Sydney FC hero Nicky Carle credits character for his team’s last-gasp draw with Melbourne Heart at AAMI Park on Saturday night.
Sydney FC hero Nicky Carle credits character for his team’s last-gasp draw with Melbourne Heart at AAMI Park on Saturday night.
The Sky Blues were up against it when Brazilian striker Maycon put the hosts, chasing their first win for the new season, ahead in the 85th minute.
But Carle, who scored Sydney’s winner in last week’s 2-1 result at Hindmarsh Stadium, came to the rescue again with a 93rd-minute equaliser.
“We’ve showed great character as a club and as a team to come back two weeks in a row,” said Carle.
“It was good we got the goal at the end, but I thought that it was a deserved result.”
Carle agreed there may have been an element of luck about the awarding of the corner which preceded his goal.
Sydney midfielder Karol Kisel appeared to blast the ball clean over the bar from the top of the box but referee Chris Beath apparently spotted a deflection.
“From first impressions it didn’t look like (a corner), but that’s part of football,” said Carle.
“You have to keep going to the 95th minute and if something goes against you you’ve still got to defend the chance.”
“Luckily for us we got the late goal which I thought we deserved.”
“Hopefully we can take that into our next home game (against Gold Coast United) which is important for us because if you get the points away and do well at home it will take you a long way.”
Coach Vitezslav Lavicka said he’s expecting big things from Carle who managed just three goals from 17 appearances in an injury-riddled debut season with the club last year.
“He’s playing more forward and he’s more valuable for the team,” Lavicka said.
“The last two games he’s scored key goals so he’s a very important player for us.”
“But Sydney FC is not only about one player, we are a team and the boys are working hard as a team to get a good result every single game.”
Lavicka said he would monitor the fitness of skipper Terry McFlynn who was subbed off on Saturday night after copping a heavy tackle from Heart midfielder Wayne Srhoj.
“He has a small injury a week ago when we played Adelaide, the same problem,” said Lavicka.
“But he damaged it a bit more tonight so we’ll see. Hopefully he’ll be back soon.”
