Sydney captain Steve Corica maintains that his side still holds the wood over chief championship rival Melbourne after keeping the Victory to a 0-0 draw in their top-of-the-table clash at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night.
Sydney still trails Melbourne by three points in the battle for the premiership, but has a win and a draw against the defending champion so far this season. It’s that record which gives Corica the confidence to predict his side will have the edge ahead of when the two teams meet for what could prove a deciding match in the final round of the year at Sydney Football Stadium.
“We haven’t been beaten against them in two games. The first game we obviously put one over them 3-0, this game I thought they had most of the first half, but I thought we came back into it in the second half and created a couple of good chances,” the veteran midfielder said.
“I think we-ve got the wood over them at the moment.”
Corica described Saturday’s result as one filled with character given the form Melbourne came into the game with, the fact it was a milestone 500th club game for captain Kevin Muscat and considering his side was without its most influential defender in Simon Colosimo.
“That was the pleasing thing, the boys showed good character. We knew they were going to throw everything at us, especially from the start and we knew Muzzy (Muscat) would have them fired up as well. To come here and not concede with Simon Colosimo out, Seb Ryall stepped in and the back four were really solid. Very compact as a unit and it’s very pleasing,” he said.
Muscat admitted after the game that he had been a lot more affected by the occasion of his milestone than he would have thought beforehand, but praised his team-mates’ determination to get a result for him.
“I’m glad it’s over to be honest. I didn’t think I’d get emotionally caught up in the whole week, but to be honest, it probably drained me a little bit,” Muscat said.
“But I could sense a burning desire from the boys to get a result and unfortunately it didn’t happen, but it was not for want of trying. I’ll take a lot way from that today, but probably not now, but when I’m retired.”
Corica said the fact it was a milestone match for Melbourne’s favourite son also proved a motivating factor for Sydney heading into the game.
“I think everyone was up for it. There was a lot at stake and obviously, Muscat’s 500th game, we wanted to come back on top as well. It’s a hard place to come here and get points,” he said.
“Out of the two games we-ve come here, we’ve picked up four points. We’re pretty pleased with that. We came here for three points, but it didn’t work out that way. Both teams had their chances and none of them were taken.”
After this match, Sydney remains the only team in the competition that Melbourne has not beaten this season.
Muscat said the Victory playing group was well aware of that and would be all the more keen to atone when the teams meet on Sunday February 14.
“We’ve not beat ’em yet and they touched us up here last time, but tonight the result could have been a little bit more our way. How best can I describe them today, they were disciplined,” he said.
