Sydney FC looking ahead not back for Big Blue with Victory

It’s the sight that haunts Sydney FC, and Melbourne Victory and their fans are not about to let them forget it.

Melbourne midfielder Terry Antonis celebrates after scoring the winner for Victory against Sydney FC last season at Allianz Stadium. Picture: AAP

It’s the sight that haunts Sydney FC — and Melbourne Victory and their fans are not about to let them forget .

The video clip has been posted on social media by Victory and their fans a number of times this week as a reminder of what happened the last time the two teams met, seven months ago.

Just minutes to go in the grand final qualifier, and with the match headed for a penalty shoot-out, Terry Antonis collects the ball near halfway line.

The Victory midfielder, whose own goal in the dying seconds of normal time had sent the game into extra time, is surrounded by three Sydney players, but somehow squeezes his way clear.

Sydney midfielder Brandon O’Neill gives chase in forlorn hope but Antonis has only redemption on his mind as he races into the penalty area before slotting the ball home for the winner — rounding off one of the great games in A-League history.

It will be 205 days since that moment when the two teams meet again, this time in a round-five contest at Jubilee Oval on Sunday. Antonis and O’Neill will be centre stage in what promises to be another thrilling chapter in the Big Blue.

If O’Neill is still hurting, he wasn’t showing it yesterday when he faced the media. There was no talk of revenge, just admiration for Antonis, who once plied his trade with the Sky Blues before moving overseas then returning to the national competition by joining Victory.

“Not really,” O’Neill said when asked about payback.

“Terry is a good lad. I know him and he is a good bloke. When you cross that white line, no matter who you play against, you go out intent to make sure you beat them and win the game.

“Afterwards you smile, shake hands and say ‘well done’ and move on. That’s the plan (for Sunday). Terry is a good footballer and is doing very well and I wish him nothing but the best. Let’s see how we go.”

Sydney will go into this match unbeaten this season, with two wins and two draws, while Victory, after a slow start where they lost their first two games, are back on track with successive wins and starting to look the goods.

The Big Blue ranks as one of the premier matches of the A-League calendar but, while O’Neill acknowledges its standing, he admits it doesn’t match the Sydney derby against Western Sydney: “This game is always great to play in … there’s atmosphere, it’s cut-throat and it means a little bit more than just a win.

“But, no, it is not as big as the derby. For Sydney the derby is the biggest game but Melbourne runs a very close second.

“The rivalry is still there and the game is similar to the derby — high tempo, a lot of screaming and shouting and it’s great fun.

“If you are a player you want to play in these games. I enjoy every minute and the lads do as well.”

According to O’Neill, the week off for the international break has been a blessing for the Sky Blues and, in particular, some of their older players, like Milos Ninkovic, Alex Wilkinson and Alex Brosque. They had to endure a tough schedule with an FFA Cup final in the middle of a three-game sequence in six days.

The break came at a good time, though O’Neill said he did not mind the gruelling workload.

“Maybe for a few of the older lads, their legs were a bit hanging on. It came at a good time for the team, to put their feet up and make sure they were recovering and ready for this Sunday,” the midfielder said.

“But I’d rather play games three and four days between each other rather than train. I love it.

“There’s nothing like playing the game, recovering, getting up for another, then playing.

“But I understand some players needed to relax, recover, put their feet up and be at best for this weekend. And they have done so.”