Sky Blues boss Graham Arnold has hailed his team’s 1-1 draw with Brisbane Roar at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night as their best performance of the season.
Sydney FC failed to collect maximum points for the first time this campaign after Roar import Thomas Kristensen’s late strike in the first half cancelled out Josh Brillante’s maiden Hyundai A-League goal in the 13th minute.
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Sydney had multiple chances to score in the first half, but could not get past man-of-the-match goalkeeper Michael Theo.
“I thought that was a fantastic performance overall…the only thing I can be a little bit disappointed about is we didn’t get the three points,” Arnold told Fox Sports post-match.
“Performance-wise it’s probably our best performance of the season. The first half we just totally dominated them. We suffocated them, they couldn’t get out of their own half.
“We had four or five chances to go in 2-0, 3-0 or 4-0 up at half-time, but one lapse of concentration just before half-time and we got punished. But look, it was an outstanding performance and I couldn’t be happier.”
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Arnold revealed he did not change his half-time pep talk in the wake of Kristensen’s equaliser because he did not want his charges to deviate from what was otherwise a winning game plan.
“We created so many great opportunities,” Arnold said.
“OK, the finishing wasn’t as good as it has been the last few weeks, but the whole issue is to do the right thing and the boys were fantastic.
“In the second half we created chances as well. Brisbane is tough up here. I think that’s 11 unbeaten for them.”
Sydney sits six points clear of second-placed Melbourne City ahead of next Saturday’s home clash with reigning champions Adelaide United and Arnold warned his side was only going to get better.
“I still say we’re far off where we’ll end up,” Arnold said.
“We’re evolving as a team as we’re going on. I’m happy because we’re playing well and we’re performing well, but our performances need to get better and they will get better.
“I don’t look at the table after seven rounds. I couldn’t tell you how many points second or third are on at the moment, I don’t look at it.”
