Sydney FC are setting a mean pace at the Hyundai A-League summit, but several clubs will have made catching the formidable Sky Blues their new year’s resolution.
Steve Corica’s side enter 2020 with handsome nine-point advantage to second-place after winning nine of their eleven matches played this season.
The reigning Champions are the early Premiership frontrunners and in last Sunday’s valiant 2-1 win over Melbourne City, Sydney demonstrated all the title-winning qualities necessary to secure what would be a fourth Premiers Plate.
Trailing 1-0 against City in their top of the table clash and down a man following Rhyan Grant’s dismissal, Corica’s men rallied through Adam Le Fondre and snatched an unlikely winner via Kosta Barbarouses to send out a reminder to the rest of the league.
Barbarouses was under no illusions how important that goal could be in the complexion of the Premiership race, stating the victory would give Sydney ‘a lot of confidence.’
VOTE: Hyundai A-League Player of the Month – December
VOTE: Hyundai A-League Coach of the Month – December
Meanwhile, Milos Ninkovic told FOX Sports that their triumph in Kogarah was ‘the best performance of the season’.
With their lead at the top and the club’s recent success there is a lot cause for optimism for those in the Harbour City, and there is even a sense that the best is still yet to come from the Sky Blues.
But that is also true of the chasing pack who are now tasked with reining in the reigning Champions and re-igniting their Premiership ambitions.
Despite their defeat last Sunday, Melbourne City have demonstrated they have the talent and the goalscorer in Jamie Maclaren to mount a title claim, while reigning Premiers Perth are ominously moving through the gears after four straight wins.
Western United’s big-game experience cannot be discounted, and neither can the enthralling excitement machine that is Adelaide United on top form.
Wellington Phoenix, who have already taken points of Sydney this season, could be real dark horses after their impressive seven match unbeaten run.
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