Sydney FC are the most successful club in Australian football history, boasting 22 trophies across their men’s and women’s teams – but there’s a significant hole in their trophy cabinet.
For all their success domestically in the A-Leagues and the Australia Cup, the Sky Blues have never reached the Final of an AFC club competition despite eight attempts.
They did win Oceania’s OFC Champions League in 2005, but it’s fair to say the prestige of that tournament does not match the spectre of the Asian equivalent.
In 2024-25, Ufuk Talay’s side have their best chance yet to clinch continental glory.
That is why this Wednesday night’s AFC Champions League Two Semi-Final against Lion City Sailors is being billed as arguably the most important match in club history, as they attempt to claw back a 2-0 first leg deficit to earn hosting rights for the Final.
“(It’s) absolutely massive,” Sydney FC CEO Mark Aubrey told Total A-Leagues.
“It’s probably one of the biggest games in the club’s history, if not the biggest game in the club’s history.
“The opportunity to host a Champions League Final in Sydney should we make it through, it’s something that is a huge opportunity for our club.”
Asked why this match is so important in the pre-match press conference, Talay responded: “The club’s been very successful in the domestic scene. For us to reach a semi-final of an ACL competition, and possibly, you know, go through this stage and play a final, the club’s never achieved that.”
Prior to this season’s campaign, Sydney’s best result in Asian football was reaching the Round of 16 in the Asian Champions League in 2018.
Having dropped down to Asia’s second-tier continental competition, they have negotiated difficult tasks against the likes of Bangkok United and Jeonbuk Sailors to move within touching distance of a coveted Final appearance.
Making matters all the more tantalising is the prospect of hosting the showpiece clash at Allianz Stadium, should they find a way past Singapore’s Lion City Sailors.
Last week’s first leg did not go to plan for the A-Leagues outfit as scintillating goals from star imports Bart Ramselaar and Lennart Thy gave the Sky Blues a mountain to climb in their home leg.
However, with wonderkid Adrian Segecic firing on all cylinders, the class of Douglas Costa, Anthony Caceres and Patryk Klimala, and the industry of Leo Sena in their armoury, Talay’s side are backing themselves to find a way through to the decider.
“There’s not the mindset of we’re going to go all out, all guns blazing,” Talay explained.
“We need to be smart in the decisions that we make.
“We know that we need to score two goals to get the aggregate to two, and then possibly look for the third.
“And if that takes a little bit longer than 90 minutes for us to get there, it does that.
“But you know, we’re going to go out with the mentality that we obviously need to play well and perform well and and score two goals to give ourselves the best chance to get something out of the game.”
Speaking on Total A-Leagues, Oar said: “2-0 is a dangerous score line.
“If Sydney FC can get an early goal, get the crowd behind them, we know how good they are in the front third. I think this game… they are capable of turning this around.
“The disappointing thing last week, aside from the scoreline, was the performance.
“That was probably one of their worst performances of the season, but they showed on the weekend in the first half against Auckland, they are capable of producing good moments. They are more than capable, it is just a matter of whether they turn up.”
Historically, A-Leagues sides have never lost an AFC semi-final.
In 2008, Adelaide United found a way past FC Bunyodkor.
In 2014, Western Sydney Wanderers beat FC Seoul and went on to become the first Australian side to win the AFC Champions League – an achievement they lord over their crosstown rivals to this day.
Last year, Central Coast Mariners beat Abdysh-Ata Kant en route to being crowned AFC Cup champions; that competition has now been rebranded to AFC Champions League Two.
Now, it’s Sydney FC’s turn to show their mettle on the semi-final stage.
“International football, yeah, it’s a different game altogether,” Caceres said in the pre-match press conference.
“Playing for the national team is the biggest honour I’ve had and I think playing for your country is the maximum a footballer can aspire to achieve.
“Obviously, World Cup qualifiers (is) a league of its own, but this is a real chance to kind of leave a mark in Asian competition as an Australian side.
“I think it’ll do wonders for the game here. Sydney hasn’t achieved such things in continental competition. We’re at a great stage to prove something.”
Match Details
Sydney FC v Lion City Sailors – Semi-Final Second Leg
Venue: Allianz Stadium
Date: Wednesday, April 16
Venue: Allianz Stadium
Kick-off: 8pm AEST
Broadcast: Live and Free on 10 Play
Tickets: Click here to get your tickets to the second-leg
How to watch?
The remainder of the ACL Two campaign is available to watch live and free on 10 Play.
