Summary
Sydney FC 0 drew. Shanghai Shenhua FC 0
Sydney FC has been knocked out of the AFC Champions League following a dominant display in a 0-0 draw at home.
Knowing only a win and a result for Kashima Antlers in the other group game was required to progress, the Sky Blues pressed hard, accumulating 22 shots on goal across the 90 minutes.
The best chance of the night fell to Bobô early in the contest with his one-on-one effort being tipped wide of the goal by the Shanghai keeper.
However, it wasn’t to be as defensive minded Shanghai held strong with Kashima also falling to Suwon.
Arnie’s men will refresh and await their semi-final opponent to be determined where they will welcome them at ‘The Fortress’ on Saturday 28th of April.
What They Said
Graham Arnold
“The stats showed 22 shots at goal to 0. We had enough chances to win three or four matches but that’s the way it goes sometimes.
“It’s been a great experience playing in the Asian Champions League, we’ve learnt some lessons and we’ll dust ourselves off in preparation for rounds 28 and 29.
“Proud of the effort and if there’s one game you had to have a result like this, it’s probably good tonight considering Suwon won in Kashima.
“It’s called Champions League for a reason; it’s the champions sides in Asia. The standard is increasing rapidly.
“I think the Shanghai goalkeeper had the game of his career tonight. I thought tonight there was only one team with good quality and that was us.”
Adrian Mierzejewski
“I think if we play four or five more hours, the game would still be 0-0.
“It’s been a good experience playing Asian Champions League but it’s something extra and a present from last season. Our main focus is the [A-League] Championship.”
Key Moments
8’ ONE ON ONE CHANCE FOR BOBÔ – Mierzejewski cuts midfield and defence with a beautiful pass to Bobô but the forwards effort is pushed wide to deny the Sky Blues the lead.
17’ INCHES WIDE MIERZEJEWSKI – A ball from Zullo is only half dealt with by the Shanghai defence before falling to Adrian whose volleyed strike narrowly misses the target.
27’ AGONISINGLY CLOSE WILKSHIRE – Ball is worked from left to right by Bobô to Adrian to finally find the feet of an advancing Wilkshire who puts his effort just wide of the left-hand post.
56’ HEADER NINKOVIC – Ball is looped over the top of the Shanghai defence for Wilkshire who cuts the ball back in the air to find the Serbian but he can’t manage to keep the ball down under pressure.
64’ LONG RANGE EFFORT BRILLANTE – After several chances to clear for the visitors, the ball finds the way of Brillante who unleashes from 20 yards out but his effort is wide.
65’ ALMOST CREEPS IN MIERZEJEWSKI – Despite being pulled back by a Shanghai defender, Adrian manages to get off a chipped effort from just inside the box that narrowly missed the right-hand upright.
77’ THUMPING HEADER CARNEY – Mierzejewski drives a fantastic ball with the outside of his foot to find Carney but the substitute can’t direct the powerful header on target.
80’ ROCKET VOLLEY MIERZEJEWSKI – Ball is whipped into the back post to find Adrian with the Pole sweetly hitting it towards goal but the Shanghai keeper just does enough to thwart the danger.
Team News
Sydney FC 0 drew. Shanghai Shenhua FC 0
Ground: Sydney Football Stadium
Attendance: 9,851
Referee: Mohanad Qasim Eesee Sarray
Sydney FC: 1. Andrew REDMAYNE (gk), 3. Ben WARLAND, 4. Alex WILKINSON, 6. Joshua BRILLANTE (18. Matt SIMON 79’), 7. Michael ZULLO, 9. BOBÔ, 10. Milos NINKOVIC (17. David CARNEY 73’), 11. Adrian MIERZEJEWSKI, 13. Brandon O’NEILL, 14. Alex BROSQUE, 26. Luke WILKSHIRE (8. Paulo RETRE 81’)
Subs Not Used: 20. Alex CISAK (gk), 2. Aaron CALVER, 16. Anthony KALIK, 19. Christopher ZUVELA.
Yellow Cards: 14. Alex BROSQUE 87’, 3. Ben WARLAND 90+1’
Red Cards: None.
Shanghai Shenhua FC: 22. Qiu SHENGJIONG (gk), 8. Zhang LU, 10. GIO (20. Wang YUN 45’), 14. Sun KAI, 15. Zhu JIANRONG (7. Mao JIANQING 5’), 22. Qiu SHENGJIONG, 25. Wang LIN, 30. Tao JIN, 35. Lyu PIN (31. Wang WEI 55’), 36. Liu RUOFAN, 37. Sun SHILIN.
Subs Not Used: 12. Chen ZHAO (gk), 3. Li JIANBIN, 39. Cong ZHEN.
Yellow Cards: 8. Zhang LU 22’, 10. GIO 45’, 37. Sun SHILIN 90’, 14. Sun KAI 90+1’
Red Cards: None.
