Sydney FC’s National Youth League side will head to the Sunshine State this weekend aiming to maintain their dominance over the Brisbane Roar
Sydney FC-s National Youth League side will head to the Sunshine State this weekend aiming to maintain their dominance over the Brisbane Roar when they face-off at Ballymore Stadium on Sunday afternoon (3:30pm kick-off AEDT).
In the two previous meetings between the teams this season, the Sky Blues recorded an impressive 2-0 away win in round three before annihilating the Roar 5-0 at Seymour Shaw Park in round seven.
Currently in fifth position, four points outside the top four, the defending champions require a similar performance to narrow that gap and ensure a post season berth.
Interestingly, Sydney FC head into the match with two draws and a win from their last three games but the eighth placed Roar are riding a three-game win streak, giving them much needed confidence.
“We have been playing well lately but haven-t been able to finish teams off,” coach Steve O-Connor said. “This is an important match for us.”
“We need to focus for the full 90 minutes, tighten up at the back and come out hungry to win.
“We created plenty of chances last weekend but we need to work harder at the back. We need to start accumulating points in the run home to the finals.”
The Sky Blues have scored 13 goals in their last five matches but have conceded ten. However, they have turned in improved defensive performances in their last two games, conceding just twice.
One of the main reasons behind Sydney FC-s attacking potency has been midfielder Iain Ramsay.
The inform 21-year-old is in the midst of a purple patch in front of goal having scored four times in his last three games and will again be central in the outcome of the match.
“We need to be strong at the back. We need to focus on the task at hand for the entire match and not give our opposition an inch,” O-Connor said.
The referee will be Mathew Skinner.
Sydney FC squad: Nenad VEKIC (gk), Steve TIBBETS, Mitchell SPEER, Joseph GIBBS, Sam GALLAGHER, Dimitri PETRATOS, Hussein AKIL, Iain RAMSAY, Joel CHIANESE, Tim MCGOWAN, Ray MILLER, Luke AUSTIN, Mark PULLMAN (gk), Sam MUNRO (c), Anthony GOLEC, Adam CASEY (OA).
Unavailable: Nil
