Sydney FC held its final training session at Olympic Park in Melbourne this evening as the countdown to their Hyundai A-League Major Semi Final against the Victory at Etihad Stadium tomorrow night enters its final 24 hours
Sydney FC held its final training session at Olympic Park in Melbourne this evening as the countdown to their Hyundai A-League Major Semi Final against the Victory at Etihad Stadium tomorrow night enters its final 24 hours.
The Sky Blues were dealt a massive blow yesterday with the news captain and chief playmaker Steve Corica will miss the entire finals campaign with a severe hamstring injury.
The inspirational leader travelled with the team this morning and has played a major role in readying the team for the clash.
As a result of Corica-s injury, Sydney FC coach Vitezslav Lavicka has called in Sky Blues National Youth League players Sam Munro and Iain Ramsay – both on their first away trips with the club.
“This is a new competition for us,” Lavicka said prior to training. “Melbourne is a good team but we are focused on our game, on our players.”
“Being without Steve, our leader, is very tough but we are ready. We enjoyed our victory last week but it starts again for Sydney FC now.”
After Corica left the Sydney Football Stadium in the 18th minute of last Sunday-s match, midfielder Brendan Gan was put in and responded with an excellent performance.
Sydney FC will still be without Mark Bridge (Toe) and Sebastian Ryall (Knee) for the clash as well as Rhyan Grant (Knee), who was a late withdrawal from last Sunday-s epic 2-0 win over Melbourne through injury.
Stunning goals to midfielder Karol Kisel and striker John Aloisi catapulted Sydney FC to the 2009/10 Premiership and Aloisi said that the players are now fully focused on taking out the A-League.
“I lost one with the Central Coast Mariners two years ago and I don-t want that to happen again,” Aloisi said.
“I want to win it. That is what I am focused on and so is every one of the players. We want it.”
Sydney FC have made two trips to Etihad Stadium already this season, leaving with a 3-0 win in Round 10 and a 0-0 draw in Round 19.
Overall Head-To-Head Record:
Played 15; Melbourne Victory FC 5, Sydney FC 4, Drawn 6
Head-To-Head at this venue
Played 7; Melbourne Victory FC 2, Sydney FC 2, Drawn 3
Total Goals Head-To-Head
Melbourne Victory FC 17, Sydney FC 16
Total Cards Head-To-Head (Yellow-Red)
Melbourne Victory FC (28-0), Sydney FC (30-3)
Top Goal Scorers Head to Head:
Thompson, A (Melbourne Victory FC) 6
Corica, S (Sydney FC) 3
Sydney FC Line-up: 1. Clint BOLTON (gk), 3. Stephan KELLER, 4.Simon COLOSIMO, 6. Karol KISEL, 7. Brendan GAN, 8. Stuart MUSIALIK, 9. John ALOISI (c), 12. Shannon COLE, 14. Alex BROSQUE, 15. Terry MCFLYNN, 20. Ivan NECEVSKI (gk), 22. Sung-Hwan BYUN, 26. Hayden FOXE 28, Sam MUNRO, 29. Iain Ramsay
In: Sam Munro (promoted), Iain Ramsay (promoted)
Out: Steve Corica (hamstring – season), Rhyan GRANT (knee – season)
Unavailable: Mark Bridge (toe – 1 week), Kofi DANNING (knee – season), Matthew JURMAN (foot – season), Sebastian RYALL (knee – 2 weeks)
