Ben Garuccio says Sydney FC are embracing the pressure and excitement of finals football as the Sky Blues prepare for Saturday night’s decisive Semi Final Second Leg against Newcastle Jets at McDonald Jones Stadium.
With the tie locked at 1-1 following last weekend’s opening leg at Allianz Stadium, the experienced fullback believes the stage is perfectly set for a blockbuster encounter.
“Best time of the season,” Garuccio said.
“This is why we do it, this is why we’re professionals — for massive games like this.
“To be one game away from playing in a Grand Final is huge for the club and huge for the boys.”
Sydney FC were left frustrated not to take a first-leg advantage to Newcastle after dominating large periods of the match, but Garuccio said the squad’s focus remains firmly on reproducing the same aggressive performance away from home.
“I think the game probably deserved a 1-0 win for us,” he said.
“But now it just turns into a 90-minute match. It’s a one-off game now.
“We’ve just got to play the same way that we did last week.”
The Sky Blues impressed with their pressing and intensity in the first leg, with Garuccio singling out midfield duo Paul Okon Jnr and Wataru Kamijo for their influence in winning possession and driving the team forward.
“We were on the front foot and pressed really well as a team,” he said.
“We won a lot of balls in good areas and the boys in the middle of the park were unbelievable for us.
“We’ve got to keep that aggressiveness and then be ruthless in front of goal as well.”
Saturday’s clash is expected to be played in front of a packed and vocal Newcastle crowd, but Garuccio believes Sydney FC’s mix of experienced leaders and emerging young talent can handle the occasion.
“It’s going to be very tight regardless,” he said.
“We had a young team out there as well and they stepped up.
“The senior boys always try and help in those moments, but you’ve also got to manage these games and deal with the crowds and the atmosphere.”
The defender also welcomed the return of Joe Lolley, who made his comeback from injury with a late cameo in the first leg.
The Allianz Stadium crowd erupted when the Englishman entered the field, and Garuccio said his presence provides a huge lift for the side.
“The ovation he got kind of speaks for what he’s done at this club,” he said.
“The quality that he has is undoubted and everyone can see it.
“Hopefully we’ll have more of him.”
Garuccio acknowledged Newcastle’s attacking quality, praising the Jets’ dangerous front line and the depth they possess across the park.
“They’ve all been very solid this season,” he said.
“We know they’re all threats.
“I think we managed it really well in the first game. It was just unfortunate with the goal we conceded.”
Despite Newcastle finishing the regular season on top of the table and carrying strong momentum into the finals, Garuccio believes Sydney FC’s performance in the opening leg should give the squad enormous confidence heading into the decider.
“That game showed that we should have a massive belief in what we can do,” he said.
“For large parts of the season we thought we could do it, but maybe haven’t shown it consistently.
“I think people can now look at the way we played and go, ‘wow, look at the way this team can play.’
“We’ve got to build on that again.”
