Sydney FC intent on grounding Jets after disappointment of AFC Champions League Two exit

The pressure is back on Sydney FC in the battle for an A-League finals berth after Adelaide United’s win over Wellington Phoenix.

Sydney FC skipper Rhyan Grant says the Sky Blues can ill-afford to dwell on the disappointment of their AFC Champions League Two exit if they are secure an A-League top-six berth.

Adelaide United’s 3-2 win over Wellington Phoenix on Friday night has resulted in Sydney falling to seventh place on the A-League ladder.

However, the Sky Blues’ finals destiny remains in their own hands. If they win their remaining three games of the regular season – starting with Sunday’s clash against Newcastle at Allianz Stadium – they will secure a spot in the top-six.

“We’ve got three very important games that are pretty much must-win,” Grant said.

Because of that, the veteran defender said the Sky Blues had no choice but to snap out of their low mood following their failure to reach the Champions League Two final.

Sydney beat Singapore outfit Lion City Sailors 1-0 last Wednesday night but lost the semi-final 2-1 on aggregate after a 2-0 first-leg loss a week earlier.

Lion City Sailors players celebrate after ending Sydney FC’s bid to reach the final of the AFC Champions League Two competition. Picture: David Gray / AFP

“You’ve got to let everyone have their few days to deal with it ... but we’re all professional,” Grant said.

“It was a big disappointment, but it’s a quick turnaround. All the boys will be right to go.

“We’re going to have to make sure we’re up and about. We’re at home again too, which is obviously in our favour, so we’ll use everything we can to get the three points because it’s pretty vital at the moment.”

A Sydney win on Sunday would also end the ninth-placed Jets’ slim hopes of playing finals football this season.

Newcastle kept alive its unlikely bid finish in the top-six with a 6-0 thrashing of Central Coast Mariners at McDonald Jones Stadium last Saturday.

Anthony Caceres with a calm and composed volley late in the game when we last met Newy 👌👌

Tomorrow we go again at Allianz Stadium 💪#WeAreSydneypic.twitter.com/wVOkXnGhkb

— Sydney FC (@SydneyFC) April 19, 2025

It was a performance that impressed Sydney coach Ufuk Talay.

“They’re a young side, they’ve got high energy, they’ve got some good players that can play in between the lines, and they can definitely score goals,” Talay said.

“For us, we’re playing at home, we need to dictate the terms of what we do when we have the ball and when we don’t have the ball. We need to focus on what we need to do.”

In Sunday’s other A-League match, eighth-placed Macarthur FC can maintain its push for a top-six spot with a win over the Mariners in Gosford.

The Bulls, who will be fresh after having a bye last weekend, are four points behind sixth-placed Adelaide, but have played one game less than the Reds.

Central Coast’s hopes of a third successive championship are well and truly over after winning five of its 24 A-League matches this season.

Originally published as Sydney FC intent on grounding Jets after disappointment of AFC Champions League Two exit