Adam Bailey
DeanoHarmoSydney FC - Asian Champions
May 22nd 2007 09:08
Category: No Category
A great sporting story that's been going on recently has been the revival of Sydney FC in the Asian Champions League.
During the second A-League season, the club lurched from one disaster to another. Littbarski walked, Dwight Yorke walked, financial rumours circulated, crowds dropped off, Carbone came got injured and walked, Butcher was constantly under speculation, fans were caught up in an ugly incident in Melbourne, the club lost 3 points for salary cap breaches. In the end, it was a miracle the club made the top 4 at all; but they were unable to defend the first A-League title.
Sydney FC then went home to take on title favourites, Japanese powerhouse Urawa Red Diamonds. But playing positive football, Sydney looked set to cause the boilover of the tournament when they led 2-0 after 20 minutes. Sadly they weren't able to maintain that form over the remainder of the match, with the Japanese side getting a goal back before half-time and an equaliser on the hour. In the end, Sydney hung on for dear life to scramble a 2-2 draw.
Travelling to Indonesia to take on Persik Kediri was a tough experience. It was hot and wet - very wet. As the rain continued to fall, and the ground became covered in water, the game had to be postponed to the next day. By then the puddles had cleared, but the heat and humidity were oppressive. Unable to handle the conditions, Sydney crashed to a 2-1 defeat in a game they were hoping to win.
The return game was a happier affair. Played at Parramatta Stadium on Anzac Day, it was scoreless in the first half despite several scoring chances for the locals. But once the deadlock was broken after half-time, there was no stopping Sydney FC; who powered home to a 3-0 victory. The last goal by Steven Corica in injury time was a classic.
Back at the Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney FC missed a golden opportunity to go to the top of the group when they were held to a 0-0 draw against Shanghai. The home side had an opportunity to go to the lead in the first half, but blew it when Ufuk Talay missed a penalty. From there, despite dominating possession, there was no way through the Shanghai defence. The match turned to farce with some disgusting Shanghai diving, with players repeatedly being stretchered off the field only to return seconds later - unsportsmanlike cheating behaviour.
And so it's come to the last group stage match, with Sydney FC travelling to Japan for the rematch with Urawa Red Diamonds. Sydney will need a win to go through to the knockout stage; and it's going to be a tough ask in tricky conditions in front of 65,000 fanatical Japanese supporters. But we live in hope.
Looking forward to the match. Unfortunately it won't get much media attention in Sydney because it's on at the same time as the NRL State of Origin. But I'll be giving the Origin a miss to watch the football - and hopefully they'll be plenty of others who will be doing the same.
Go Sydney FC!!!!!
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