A-League grand final: Sydney FC want to inflict pain on their way to fifth title
An endless stream of criticism has woken a sleeping giant, with Sydney FC planning to inflict pain on Melbourne City in Sunday’s grand final to prove a point to their doubters.
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Stung by criticism of their barren run leading into the A-League finals, premiers Sydney plan to inflict pain on Melbourne City in Sunday’s grand final to prove a point to their doubters.
Sydney entered the finals on the back of a five-game winless streak, raising doubts about the defending champions’ ability to lift for the knock-out matches before they turned on the afterburners with a ruthless first half display in their 2-0 semi-final demolition of Perth Glory.
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Star attacking duo Milos Ninkovic and Adam le Fondre said such a performance was never in doubt and that endless criticism and that talk Sydney had “forgotten to play football” had infuriated the squad.
Needless to say, it’s lit a fire under Steve Corica’s men as they search for a record fifth A-League title on Sunday night.
“Everyone started talking that we are not good enough anymore - we forgot to play football,” Ninkovic said on Thursday.
“That was annoying for everyone - the club, the players, the coaching staff.
“We want to prove (a point), yes.”
Sydney have openly admitted they took the foot off the gas after claiming the Premiers’ Plate so early on, but Ninkovic took it a step further on Thursday – declaring that once switched on “no one can beat us”.
“I need to be honest – we were not switched on (during the winless streak). We made so many mistakes,” he said.
“But it’s hard to play when you’ve won the Premiers’ Plate five games (to go). I think (against Perth) everyone was switched on and when we all switch on no one can beat us.”
Le Fondre, who formed an ‘irresistible’ attacking force with Ninkovic before the shutdown, agreed.
“That’s what it is in football, everything has a bit of ‘what have you done for me lately’,” he told News Corp.
“It’s easy to forget what we did at the start of the season as a team, and individually the front four before the break were outstanding and irresistible.
“That’s why we were at the top of the league by a large margin. Obviously we’ve come back and everyone’s piled in because we haven’t got the results we’ve wanted.”
Ninkovic also took aim at the A-League finals format, arguing there’s not enough reward for regular season dominance once the competition turns into a knockout Battle Royale.
The 35-year-old midfield maestro believes the European first-past-the-post system, which Sydney won in a canter this season, would be fairer – or failing that, a second chance for the teams that finish first and second.
Ninkovic points to Sydney FC’s 2018 heartbreak when they finished 17 points clear atop the league, only to be bounced in the semi-finals by Melbourne Victory following a stunning extra-time goal to Terry Antonis.
“I felt like I was nothing. That’s why I think it’s not (a) fair (system),” Ninkovic said.
“Just be like in Europe, whoever finishes first is the champion and that’s it. That team was the better team all year.
“For me that’s the simple one and the best one. Even (a system which gives) two chances for the two first places, is not a bad idea.
“To have only one chance… in football, anything can happen in one game.”
Switched-on Sydney roar back to life to reach decider
- Val Migliaccio
Sydney FC boss Steve Corica masterminded a return to pre-COVID-19 form to rightfully claim dynasty status at Bankwest Stadium on Wednesday night.
Sydney arrested a five-game winless streak by beating Perth Glory 2-0 in a knockout semi-final and now face a grand final showdown with Melbourne City on Sunday.
Sydney is now aiming for an Australian record fifth championship in its sixth grand final after already winning a record fourth A-League premiership.
They led 2-0 after just 28 minutes after a series of defensive blunders.
Glory wilted under the extreme pressure of the Sky Blues after City beat Western United 2-0 in the knockout curtain raiser.
Milos Ninkovic reinstalled belief in the 24th minute when he side-footed the opening goal after Paulo Retre’s pass inside the box ricocheted off the shins of Glory defender Tarek Elrich and into the path of the exquisite playmaker.
Liam Reddy, who kept Glory in the game before the first goal with a spectacular save, was made to pay dearly four minutes later.
Dwelling on the ball from an Elrich back pass, Reddy was caught unaware when Sydney striker Adam Le Fondre pounced on the blindside of the gloveman before sliding the ball over the line.
Sydney’s switched-on mentality was evident when Kosta Barbarouses was denied by the brilliance of a Reddy reflex save from six metres when the clash was just four minutes old.
They continued to test Glory’s resilience and nine minutes later Anthony Caceres watched in disbelief when his goal-bound shot was brilliantly blocked by the legs of Juande.
However Glory did get some joy when Bruno Fornaroli was allowed to become involved as the Uruguayan marksman used all of his football smarts to ensure Perth could escape some pressure.
Glory coach Tony Popovic looked to reset at the break, sacrificing Osama Malik for Jacob Tratt as Perth searched for options to peg back the deficit.
Glory’s Joel Chianese botched a golden chance to score just after the break but blasted his shot wide after breaking Sydney’s defensive line.
Fornaroli rocking both uprights in the 76th minute was an ominous warning before Sydney resettled into its game winning rhythm of defending its two-goal lead.
Fornaroli continued to wreak havoc near Sydney’s defending box but he couldn’t find a way past the well structured Sky Blues defence.
Sydney FC 2 (Milos Ninkovic 24m, Adam Le Fondre 28m) Perth Glory 0 at Bankwest Stadium - Referee: Alex King