Brisbane bring the heat to Sydney! Be part of the drama as Sydney FC look to right last week’s wrongs
Sunday 12th December 5:00pm
Brisbane bring the heat to Sydney! Be part of the drama as Sydney FC look to right last week-s wrongs by toppling the league leaders.
It-s been a long, hard campaign so far for The Cove, especially considering how their side-s Hyundai A-League 2009/10 season couldn-t have gone better. Pipping their rivals to top spot and then beating them in Grand Final penalty drama was the stuff dreams are made of, yet this season couldn-t have offered more of a contrast.
Therefore, the patience, loyalty and encouragement that Sky Blue fans have shown has been incredible as they have witnessed their team limp from the traps then stumble their way through a disappointing few months.
To make matters worse, every time the team seems to be moving in the right direction, they hit another wall. The last defeat was the worst of all. A 4-0 drubbing at the hands of local rivals Central Coast Mariners was hard to take, not least because the game was all over within the first five minutes as the home side raced into a two-goal lead.
Although the loss angered the fans and hurt the pride of the players, to look at things objectively is to see that Sydney, incredibly, are still within touching distance of a top six place. So, it-s now it-s time for the players to stand up and to be counted. Do they have the mentality to be a top six side or will they continue to flatter to deceive?
If ever there was a perfect acid test to see whether they have the guts and the guile to fight their way into the end-of-season shake-up, it is a home game against the brilliant Brisbane Roar.
The Wednesday before they fell apart so spectacularly against Mariners, Sydney put in one of their best performances of their stuttering campaign with a demolition of Wellington Phoenix. The 3-1 win continued a fine run of form at home and put them as close as they have been to the top six all season. A similar performance this Sunday would at least give them a chance against Roar.
It-s certainly going to take a better defensive display than they managed against Central Coast if they are to pick anything up against the ladder leaders. Brisbane Roar score goals like they are going out of fashion.
Having netted an amazing eleven times in the last three games, the visitors will certainly fancy their chances of adding to that tally on Sunday, especially considering that five of them were scored against the same team that smashed Sydney. However, the Sky Blues will take heart from the fact that Roar have been shipping goals recently too.
To score three times in Melbourne and not to take all three points illustrates a chink in their armour. Indeed, their 15-game unbeaten run was only maintained thanks to a last-gasp equaliser in the white-knuckle 3-3 draw against Victory at last week.
The fact that they threw away a 2-0 lead to find themselves behind – and that they have conceded six goals in the last three and haven-t kept a clean sheet in six – will give Sydney hope of picking something up on Sunday.
If the last meeting between the sides at Sydney Football Stadium is anything to go by, it will be a tight game. Back in Week 12, Roar took an early lead through Luke DeVere and, for long periods, looked like they would run away with it, yet were pegged back by Alex Brosque-s canny finish.
Despite late pressure, Roar couldn-t get beyond a resolute home defence and The Cove will be looking for the same level of commitment and determination from their players as they attempt to make amends for last week-s sorry showing.
Sydney Cove, your side are aiming to continue their fine home form and put last week behind them, so get down to Sydney Football Stadium and make the same level of amazing noise that you have displayed all season long. The top six is still very much within your club-s grasp. Help make it happen!
