Jubilee Stadium pitch under fire as Sydney FC tries to prepare the patchy surface in time for ACL

Sydney FC are due to kick off their ACL campaign at Jubilee Stadium in 10 days, but their biggest challenge doesn’t involve breaking down their opponent’s defence.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA — FEBRUARY 16: Sam Kerr of the Glory looks dejected after the W-League Grand Final match between Sydney FC and Perth Glory at Netsrata Jubilee Oval on February 16, 2019 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

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Sydney FC bosses will inspect Jubilee Stadium’s pitch today to ascertain its suitability for hosting the club’s upcoming Asian Champions League fixtures.

The Sky Blues have enlisted the help of an independent pitch consultant with specific football expertise to examine the Kogarah surface, one so badly deteriorated that both an NRL trial and the Matildas’ Cup of Nations opener were forced to relocate.

Sydney are due to kick off their ACL campaign at Jubilee against South Korean outfit Ulsan Hyundai in 10 days, but now face a race against time to adequately prepare one of their temporary home grounds.

Jubilee Oval was used for the W-League grand final, where Sydney FC beat Perth Glory. Picture: Getty

The hope is that the consultant, the same used to assess Brookvale Oval’s below-par surface last week before opting to move this Friday's A-League clash against Adelaide to Leichhardt Oval, can work with Jubilee’s groundsmen to ensure a firm and fast field in time for the March 6 ACL fixture.

If not, Sydney would have to consider moving that tie, and even in the worst case their other two home group games against Shanghai SIPG on April 10 and Kawasaki Frontale on May 21 to ANZ Stadium.

Chief executive Danny Townsend said Jubilee had been “like carpet” in the club’s first few of their seven games held there this season before it declined.

“The guys at Kogarah are excellent,” Townsend said.

“The pitch they prepared for us for the first probably five home games there was as good as any we’ve ever played on.

“But when the rye grass dried out during those couple of weeks of extreme heat it’s left it patchy, and there are things you need to do to remediate against that that are unique to football.”

Sydney FC have played several games already at Jubilee Oval this season, without any trouble. Picture: AAP

It comes a couple of days after Football Federation Australia made the call to move the Matildas’ opening Cup of Nations tie with New Zealand on Thursday night to Leichhardt Oval due to pitch safety concerns at Jubilee.

The governing body is in the process of refunding those tickets already sold and has discounted all tickets for the inaugural tournament’s double-header also featuring an earlier clash between Argentina and South Korea.

“We have been monitoring the quality of the pitch at Kogarah and unfortunately we are not satisfied that it will meet the standard expected for international football by Thursday,” FFA chief executive David Gallop said.

“We have a responsibility to players and fans that they will be able to view high-quality football.”

Coach Ante Milicic (C) oversees Matildas training — their opening match will now be at Leichhardt Oval. Picture: AAP

Last week St George Illawarra and Newcastle were also forced to shift Saturday’s NRL trial match to Wollongong’s WIN Stadium due to safety concerns.

That was a few days after Perth Glory coach Bobby Despotovski criticised Jubilee’s patchy, uneven state following his side’s W-League grand-final loss to Sydney FC.