Sydney FC coach Vitezslav Lavicka watched in horror as his team threw away another three points and let Perth Glory off the hook in the A-League match at Campbelltown Sports Stadium.
Sydney FC coach Vitezslav Lavicka watched in horror as his team threw away another three points and let Perth Glory off the hook in the A-League match at Campbelltown Sports Stadium.
Lavicka wasn’t blaming the stifling weather conditions but a total lack of concentration as a free header from Perth substitute Adam Hughes saw the visitors equalise in the 88th minute and share the spoils in a 1-1 draw.
The Sky Blues went into the half time break ahead 1-0, courtesy of Mark Bridge’s 45th minute goal, and were in control for most of the second half.
They looked like they were finally going to record their first win in six games.
But, as they did just five days ago against Brisbane Roar in Brisbane, they couldn’t protect a lead.
“I think we have lost five points in the last two games,” a disappointed Lavicka said.
“We scored a nice goal before the half time break. It was like a present for us and gave us an injection. I thought we controlled the game in the second half.
“But then it was the same problem that we did last week [against Brisbane]. We have to keep the concentration.
“There was a set piece. We drill set pieces every week on the training field. It is about personal responsibility. We have a player which must mark and pick up that player. We have a player that must stay on the post.
“Of course some players were tired [because of the heat] but it comes down to concentration.”
Sydney captain Terry McFlynn said it was totally unacceptable that Sydney gave away two goals in injury time against the Roar.
“It’s something we spoke about at the weekend. Tonight again we had the game wrapped up,” McFlynn said.
“As the boss said, we controlled a majority of the game, particularly the second half. I thought defensively we were solid until the set piece arrived, probably a lack of concentration. We had a chance to clear and didn’t do it.”
“Certainly tonight feels like a loss. We had to win to get going again. It probably wasn’t going to be the most pretty, attractive game of football.
“We got the goal through some individual brilliance from Nicky Carle and Bridgy [Mark Bridge] put the ball in the back of the net and put us on the front foot.
“Confidence was high when we came in at half time. We carried that on in the second half, but in the end we didn’t come away with the win.
“Individual mistakes cost us. We can’t let it affect us. We have the Gold Coast on Sunday and have to win.”
Bridge has made a habit of scoring against his mate, Perth keeper Danny Vukovic.
He did in round six back in November and also in the 2008 grand final when he played for Newcastle against Central Coast.
Perth coach Ian Ferguson always felt his team would salvage something from the game.
“I thought our best chance would be from a set piece and Adam [Hughes] was there to take it,” Ferguson said.
It was another sub van Berger who supplied the cross.
“There weren’t that many chances but I thought a point was fair result,” Ferguson said.
The draw meant that Perth, not noted good travellers, picked up seven points from a possible nine on three successive road trips.
