Douglas Costa’s 100th-minute goal created history as Sydney FC qualified for the quarter-finals of AFC Champions League competition for the first time.
Costa struck brilliantly in the first period of extra time to settle a wild AFC Champions League Two last-16 tie for Sydney, who overcame Thailand’s 10-man Bangkok United 3-2 on Wednesday and 5-4 on aggregate.
Adrian Segecic’s sublime long-range goal in the 88th minute forced extra time in Bangkok, where former Bayern Munich, Juventus and Brazil superstar Costa’s winning goal condemned Bangkok to their first home defeat in 31 games and almost two years, such is the magnitude of Sydney’s achievement on the road in Asia.
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“I thought we started the game very well, scored an early goal then conceded a soft goal,” said Sydney head coach Ufuk Talay.
“We made it very difficult for ourselves with the second, but overall in tough, humid conditions I think the boys worked very hard and got themselves out of the game.
“So I’m pleased in the end with the result and it will take us to the next round.”
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Sydney entered the return leg following a 2-2 draw at Allianz Stadium, where Segecic came off the bench to rescue the Sky Blues last week.
This time around, the super-sub started for Talay’s Sydney at Thammasat Stadium.
The Isuzu UTE A-League outfit made the perfect start when Joe Lolley broke the deadlock in the second minute and Englishman had another goal ruled out for offside six minutes later.
Bangkok, though, were back on level terms in the 18th minute through Muhsen Al-Ghassani, who beat the offside trap before finishing past Harrison Devenish-Meares.
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Bangkok were in the box seat come the 54th minute after Sydney were dispossessed playing out from the back – Eid pounced to put the home side ahead.
But that is as good as it got for Bangkok, who had Thitiphan Pungjan sent off with 23 minutes remaining as Sydney rallied.
Segecic stepped up with his 12th goal of the season in all competitions – his goal with two minutes of regulation remaining forcing extra time and paving the way for star teammate Costa to make himself a hero after a last-gasp penalty in normal time was overturned by VAR.
“I’m delighted, I think we started well and conceded two easy goals but I thought the boys dug really deep and it just shows the character of the team we’ve got to dig deep and come back from 2-1 down,” said Segecic.
