Ufuk Talay has praised his side following their valiant point against an unbeaten Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park.
For the opening 30 minutes of the contest, the Sky Blues took it to the league leaders and were probably the better side however one controversial decision overshadowed what was a thoroughly entertaining affair between some of the competition’s best teams.
Having to adjust in the second half to counter the deadly Victory attack, the Head Coach was impressed with his side’s ability to hold out for a point.
“I’m very proud of the group with the energy and effort that they put in, especially in the second half.
“Very proud of the group, proud of the energy and effort that they put in to walk away with points with ten men against a good opposition away from home,” he said.
The talking point of the match of course was the sending off of Pat Wood.
Prior to this, both teams were going toe to toe and this decision to recommend an on-field review by VAR left many fans of the general game baffled and puzzled.
Ufuk Talay echoed these comments as he saw his side capable of getting something from the match.
“The league is trying to grow a brand and a product and for 35 minutes that was a great spectacle with 11 men each on the park.
“In my opinion, I think it was a poor call from VAR and when you go to look at the screen it means you are trying to find something and when you slow it down it probably looks worse than what it is,” Talay said.
“The intent is for Woody to bring down the ball and he doesn’t see the player and I think that decision has ruined the game.
“There is contact but both legs are high and he doesn’t see Adama [Traore] as he is looking at the ball.
“This is a big game of great occasions that everyone has been waiting for and for 35 minutes both teams played a very good game to entertain the fans.”
In the second half, following a first half goal for Jordan Courtney-Perkins, Sydney FC absorbed plenty of pressure and were defensively solid however, Ufuk Talay wants his team to get on the front foot and you can expect them to do the same next weekend against Western United in Tasmania.
“That [low block] is not the way that we want to play. We want to play high intensity pressing and I thought we did that well in the first 35 minutes.
“Jordan [Courtney-Perkins] will grow the more that he plays and I thought he was good last week and tonight was excellent especially coming up against Daniel Arzani who is very good one-on-one.
“I thought that especially in the second half with ten men the team was very valiant in defending their goal,” Talay concluded.
The Sky Blues will regroup this week before heading to Hobart to take on Western United on Saturday afternoon.
