Sydney FC facing tough AFC Champions League assignment against Jeonbuk

Sydney FC’s spirits need lifting at the AFC Champions League after a week to forget.

Sydney FC’s Adam Le Fondre is keen to shine on the continental stage. Picture: Mark Evans/Getty Images

Sydney FC is desperate to finish a forgettable week on a high by toppling highly fancied South Korean side Jeonbuk in a tough AFC Champions League Group H assignment on Saturday night.

The Sky Blues are backing up from a devastating 3-2 loss to Adelaide United last Tuesday night that has left their hopes of playing finals football this season in tatters.

Worse was to follow on Thursday when the club was fined $5000 after being found to have breached A-League bench rules in three matches this season. They also suffered a blow to their goal difference as punishment.

Sydney striker Adam Le Fondre said spirits in the Sky Blues camp needed a lift.

🏟 | It’s not a patch on our new Allianz Stadium but it will be home for the next three weeks for our six @TheAFCCL Group H games.

They are good luck gifts in 🇻🇳 culture 🐓🌼🥮#SydneyIsSkyBlue#ACL2022pic.twitter.com/2DlQq7whw1

— Sydney FC (@SydneyFC) April 15, 2022

“We all know the ramifications of the result the other night,” Le Fondre said from Vietnam, where Sydney will play its six matches in a centralised Group H hub in 15 days.

“We’re all down about that but we’ve got to put that to the back of our minds and focus on the (Champions League) – that’s why we’re here.

“There are some big games coming up in that so we have to be at the top of our game for it.”

Sydney’s four-team group also includes Japanese club Yokohama F. Marinos and Vietnamese side Hoang Anh Gia Lai.

Marinos are coached by former Melbourne Victory mentor Kevin Muscat.

“We’ve been handed a really tough group and two of the best two teams in this side of the draw our in our group so, were under no illusions that it’s going to be easy,” English attacker Le Fondre said.

“It’s going to be really tough games, and me as a player is relishing that.

“It’s one of the big things I came (to the A-League) for in the first place, to play in this tournament and test yourself against some really good teams in Asia.”

Originally published as Sydney FC facing tough AFC Champions League assignment against Jeonbuk