Sydney FC’s final match of the Isuzu Ute A-League 2021-22 season has ended with a 3-1 defeat to Brisbane Roar.
It brings to an end a run of 18 games in two months which unfortunately sees the Sky Blues outside the Finals Series for the first time in six seasons.
Sydney FC 1 (Burgess 31’) def. by Brisbane Roar 3 (Parsons 36’, Lescano 40’, Ivanovic 57’)
Moments That Mattered:
BURGESS GOAL – 31’ – Caceres gets to the byline and floats a delightful ball to the back post for Burgess to head home brilliantly.
PARSONS GOAL – 36’ – Adams crosses from the left and Parsons finds himself in space to head into the corner.
LESCANO GOAL – 40’ – Lescano latches onto a ball slid in behind the defence and he finishes across goal into the corner.
BUHAGIAR SHOT SAVED – 60’ – Caceres again sets up a chance, this time for Buhagiar who blasts a shot on target but Holmes tips it over.
IVANOVIC GOAL – 67’ – Substitute Ivanovic is set up by Mileusnic and makes no mistake.
BUHAGIAR SHOT BLOCKED – 70’ – Trewin is down quickly to block Buhagiar’s goal bound shot.
LE FONDRE SHOT BRILLIANTLY SAVED – 74’ – Caceres again chips the ball into Le Fondre’s path but Holmes is there with a reflex close range shot to save.
BUHAGIAR SHOT SAVED – 86’ – Talbot’s ball forward finds Buhagiar but his shot is saved by the keeper.
NARSINGH SHOT SAVED – 89’ – The Dutchman is put clear and shoots but Holmes tips it wide.
LE FONDRE SHOT SAVED – 91’ – Le Fondre pokes a shot goalwards which Holmes saves brilliantly again.
LE FONDRE SHOT BLOCKED – 92’ – Le Fondre’s shot is headed for the bottom corner but again it’s blocked!!
What They Said: Steve Corica: “We went in front and then gave away two cheap goals in the first half.
“We created quite a number of chances in the second half, obviously the goalkeeper got man of the match, he made four or five good saves and that’s been the story of the season.
“The boys are exhausted playing every three days, travelling to Vietnam, getting back on Wednesday, playing Victory on Saturday and then coming up here and backing up tonight.
“They need a massive rest. It has been the story of the whole season, not taking our chances and starting to concede goals as well.
“It’s been the most challenging season of all in the 17 years, I think we’ve played 18 games in two months.
“We don’t have that big a squad and you try to rotate as much as you can but it’s difficult.
“Obviously Covid plays a part, injuries play a part and just the amount of games we’ve had to play because of the Champions League to try to catch up and these last couple we probably didn’t need them.”
Alex Wilkinson: “We’re judged on the success we’ve had in recent years and the standards that we’ve set which are very high, and we haven’t lived up to that this year at all.
“We’ll have a bit of a break but obviously there’s a lot to work on in pre-season next year to get ready, but it’s a disappointing way to end the year.”
Match Report
Sydney FC have ended the Isuzu Ute A-League with a 3-1 defeat at Brisbane Roar, in a match which was their 14th in 46 matches and 18th in two months.
The Sky Blues took the lead on the half hour after a quiet opening when Max Burgess leapt to meet an Anthony Caceres cross with a fine header.
The Roar were level soon after through Parsons with another good header and took the lead before half time when Lescano finished well.
Trent Buhagiar could have brought it level on the hour but was denied by a fine save from man of the match Jordan Holmes.
Minutes later Luke Ivanovic hit a third for Roar after coming off the bench.
Sydney FC went on the offensive but were denied time and time again by the Roar defence and some fine saves by Holmes.
They head back to New South Wales to rest with a rebuild on the cards ahead of the return to the brand new Allianz Stadium.
Sydney FC: 20. Tom HEWARD-BELLE (GK), 3. Ben WARLAND (35. Liam McGING 46’), 4. Alex WILKINSON, 6. Mustafa AMINI (16. Luciano NARSINGH 77’), 17. Anthony CACERES, 22. Max BURGESS (31. Adrian SEGECIC 77’), 23. Rhyan GRANT, 25. Callum TALBOT, 27. Elvis KAMSOBA (12. Trent BUHAGIAR 46’), 32. Patrick YAZBEK, 33. Pat WOOD (14. Adam Le FONDRE 46’).
Unused Subs: 1. Andrew REDMAYNE, 11. Kosta BARBAROUSES.
Yellow Cards: Buhagiar 56’, Wilkinson 86’.
Red Cards: None.
Brisbane Roar: 12. Jordan HOLMES (GK), 5. Tom ALDRED, 6. Connor CHAPMAN (13. Henry HORE 53’), 7. Rahmat AKBARI, 14. Eli ADAMS (9. Luke IVANOVIC 66’), 16. Joshua BRINDELL-SOUTH (35. Louis ZABALA 72’), 21. Nicholas OLSEN, 22. Alex PARSONS (10. Nikola MILEUSNIC 66’), 23. Juan LESCANO, 26. James O’SHEA ©, 27. Kai TREWIN.
Subs: 1. Macklin FREKE (GK), 11. Jez LOFTHOUSE, 15. Jess DALEY.
Yellow Cards: Chapman 23’.
Red Cards: None.
Venue: Moreton Daily Stadium.
Referee: Adam Kersey
