Sydney FC need to be more ruthless, says Milos Ninkovic

Sydney FC’s Milos Ninkovic has urged his teammates to be more ruthless in front of goal with the A-League finals on the horizon.

Sydney FC’s Milos Ninkovic. The Sky Blues have not scored a goal in their last 270 minutes of football. Picture: Getty Images

Milos Ninkovic has urged his teammates to be more ruthless in front of goal as damning statistics point to the need for Sydney FC to rediscover their scoring mojo leading up to May’s A-League playoffs.

On the verge of surrendering their Premiers Plate to Perth Glory and with Melbourne Victory now breathing down their neck in the chase for second spot, the Sky Blues have struggled to get the ball in the back of the net in their past three games in the league and the Asian Champions League, going goalless in their last 270 minutes of football.

While the 2-0 loss to Melbourne City at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday was the first time Sydney have not scored in the A-League this season, it points to a situation that is starting to become something of a concern for coach Steve Corica.

Ninkovic admits as much.

“It is the same problem like before, we create some chances but unfortunately we can’t score,” Ninkovic said.

“It has happened from the start of the season, we have trouble scoring more than two goals (in a game).

“If you look at the games, how we play, we did well, especially against Melbourne City in the first half. We kept the ball and created chances but can’t score.

“We probably need to relax and be more ruthless in front of goal.

“It is not the coach’s fault.

“If you look at the last two years, every shot on goal was basically a goal. But it happens in football. Sometimes it happens where the strikers can’t score for many games.”

Corica is happy with the way the team have been playing but is also acutely aware they need to stop being wasteful in front of goal. It was instructive that the Sky Blues did not force City goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic into making a single save in 90 minutes.

“We have been creating a lot of chances in our games but haven’t taken real advantage,” Corica said.

“Maybe the changes we had to make when Trent (Buhagiar) was ruled out for the season has had an impact.

“We have brought in Reza (Ghoochannejhad), who is a quality player and we want him to score more goals and he will.

“Of course we need more goals. Against City we didn’t even hit the target.”

The figures show just how much Sydney have struggled of late.

In the first 11 games of the season they scored 23 goals, but have managed just 13 in their past 11 matches.

Of the sides in the top six, Sydney have scored three goals or more in a game just three times this season with only Adelaide United (twice) faring worse.

In comparison, leaders Perth have banged in three goals or more eight times, Wellington Phoenix seven and Victory six.

It’s a foreign situation for a team that have been the leading light for an attacking side and an exciting brand of football that has led to some remarkable success for the club over the past three seasons. Sydney hold the record for most goals in a season (64), which they achieved last year on the way to winning the Premiers Plate.

Still, Ninkovic has faith in the side turning things around.

“Hopefully when the playoffs start we will start to be more relaxed in front of goal,” the elegant attacker said.

“We have a good team and we know how to perform in the big games.”

And they are going to need to rediscover the killer instinct quickly given the tough schedule coming up.

They will have next week off as there will be no A-League fixtures due to the international break, but then face Brisbane Roar, Melbourne Victory, Western Sydney, Perth Glory and Newcastle Jets to finish the regular A-League season, with successive games against Chinese footballing super power Shanghai SIPG in the Asian Champions League as well.