This Thursday night, Ufuk Talay’s side will take on Eastern SC from Hong Kong in Matchday 5 of the AFC Champions League Two.
They are currently sitting second on six points behind Sanfrecce Hiroshima on twelve and three clear of FC Kaya and Eastern SC.
They met on matchday one where fans got their first look at the exciting side that Ufuk Talay had built and heading into the reverse fixture, the Head Coach believes that it won’t be as straightforward as many think.
“The first match was early doors for both teams and it was before our season started and two matches into their season so I am expecting a different challenge this time around.
“We know it’s going to be a difficult task away from home but I still believe we have the quality to get the desired outcome,” Talay said.
“We always set up the team to win the game, we don’t set it up not to lose.”
Adrian Segecic has nailed down a starting spot in the side and performed brilliantly on Saturday in the Sydney Derby.
Heading into this clash, he knows that the travel and surface can pose it’s dangers.
“Being away from home with the travel and having played only a few days ago is a challenge but I think the boys are fit and ready.
“We are expecting them to come at us because they need to get the win but we’re going to play the way that we always play,” Segecic said.
“We are going to give everything that we can for the three points.”
Saturday’s Sydney Derby was a tense affair and had plenty of fire in what was one of the best in recent memory.
And prior to this clash, Talay revealed the latest on his Brazilian marquee.
“The boys are in decent condition and after a very important game on Saturday and their confidence is high.
“We got 45 minutes out of Douglas [Costa] in our last match and he has been injured for a while so we believed it wasn’t the best thing for him to travel all this way and play a game with a short turnaround.
“It was more important for us that he stayed home to do the work that is required so that we can have him available at least for our next ACL game or next league match,” Talay concluded.
Match Details
Eastern SC v Sydney FC
AFC Champions League Two MD5
Thursday 28 September 2024
Mong Kok Stadium, Hong Kong
Kick Off: 9:00pm AEDT (6:00pm Local)
Broadcast Live: 10Play
