A-League: Sydney FC and Perth Glory draw 0-0
Sydney FC collected another point as they push for the Premier’s Plate, on a day in which an unusual atmosphere hung over their match with Perth.
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Sydney FC coach Steve Corica has pleaded for the A-League season to be completed, after his side moved another step closer to sealing the Premier’s Plate.
A goalless draw with Perth Glory at Jubilee Stadium was a forgettable occasion, but the point gained means Sydney need just another eight – at most – to clinch top spot.
As the sporting world tries to work through the practicalities of the coronavirus pandemic, the Sky Blues are pushing for the season to go on in whatever circumstances are necessary, and no wonder when the Premier’s Plate is so close.
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It would be another major piece of silverware for Corica, in his second season as head coach, and he made clear that winning by default if the season had to be abandoned was not a preferred option.
“We want to finish the season and win it the right way,” Corica said. “We’ve got ourselves to a great position, and it wouldn’t be right to just cancel the season.
“Maybe it could be postponed and finished later but we’d like to win it fair and square. No-one knows what will happen – we don’t want it to stop but it’s up to the FFA in the end.”
STRANGE DAYS
A strange atmosphere for a football game covered the whole stadium on a strange day for the country, the very normal pursuit of watching a game coming in the most abnormal of circumstances.
Quite possibly Sydney FC’s last A-League game in front of spectators this season felt sombre from the start, a meagre crowd defying the theoretical fear of a virus and the real threat of getting soaked by the rain.
First against third in a grand final rematch should have been a highpoint, but at times it seemed hard for everyone, players and fans, to concentrate.
A crowd officially recorded at 4099 saw both sides miss chances to take all three points, but somehow parity felt appropriate.
NOT-SO-MAGIC MOMENTS
When the most skillful players on the park are the ones missing glorious chances, then a game is destined to end goalless.
Milos Ninkovic will look back on the save made at his feet by Liam Reddy having sprung the Perth offside trap, but at least the Sydney playmaker actually forced a response from the keeper.
Diego Castro couldn’t manage that when a one-two with Neil Kilkenny left him through on goal, only to produce a miskick that sent the ball sailing high and wide.
Likewise Bruno Fornaroli heading wide from near the post, and Buhagiar striding clear in the last moments but shooting tamely wide.
VAR IS WATCHING
When Luke Brattan thought he’d given Sydney the lead on 24 minutes, it offered a moment of optimism amid all the uncertainty. With Perth trapped in their own penalty area, Brattan stole possession from Neil Kilkenny and stabbed the ball home, immediately lifting his shirt to reveal the slogan Stay Strong Holli – a gesture of support to his sister in her battle with cancer.
Like the Grinch, though, the VAR had spotted the ball brushing Brattan’s arm; under FIFA’s hardline handball rules, it had to be disallowed, and duly was.
SYDNEY FC 0 PERTH GLORY 0 at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium. Referee: Adam Kersey Crowd: 4099