They were two of Sydney FC’s high-profile off-season signings who “hit it off straight away,” but after a testing mid-season period for the Sky Blues, both Joe Lolley and Robert Mak are back in the groove – and just in time for finals.
Both Mak and Lolley have been pivotal to Sydney’s pursuit of a spot in the top six; head coach Steve Corica opted for formational change in the off-season, and signed both Slovakia international Mak and former Nottingham Forest stalwart Joe Lolley to fill two of three positions in a front three.
On Monday night, Sydney travelled to Suncorp Stadium to face Brisbane Roar in the penultimate round of the Isuzu UTE A-League season. Sydney needed a point to secure their spot in the top six, but took all three from the Queensland outfit thanks to an early Mak goal and a pair of Lolley assists, the second of which falling for Adam Le Fondre to bury and seal the 2-0 road win.
Through the first four rounds of the season Sydney FC lost just once, with Lolley and Mak providing a combined five goals to Sydney’s cause.
Lolley has since been the more consistent contributor of the pair of Sydney recruits, but following back-to-back defeats in Rounds 20 and 21, both Mak and Lolley have refound their best form at a crucial time. In the four games that have followed, Lolley has bagged one goal and two assists, with Mak contributing four of his nine goals for the season.
Paramount+ co-commentator Andy Harper watched on as Sydney defeated Brisbane by two goals to nil on Monday night; he observed Mak’s opener – crafted by an incisive one-two with Lolley on the edge of the area – as a “beautiful example” of the lethal combination between the two players.
“Great players make things look really easy,” he said as Mak found the back of the net.
“This is surgical, and simple.”
Harper added to his thoughts post-match: “A really clever goal. I think back to the Big Blue, which was game one of the season, and Robert Mak and Joe Lolley hit it off straight away.
“There have been various times in the season – Mak’s injury, he hadn’t figured, and he went off the ball. Joe Lolley has been consistent level all year. But from the very get-go, these two have been on the same page.
“That was a beautiful example of it now, in Round 25. It’s a great partnership.”
After Mak put the Sky Blues 1-0 up in the first half at Suncorp Stadium, the Slovakia international succumbed to a hamstring injury which called for his premature withdrawal from his side’s clash with the Roar.
Mak felt for his hamstring on the cusp of half-time, and was withdrawn for Sydney teenager Adrian Segecic. But Mak waved away fears of any serious injury when quizzed by Paramount+ at half-time.
“I feel my hamstring a little bit tight,” Mak said. “It’s nothing really special, but I felt like it’s not really 100% – I didn’t want to risk it for the next games.”
As for Lolley, the Englishman expressed his delight with his side’s rallying effort across the past month of the regular season as they bounced back from consecutive losses in a “big turning point” in their season.
“To be honest, the last three or four performances were very good,” he told Paramount+. “Defensively we weren’t at our best against Western (United), but brilliant against Adelaide. We should have won that game (a 1-1 draw).
“The last four weeks have been a big turning point for us, we’re full of confidence at the moment.”
With their spot in the top six assured, Sydney face Newcastle Jets in the last round of the season with the pressure gauge released. Corica’s side can finish as high as their current fifth-place standing; should Western Sydney Wanderers remain in fourth place from now until the season’s end, it will set up a Sydney Derby in the first week of the Finals Series.
MATCH DETAILS
Brisbane Roar 0-2 Sydney FC
MATCH REPORT: Brisbane’s finals dreams over after home loss to Sydney FC
