabriel and Kohrogi were the goalscorers.
The Road to the ACL
Kashima Antlers: 2010 Emperor’s Cup winners
Sydney FC: 2010 A-League champions
Past five matches:
Kashima Antlers:
Kashima Antlers 2 – 0 Shanghai Shenhua
Fukuoka 1 – 2 Kashima Antlers
Kashima Antlers 0 – 3 Yokohama
Kashima Antlers 1 – 1 Suwon Bluewings
Sydney FC 0 – 3 Kashima Antlers
Sydney FC:
Suwon Bluewings 3 – 1 Sydney FC
Shanghai Shenhua 2 – 3 Sydney FC
Sydney FC 0 – 3 Kashima Antlers
Sydney FC 1-1 Shanghai Shenhua
Sydney FC 0-0 Suwon Bluewings
Selection
Sydney FC have lost striker Mark Bridge to a hip flexor injury sustained in last week’s disappointing 3-1 loss to Suwon in Korea. Bridge has returned home to start immediate treatment on the problem. Youngster Dmitri Petratos is still absent with an ankle injury. With Sydney unable to progress to the knockout phase, Lavicka is considering making a raft of changes and giving a couple of his youngsters a run.
Kashima are basically at full strength but are also likely to make changes with their progress to the knockout phase already secured. Striker Shinzoh Kohrogi has been in fantastic form and will again lead the line for Oswaldo De Oliveira’s side.
Analysis
This match is effectively a dead rubber with both side’s fate already sealed but both clubs have plenty to play for, although for very different reasons. The Antlers, who are level on points with Suwon but behind on goal difference, will be chasing a big win to grab first spot and a crucial home final in the Round of 16.
Sydney meanwhile were embarrassed by their 3-0 defeat to Kashima at the SFS last month and will be desperate to restore some pride. The loss of the injured Bridge – who has been in strong form over the last few games – is a blow for the Sky Blues who will rely more heavily now on the creative influence of Nicky Carle and David Williams to score their goals.
While Kashima progress is sealed and they easily accounted for Sydney in their last meeting, their domestic form has been less than impressive of late. They were crushed 3-0 at home by Yokohama while they scrounged out a 2-1 road win against Fukuoka in their most recent league game. They do have a tremendous home record in the competition in the group stage, undefeated in 11 matches and scoring 36 goals along the way. It’s hard to see Sydney putting any type of dent in that record.
SQUADS
Kashima Antlers
Sugiyama Tetsu, Daiki Iwamasa, Alex, Nakata Koji, Araiba Toru, Nozawa Takuya, Osako Yuya, Motoyama Masashi, F. Gabriel, Shinzoh Kohrogi, Masuda Chikashi, Aoki Takeshi, Takuya Honda, Carlao, Masahiko Inoha, Shibasaki Gaku, Hitoshi Sogahata, Daigo Nishi, Shoji Gen, Toma Takefumi, Endoh Yasushi, Koyano Kenji, Umebachi Takahide, Doi Shoma, Sato Akihiro, Tashiro Yuzo, Yagi Naoki, Ogasawara Mitsuo
Sydney FC
Liam Reddy, Sebastian Ryall, Stephan Keller, Hirofumi Moriyasu, Brendan Gan, Stuart Musialik, Bruno Cazarine, Nicky Carle, David Williams, Shannon Cole, Terry McFlynn, Kofi Danning, Mark Bridge, Ivan Necevski, Scott Jamieson, Matthew Jurman, Dimitri Petratos, Joel Chianese, Jared Lum, Blake Powell, Nathan Sherlock, Rhyan Grant, Dylan Mitchell, Luke Austin, Andrew Durante.
