Sydney FC are in desperate need of a response – not just from defeat in their AFC Champions League opener, but from being beaten by their bitter rivals.
Western Sydney Wanderers claimed the Harbour City bragging rights by making it back-to-back Sydney Derby wins on Friday, and Steve Corica’s side need to rediscover the winning formula as they return to continental competition against Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors on Wednesday at 7.30pm AEDT.
The Korea Republic club travel to Netstrata Jubilee Stadium – the scene of the runaway Hyundai A-League leaders’ upset loss against their crosstown rivals – with both sides seeking to get off the mark in Group H after each suffered opening round losses.
The Hyundai A-League Champions fell 4-0 to Yokohama F. Marinos in Japan, while Ange Postecoglou’s side also downed the Korean title-winners 2-1 only a week earlier.
However, the competition stalwarts have good pedigree, having advanced to the knockout stage of the past six tournaments, and are the only Korea Republic side to be crowned Asian champions in the past seven years, in 2016.
The joint-most successful K-League side, with seven championships, had the first two rounds of their 2020 title defence postponed due to coronavirus fears, with their Round 3 match against Busan IPark still currently scheduled to go ahead on Sunday, 15 March.
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That calendar disruption could play into Sydney’s hands ahead of the Green Warriors’ trip to Kogarah on Wednesday, although the Sky Blues have a quick turnaround before their Big Blue rivalry clash against Melbourne Victory at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night.
Alex Wilkinson faces his former club, having spent three years in the city of Jeonju between 2012 and 2015, and the Sky Blues captain is anticipating a challenging match against his former teammate, the 40-year-old striker and top goalscorer in AFC Champions League history, Lee Dong-gook.
“He’s somewhat of a legend in Korean football, having also played in the top leagues in England and Germany as well,” Wilkinson told sydneyfc.com about the former Middlesbrough and Werder Bremen striker.
“It will be difficult, even though he’s 40 years old he’s still banging in the goals it seems.
“I remember playing against him in training and he’s a good player who can finish with both feet and is good in the air.
“He’s an out and out poacher and has the ability to finish from anywhere, he’s a very dangerous player.”
Sydney FC’s AFC Champions League squad
1. Andrew REDMAYNE, 2. Patrick FLOTTMANN, 3. Benjamin WARLAND, 4. Alexander WILKINSON, 5. Alexander BAUMJOHANN, 6. Ryan MCGOWAN, 7. Michael ZULLO, 8. Paulo RETRE, 9. Adam LE FONDRE, 11. Kosta BARBAROUSES, 12. Trent BUHAGIAR, 16. Joel KING, 17. Anthony CACERES, 18. Luke IVANOVIC, 19. Christopher ZUVELA, 20. Thomas HEWARD-BELLE, 21. Harry VAN DER SAAG, 23. Rhyan GRANT, 24. Marco TILIO, 26. Luke BRATTAN, 27. Jordan SWIBEL, 28. Calem NIEUWENHOF, 29. Anton MLINARIC, 30. Adam PAVLESIC, 31. Thomas MAIN, 32. Callum TALBOT.
VOTE: Hyundai A-League Player of the Month – February
VOTE: Hyundai A-League Coach of the Month – February
Round 22
Melbourne Victory v Sydney FC
Saturday, 7 March 2020
Kick off: 7.30pm AEDT
Venue: Marvel Stadium
