When Sydney FC’s Adam Le Fondre runs out against Shanghai SIPG’s Brazilian star Oscar tonight, his mind is sure to flash back six years to one of the best nights of his career.
Playing for Reading in the English Premier League in 2013, Le Fondre came up against Oscar and his star-studded Chelsea side at the Royals’ Madejski Stadium.
And it turned out to be an incredible occasion for the Sky Blues’ leading scorer, who came off the bench to score a quick-fire double as Reading took a point off the EPL powerhouse.
“Chelsea had an arsenal of attack, they had a lot of great players at the time including Oscar, as a team we couldn’t just focus on one player because they had so many ways to hurt you,” Le Fondre recalled to Sydney FC’s official website ahead of tonight’s Asian Champions’ League clash against SIPG.
“I can remember the game, I remember [Frank] Lampard scored, Mata scored the first, and we were 2-0 down. I came on for the last half hour and scored two in the last five minutes to salvage a point for us.
“The last five minutes will live with me forever.“
Reading were given little chance of getting a result in that clash back in 2013 and just like that night, Le Fondre’s current side will start as outsiders against Oscar’s big-spending club.
But the Englishman is well aware that reputations count for nothing and is confident the Sky Blues have the talent and game-plan to trouble the visitors on Wednesday night.
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“They have key players which can hurt you, it’s well reported the sort of salaries they’re on and what they’re worth, and that’s because they’re brilliant players,” Le Fondre said.
“It’s on us to dictate the game, bring the game to them and make them play our football.
“If that’s the case we’ll be better than them on the day.”