Sydney FC are in pole position to secure a spot in the AFC Champions League Two semi-finals after Patryk Klimala brace helped the Sky Blues defeat Jeonbuk Motors 2-0 in the opening leg of their quarter-final tie in South Korea.
The result now puts Sydney in the driver’s seat when it comes to booking their spot in the competition’s final four after extending their already historic run in Asian competition.
“Overall I thought, playing against a good side, we were good with the ball and at times very good defensively as well,” said Sky Blues boss Ufuk Talay after the full-time whistle.
“(It’s) not an easy game to play against a good side like Jeonbuk away from home so to come away 2-0, (I’m) very pleased with the performance of the players.”
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He went on to say: “The way that we work and the way that we train and the players that we have, we’ll definitely not be complacent because we still know that Jeonbuk are a very good side.
“A 2-0 lead is still, at times, a very dangerous (lead) when you concede a goal.”
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The standout result means the Sky Blues now have a dominant lead heading into the return leg at Allianz Stadium on Thursday March 13.
“My feeling is exactly the same,” added two-goal hero Klimala when speaking at the post-match press conference.
“We performed very well and everything what we spoke (about) before the game we did well in the game.
“One thing what I can say is that the very important thing we did in the game: we scored and we didn’t drop off. We still kept pressing and I think that was very important because Jeonbuk couldn’t play through us.”
Playing in temperatures of around five degrees, the Sky Blues dealt with any early threat from the hosts before breaking the deadlock in scintillating fashion in in the 36th minute.
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Spotting the run of Klimala in behind the Jeonbuk defence, midfielder Anthony Caceres played a pinpoint pass onto the Pole’s chest and the striker did the rest, rifling his shot past the keeper and into the roof of the net.
Sensing a weakness at the back, Klimala then ran the K League 1 side’s defence ragged again and forced two smart saves from the keeper just two minutes after putting the Sky Blues in front.
The away side lead at the break but only thanks to a top save from goalkeeper Harrison Devenish-Meares who saved well at his near post to prevent Andrea Compagno from levelling things up.
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The Italian striker then went close again, this time early in the second-half, as his header grazed the top of the crossbar before the Sky Blues then pounced at the other end.
Collecting a loose ball in his own half midfielder Leo Sena picked out Klimala in an advanced position and the Polish marksman did the rest; powering his low effort into the bottom corner from the edge of the box to make it 2-0 to Sydney FC.
The two-time AFC Champions League winners had claims for a penalty waved away in the 69th minute as Sydney FC then withstood some late pressure to ensure they head back to Australia with a commanding lead ahead of the second-leg next week.
