Sydney FC v Rockdale Ilinden, 6.30 pm Sunday at Ilinden Sports Centre
Sydney FC will be determined to keep their Premiership challenge alive when they take on Rockdale Ilinden on Sunday.
A loss and a draw in their last two matches have meant the one-time competition leading Young Sky Blues are now in fifth place, three points behind Sydney Olympic at the top of the table.
Sydney coach Jim van Weeran faces an almighty task to help his youthful side discover a second wind through the final four games of the campaign.
One player who will be central to Sydney FC is striker Patrick Wood.
Wood has been in incredible form this season scoring eight goals in seven matches this season as well as providing a handful of assists.
He will be up against the league’s best defence with Rockdale only conceding four goals this season including an incredible run of five clean sheets.
Rockdale have been in brilliant form this season and showed what they are capable of in an impressive 3-1 win against Wollongong last weekend.
Japanese midfielder Tomoki Wada had his best game of the season scoring two goals including a sensational free-kick from the edge of the box.
Coach Steven Zoric has helped Rockdale discover improved consistency with their performances and they will need to display that again this week if they are to beat Sydney FC.
Nothing less than a win will be enough for either side with every competition point vital with so few games left in the season.
