Sydney FC is determined to turn around a 2-0 deficit against Lion City Sailors after a surprising loss in the first leg of the AFC Champions League Two semifinals last week. Buoyed by that faith, Sydney are eager to write their own history and make a continental splash. The return fixture will be at Allianz Stadium on Wednesday.
That’s because Sydney dictated the tempo and controlled the ball for a staggering 69% of the first leg. They struggled to convert that possession into scoring opportunities, notching only two shots on goal. This deficiency of finishing has propelled fears, but the squad still feels positive about their prospects to comeback on the deficit. Coach Ufuk Talay recognizes the importance of making their mark in this prestigious tournament, emphasizing the club’s successful history with five A-League championships and four premierships.
“We’ve done it several times this year, where we had our backs against the wall and it looked like we had no way out and somehow we would come up with something which is testament to the character of the group, and the belief that we have in what we’re doing and in the game plan,” said midfielder Anthony Cáceres.
Cáceres highlighted the quality of the goals that Lion City Sailors scored. Perhaps most importantly though, he flagged up just how special the first of those goals was. “They were quality goals. Especially the first one, I was like, from that far you don’t really see those go in,” he said.
As Sydney prepares for the crucial second leg, the team understands they need to score at least two goals to level the aggregate score to 2-2. Talay made it clear they can’t go all-out attacking for this game. “There’s not the mindset that we’re going to go all out, all guns blazing,” he stated, highlighting the need for a balanced approach that combines defense with effective opportunities to score.
The match was Sydney’s first semifinal in the ACL. They are no doubt intent to follow their dream of making it to their first Asian final. The players all know what an enormous challenge lies in wait, though they are encouraged by their play this season.
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