Sydney FC Off The Mark In The AFC Champions League

Sydney FC 0 drew with Ulsan Hyundai FC 0

Sydney FC have secured their first point of the 2019 AFC Champions League with a dominating draw in blustery conditions against Ulsan Hyundai FC, at Jubilee Stadium tonight.

Moments That Mattered:

1. Le Fondre Chance 4’ – Some fancy footwork from the A-League’s leading goalscorer down the right flank gets him one-on-one with the keeper, but his angled shot is blocked and out for a corner.
2. Reza and Alfie Combine 28’ – Our in-form strike partnership of Le Fondre and Reza get the crowd on their feet with some fantastic passing going forward, and a chipped shot from the Englishman from the edge of the box lands just wide.
3. Ninkovic Miss 37’ – Sydney FC continued to dominate possession late into the first half, and a chance came inside the box for Ninkovic who hit it low and wide of the goalpost to keep scores level.
4. Caceres Chance 50’ – Caceres hits a stinging effort from the edge of the box that’s palmed away by the Ulsan keeper.

Sydney FC have drawn 0-0 with Ulsan Hyundai FC in the opening match of their AFC Champions League campaign, but despite dominating the game for large parts they were unable to find the net.

The Ghoochannejhad-Le Fondre partnership continued to shine in the opening half and the latter was at his very best, relentlessly pushing forward and creating two goalscoring opportunities for himself as a result.

Milos Ninkovic also put a shot wide with less than ten minutes before the break, as the Sky Blues entered half time in positive fashion.

It was more of the same in the second half, with Sydney FC continuing to control possession and looking the more likely of the two sides to come away with a goal.

It proved to be a game of inches with the home side camped in the Korean’s half, thanks in part to strong winds, but they were unable to find that finish touch which would have given them an impressive win.  

Sydney FC will travel away to play their second match of the group stages against Kawasaki Frontale next Wednesday night, before returning home for a Hyundai A-League clash against Melbourne City at Leichhardt Oval on March 17.

What They Said:

Head Coach Steve Corica: “In the end it was probably two points that got away, but I thought the performance was very strong and defensively we were very strong. I think they only had the one shot on target and other than that we pretty much covered all bases. With the ball I thought it was one of our best performances and the only thing lacking was a goal.

“I thought we were very dominant and the best team out there today. They were just happy with the draw and we put them under pressure.  With that wind they couldn’t really get out.

“In that final third we couldn’t grab the goal but I thought we were outstanding tonight.

“We were compact at the start but we had a plan and they did that very well tonight. With that wind in the second half against their keeper they couldn’t get out, so we had to press and the more we did that, the better it was for us.”

“I thought we did Australia proud tonight.”

Socceroo Rhyan Grant: “The wind was a bit of a punish at times. It was one of those ones you had to put up with.

“The wind was in our favour in the second half and we put them under the pump. We were unlucky not to capitalise on a few of their mistakes I thought.

“I thought we did well tonight and when there were certain triggers to put them under the pump we did that, and showed that as an A-League team we can hang with the best of them.

“The Cove was certainly there tonight because we could hear them.”

Sydney FC: 1. Andrew REDMAYNE (GK), 3. Ben WARLAND, 4. Alex WILKINSON ©, 6. Josh BRILLANTE, 7. Michael ZULLO, 9. Adam LE FONDRE, 10. Milos NINKOVIC, 13. Brandon O’NEILL, 16. Reza GHOOCHANNEJHAD (14. Alex BROSQUE 67’), 17. Anthony CACERES (31. Luke IVANOVIC 78’), 23. Rhyan GRANT.

SUBS NOT USED: 2. Aaron CALVER, 8. Paulo RETRE, 18. Jacob TRATT, 20. Alex CISAK (GK), 24. Cam DEVLIN.

Yellow Cards: Zullo 76’

Red Cards: None.

Ulsan Hyundai FC: 7. Kim INSUNG (15. Lee DONG GYEONG 90’), 9. Gleidonor FIGUEIREDO PINTO, 10. Sin JIN HO (6. Jeong JAE YONG 75’), 13. Lee MYUNG JAE, 14. Kim BOKYUNG, 19. Park YONGWOO ©, 20. Yun YOUNGSUN, 21. Oh SEUNGHOON (GK), 23. Kim TAE HWAN, 38. Davy BULTHUIS, 42. Mikel MORGENSTAR DISKERUD (22. Jeong DONGHO 59’).

SUBS NOT USED: 1. Jo SUHUK ©, 4. Kang MINSOO, 29. Kim SUAN, 33. Park JOO HO.

Yellow Cards: None.

Red Cards: None.

Ground: Jubilee Stadium

Attendance: 4,039

Referee: Khamis Mohamed Al-Kuwari