Finally, a record that Sydney FC want to leave unbroken as the Sky Blues prepare for semi-final

ALL season Sydney FC have been breaking records, but now their focus is on keeping one intact — and doing so will take them to the A-League grand final.

Sydney FC celebrate winning the Premiers Plate 2017 during the Round 27 A-League match between Sydney FC and the Newcastle Jets at Allianz Stadium in Sydney, Saturday, April 15, 2017. (AAP Image/Brendan Esposito) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

ALL season Sydney FC have been breaking records, but now their focus is on keeping one intact — and doing so will take them to the grand final.

The Sky Blues carry an unbeaten record in home finals into Saturday’s semi-final that stretches back to the start of the A-League, knowing that another victory at Allianz Stadium will deliver them a first home grand final since 2006.

While much has been made of Brisbane’s unbeaten record at home in 10 finals, Sydney have their own to trumpet.

Sydney FC have been breaking records all season

Saturday’s game will be the eighth home final for Sydney, starting with a 2-1 semi-final defeat of minor premiers Adelaide in 2005-06 that took the Sky Blues into the A-League’s inaugural grand final, in which Pierre Littbarski’s side then beat the Central Coast 1-0.

In total Sydney have won five of the seven finals games they have played at Allianz Stadium, and drawn the other two, and their home record provides a remarkable contrast with their fortunes on the road in the finals.

Six times Sydney have played away and lost five of them — drawing the other, the 2010 Grand Final, and winning the title on penalties.

Sydney FC celebrate winning the Premiers Plate

The unbeaten record at Allianz is one of the major reasons for Sydney to feel confident of victory — as is their defensive record at home this season. Only four visiting goals have been scored (including one at ANZ Stadium when Sydney played Melbourne city there), and only one in the past four and a half months.

They have also been bolstered by the week off dispensed to the teams finishing first and second, allowing Arnold to rest his players before redoubling their fitness regime in the past few days.

From the start of the season the Sydney coach claimed that his side was the fittest in the competition, and that assumption is borne out by the fact that Sydney have scored almost 70 per cent of their goals in the second half.

Arnold has also enjoyed several days out of the media spotlight after overseeing the most dominant season in the A-League’s history and securing the Premier’s Plate, but the Sydney coach is adamant that his side’s appetite for success is nowhere near satiated.

“We haven’t achieved our major goal,” Arnold said.

“You change your goals along the way, and early on it was the FFA Cup, then it became the Premier’s Plate and then the Grand final. It’’s been a fantastic season but we haven’t achieved the last of those.

“We’ve made history, but the ambition remains to win the grand final, and we’re going for it. When you have such a wonderful group of people who have a close relationship together, and the club provides every piece of help that they can to get the best out of the players, it’s quite easy (to be motivated).

“We’ve broken that many records, and we will go on. The belief I have, turning up every week, is that we will win, and I know the players are the same.”

Originally published as Finally, a record that Sydney FC want to leave unbroken as the Sky Blues prepare for semi-final