Sky Blues striker Alex Brosque is confident Sydney FC can maintain its dominance over the Wellington Phoenix when the sides face-off in the 2009/10 Hyundai A-League Preliminary Final at the Sydney Football Stadium on Saturday night
Sky Blues striker Alex Brosque is confident Sydney FC can maintain its dominance over the Wellington Phoenix when the sides face-off in the 2009/10 Hyundai A-League Preliminary Final at the Sydney Football Stadium on Saturday night (8pm kick-off) but acknowledged that the finals are a whole new ball game.
Sydney FC has beaten the Phoenix on all three occasions this season including twice at the SFS and Brosque believes the Sky Blues will be up for the clash and progress to the Grand Final.
“They have always been tough but I guess it-s one of those things where this year they have been the team we have been able to beat and personally I have enjoyed some good games against them as well so hopefully that can continue this week,” Brosque said.
“It will be much harder being a Preliminary Final and they are going to throw everything at us and they have good momentum behind them but we will be up for it this weekend.
“They-ve been a team I have done well against so that does help with confidence and confidence is a big thing going into this game.”
At the SFS this season the Sky Blues beat Wellington 2-0 in Round Four and 3-1 in Round 13 with Mark Bridge netting two goals.
Brosque, who has added six goals to his A-League tally this season, is fully aware of the threat Wellington pose.
“I think the quality of players they have brought in, guys like Paul Ifill who has been outstanding, Leo Bertos who has always been good but with guys like Ifill and Chris Greenacre around it makes them not a one man team,” Brosque said.
“Tim Brown always pops up and scores goals so I think that has been the difference. Ricki Hebert has recruited really well and built a good team going forward but defensively they are also solid.
“All around the park they are more of a threat then they used to be.”
Brosque, who recently became a father for the first time, has called on all football fans in Sydney to get out and support his team.
“We have had excellent support in our last two home games so it we be fantastic to have that again this Saturday night,” Brosque said.
“The noise and atmosphere has been great. It does make a difference like in Wellington last weekend.”
Sydney FC squad: 1. Clint BOLTON (gk), 2. Sebastian RYALL 3. Stephan KELLER, 4.Simon COLOSIMO, 5. Hayden FOXE, 6. Karol KISEL, 7. Brendan GAN, 8. Stuart MUSIALIK, 9. John ALOISI (c), 12. Shannon COLE, 13. Antony GOLEC,14. Alex BROSQUE, 15. Terry MCFLYNN, 16. Chris PAYNE,19. Mark BRIDGE, 20. Ivan NECEVSKI, 22. Sung-Hwan BYUN
*one to be omitted*
In: Nil
Out: Nil
Unavailable: Kofi DANNING (knee – season), Matthew JURMAN (foot – season), Steve Corica (hamstring – season), Rhyan GRANT (ankle – season), Adam CASEY (hamstring – indefinite)
