Why Ufuk Talay was right to leave Douglas Costa on the bench for Sydney

Sydney FC boss Ufuk Talay left Douglas Costa on the bench in the absorbing draw with Auckland. Socceroos great Robbie Slater and Marco Monteverde argue why it was the right decision in The Tackle.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 12: Sydney FC head coach Ufuk Talay looks on during the round 26 A-League Men match between Sydney FC and Auckland FC at Allianz Stadium, on April 12, 2025, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

Sydney FC boss Ufuk Talay left Douglas Costa on the bench in Saturday night’s absorbing draw with Auckland. Socceroos great Robbie Slater and Marco Monteverde argue why it was the right decision in The Tackle.

COSTA DECISION CORRECT

Sydney FC coach Ufuk Talay made the right call in resisting the temptation to bring on potential matchwinner Douglas Costa with his side’s game against A-League leaders Auckland FC in the balance at 2-2 in the second-half on Saturday at Allianz Stadium.

Talay could easily have thrown Costa on for the final 20 minutes after the Black Knights, who trailed 2-0, equalised with their second goal of the match.

After all, the Sky Blues are desperately fighting for an A-League finals berth.

However, the Sydneysiders have bigger fish to fry at the moment – namely securing a berth in the final of the lucrative AFC Champions League, in which success will secure the club millions of dollars.

The Sky Blues have plenty of work to do in Wednesday night’s semi-final, second-leg clash against Lion City Sailors at Allianz Stadium after a disappointing 2-0 first-leg loss in Singapore last week.

They therefore need Brazilian star Costa firing on all cylinders.

The 34-year-old former Juventus and Bayern Munich star had not only played a full match in Singapore last Wednesday night, but also a significant chunk of an A-League game a few days earlier in Sydney’s 3-2 win over Adelaide.

While Sky Blues had to settle for a 2-2 draw against Auckland, and were disappointed after giving up a two-goal lead, securing a point against the competition’s first-placed team was nothing to sneeze at.

Talay told The Tackle that he had no regrets about keeping Costa wrapped in cotton wool for the entirety of Saturday night’s match.

“Douglas understood the decision,” Talay said.

“He’s been around a long time and played in plenty of important games in his career, and knows the importance of Wednesday night’s for the club.”

Adrian Segecic made the most of his start for Sydney FC. Photo: Matt King/Getty Images.

Talay was confident his side could bounce back and progress to the final, despite Lion City Sailors expected to defend for their lives in attempting to protect their two-goal lead.

The Sydney coach was also hopeful of having the services of Polish striker Patryk Klimala, who wasn’t part of Sydney’s squad on Saturday night after hurting his back in a gym session on Friday.

In the absence of Costa and Klimala, young gun Adrian Segecic made the most of a rare starting opportunity by scoring two cracking goals against Auckland FC.

Off-contract at the end of the season, 20-year-old Segecic is understood to have attracted overseas interest, but perhaps he would be better off staying in the A-League for another season and becoming a regular starter, either at Sydney or elsewhere.

AWFUL ADELAIDE

Adelaide United’s players let down their departing coach Carl Veart in a huge way on Saturday with their pitiful performance against Perth Glory, whose current team is among the worst in A-League history.

Here was the perfect chance for the Reds players to prove that they weren’t happy about Veart being told by the club last week that his services would not be required by producing a commanding performance.

It was also an opportunity for Adelaide to get back into the top-six after a poor run of results.

Adelaide United coach Carl Veart. Photo: Getty Images.

However, the Reds capitulated, losing 4-1 in an embarrassing display at HBF Park.

Veart summed up the woeful performance succinctly after the match.

“Our effort and intent when we turned the ball over was non-existent for most of the night,” he said.

“You can’t win football matches unless you work hard when you don’t have the ball.”

While the Reds remain in contention to play finals football this season, on the basis of Saturday night’s performance, you can forget about them.

JETS STILL SET TO LAND MILLIGAN

Suggestions that former Socceroos captain Mark Milligan was having second thoughts about accepting an offer to coach Newcastle next season now that the Adelaide job is available seem to be wide of the mark.

The Tackle has been informed by sources close to the Jets that Milligan will be appointed coach of Newcastle, with an official announcement perhaps coming as early as this week.

Milligan is in Adelaide at the moment with his family after quitting his short-lived role as assistant coach of the Malaysian national team.

It was only in January that 39-year-old Milligan left his role as Adelaide assistant coach to join Malaysia’s coaching staff.

His loss has hurt the Reds, and with his wife hailing from Adelaide, Milligan was among those in the sights of Reds officials to take over from the departing Carl Veart.

However, Milligan remains committed to the Jets, whose current coach Rob Stanton will leave Newcastle at the end of the season.

Milligan wasn’t the only coach the Jets considered, with the club having also spoken to current Roar coach Ruben Zadkovich ­and current Australian under-23 coach Tony Vidmar.

South Australian Vidmar’s name has also popped up in conversations about the soon-to-be vacated Adelaide job.

However, current Reds assistant, 60-year-old Brazilian Airton Andrioli, remains the favourite to take over from Veart.

Team of the week

(4-1-2-3): Lawrence Thomas (Western Sydney Wanderers); Hiroki Sakai (Auckland FC), Aleksandar Susnjar (Newcastle Jets), German Ferreyra (Melbourne City), Alex Gersbach (Western Sydney Wanderers); Angus Thurgate (Western United); Eli Adams (Newcastle Jets), Jaylan Pearman (Perth Glory); Zac Sapsford (Western Sydney Wanderers), Nikos Vergos (Melbourne Victory), Adrian Segecic (Sydney FC). Coach: Alen Stajcic (Western Sydney Wanderers).

Player of the week: Adrian Segecic (Sydney FC)

Originally published as Why Ufuk Talay was right to leave Douglas Costa on the bench for Sydney