Sydney FC’s Anthony Caceres is under strict instructions to be more selfish in front of goal after scoring the winner in last week’s 1-0 Big Blue triumph over Melbourne Victory.
The sixth-placed Sky Blues will cross the ditch on Sunday to take on Wellington Phoenix, who sit one place above them on the ladder, in Auckland.
It will be Sydney’s first visit to New Zealand since December 2019.
Caceres scored Sydney’s only goal last week in the 35th minute, firing into the roof of the net from close range on a tight angle after receiving a pass from Max Burgess following a corner.
Though replays suggested the corner should not have been awarded, leading to a stern exchange between Victory head coach Tony Popovic and referee Alex King, Caceres’ strike proved he’s dangerous around goal.
Asked if coach Steve Corica had told him to be more selfish in front of goal, Caceres told reporters on Friday: “He drives me to want to score more goals. Typically, my instinct is to bring others into the game.
But maybe it’s time to take ownership in situations around the box.
The visitors will leapfrog Wellington if they can hold on to their Big Blue form, despite having won just one of their last three games.
However, the home side will have an extra spring in their step on Sunday as they come off a three-game unbeaten streak, and will hope to replicate the last match-up between the sides, when they defeated the Sky Blues 1-0 in January.
As finals season nears, Wellington striker David Ball said Sunday’s clash looms as an important game.
“It’s massive, if we can get that win it puts us another four points ahead of those guys and we can start looking ahead,” he said.
Ball said the in-form New Zealanders are focused on securing their finals position despite last week’s announcement that goalkeeper Oli Sail and midfielders Clayton Lewis and Steven Ugarkovic will not be signing new deals with the club.
“I’m gutted because they’re really big players for us and it’s disappointing when you lose such calibre,” he said.
“But it’s the right decision for them and we have to move on and look forward.”
Sydney FC’s Burgess will miss Sunday’s clash due to suspension following his sending-off against Melbourne Victory.