Sydney FC Coach Vitezslav Lavicka has signalled the Sky Blues will make changes for Sunday’s season-defining clash with the Central Coast Mariners at the Sydney Football Stadium after losing 4-2 to Wellington Phoenix in New Zealand today.
Sydney FC Coach Vitezslav Lavicka has signalled the Sky Blues will make changes for Sunday-s season-defining clash with the Central Coast Mariners at the Sydney Football Stadium after losing 4-2 to Wellington Phoenix in New Zealand today.
For the second consecutive week Sydney FC leaked four goals and failed to take its own chances in front of goal.
Lavicka made two changes to the side defeated by Melbourne Heart last start, bringing captain Terry McFlynn back into the side for the suspended Karol Kisel and Mark Bridge came in for Scott Jamieson, forcing a midfield re-shuffle.
Bridge played at the point of the Sydney FC midfield with Antonis keeping his place at the base of the diamond as McFlynn took up the left midfield role, seeing Shannon Cole move back to left fullback.
The game started brightly with Sydney FC pressing high and the visitors took the lead from the penalty spot in the 16th minute through Brett Emerton after a Sky Blues corner was handled in the penalty area by Wellington midfielder Vince Lia.
Wellington equalised from the penalty spot in the 23rd minute when Jamie Coyne handled the ball and Daniel slotted the ball past the outstretched right arm of Liam Reddy to make it 1-1.
The match continued at a fast pace and it was Wellington who deservedly went ahead in the 42nd minute when a Sydney FC turnover allowed Chris Greenacre to roll the ball into the path of Daniel Sanchez, who chipped the advancing Reddy.
Wellington took the lead into half time and Sydney FC lifted after the break, equalising in the 63rd minute through Bruno Cazarine, who had twice previously hit the post. The goal came about after a quick transition in attack, started by substitute Rhyan Grant who sent Emerton clear and he laid the ball square to Cazarine to blast the ball past Phoenix ‘keeper Tony Warner.
From that point it was all Wellington with defender Ben Sigmund scoring with a powerful header from a corner in the 79th minute before substitute Paul Ifill put the final nail in the coffin with a 94th minute goal as Sydney FC pressed forward looking for an equaliser.
Sydney FC now faces an enormous test on Sunday (8 January) when it takes on local rivals Central Coast Mariners at the Sydney Football Stadium. Kick off is 5pm.
Wellington Phoenix 4 (Daniel 26p, Daniel Sanchez 42, Ben Sigmund 79, Paul Ifill 90+4) d Sydney FC 2 (Brett Emerton 16p, Bruno Cazarine 63)
Westpac Stadium
Crowd: 8,411
Referee: Alan Milliner
Sydney FC: 1. Liam Reddy, 3. Jamie Coyne (23. Rhyan Grant ‘53), 4. Pascal Bosschaart, 5. Michael Beauchamp, 7. Brett Emerton, 9. Bruno Cazarine, 11. Dimi Petratos (18. Juho Makela ‘59), 12. Shannon Cole, 15. Terry McFlynn (c) (2. Sebastian Ryall ‘87), 17. Terry Antonis, 19. Mark Bridge.
Sub not used: 20. Ivan Necevski (gk).
Yellow cards: Jamie Coyne 25, Terry Antonis 67
Red cards: Nil
Wellington Phoenix: 20. Tony Warner, 2. Manny Muscat, 3. Tony Lochhead, 6. Tim Brown, 7. Leo Bertos, 9. Chris Greenacre, 11. Daniel, 17. Vince Lia, 18. Ben Sigmund, 21. Daniel Sanchez, 22. Andrew Durante (c).
Sub not used: 1. Mark Paston (gk), 8. Paul Ifill, 14. Mirjan Pavlovic, 24. Alex Smith.
Yellow cards: Vince Lia 16.
Red cards: Nil
