Sydney FC’s 2-0 quarter-final first leg win over Jeonbuk in Korea has been labelled the club’s biggest result in Asia. Now, they have to finish the job on home soil as the Sky Blues eye an historic AFC Champions League Two semi-final.
Sydney welcome Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors to Allianz Stadium on Thursday night after defying history in the opening leg of their quarter-final tie in South Korea last week.
CLICK HERE TO BUY YOUR TICKETS TO THE ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE
BUY TICKETS TO SYDNEY FC V JEONBUK MOTORS
Sydney are now 90 minutes away from a spot in the final four for the first time in their history, with the match LIVE and FREE to watch via 10Play.
WONDERKID WATCH: Goalscoring great’s son goes berserk in outrageous 17-1 rout
DEEP DIVE: Adelaide’s ‘remarkable talent’ is dominating the A-Leagues midfield at age 21
“It’s probably the biggest,” Sky Blues legend Alex Brosque said on this week’s episode of Total A-Leagues when asked where does Sydney’s first-leg result rank in terms of the club’s greatest Asian performances.
“Sydney, over the years have had some good victories in Asia, but none as (big as) this.
“I don’t think Sydney has ever made a quarter-final, and it’s the way that they’ve been doing it. Yes, it is the Asian Champions League Two, not the top competition, but they’re playing teams like (Sanfrecce) Hiroshima, who have a fantastic team, and any J.League side is always a class above.
“Any time we’ve played them, you ask any Australian player who plays against a Japanese side, it feels like you’re playing 15 to 20 players. It just seems as though you’re chasing shadows.
“The way I saw Sydney play, both at home and away, against Hiroshima, was the best I’ve ever seen an Australian side play.
“So in this game as well, very dominant and I know Jeonbuk are very early into their season. But again, the moments that Sydney had, Klimala stepping up, scoring two big goals.
“The commentary team mentioned it – the Asian sides have always had those foreigners that have done this to us, and it feels as though Sydney’s in a spot at the moment with the quality of imports they have, where they can go on and do something special in this tournament.
CLICK HERE TO BUY YOUR TICKETS TO THE ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE
“I’m excited. It’s a 2-0 win, not getting too carried away, but obviously a lot of work to do.
“I think they’ve put themselves in a great position. Alex Grant coming in as well, he’s just brought in a lot more composure and calmness at the back there, they’ve been a lot stronger defensively since he’s come in, kept a few clean sheets as well.
“They looked a lot better at the moment, and primed to do great both domestically, which they need to pick up their form in and in Asia as well.”
R22 TALKING POINTS: ‘If that goal was in the Premier League, they’d be talking about that goal’
YOUNG SOCCEROOS: Australia’s next football boom has arrived thanks to 12,000-minute explosion
All eyes will be on Klimala once more after his match-winning display in South Korea last week.
The former Celtic striker, who is on loan from Polish outfit Slask Wroclaw, has scored 13 goals this season – eight in the Isuzu UTE A-League and five in the Champions League.
Heading into this week’s blockbuster fixture, the 26-year-old spoke about his future.
CLICK HERE TO BUY YOUR TICKETS TO THE ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE
“Sydney has an option to buy (me) for a price that is very low,” Klimala told AAP.
“Alex (Baumjohann) the club’s sporting director did it very well and for me the most important thing is that I don’t need to go back to Poland (at the end of the loan).
“I know that I will have another option … I haven’t spoken to the sporting director about the details but I know Sydney is willing to offer me a contract.
“For me, it’s not the right moment because we have very important games in front of us with Jeonbuk in the Champions League and in the league we want to qualify for the play-offs because the table is so tight.”
Match Details
Sydney FC v Jeonbuk Motors
Quarter-Final – AFC Champions League Two
Thursday, March 13 2025
Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Kick-off: 7:00pm AEDT
Broadcast: 10 Play
