Sydney FC winger Bernie Ibini looks certain to miss out on A-League grand final as hamstring injury bites

SYDNEY FC winger Bernie Ibini is facing the heartbreak of missing out on a fourth grand final, with the hamstring injury suffered in the semi final all but certain to rule him out.

Injured Bernie Ibini of Sydney FC is set to miss the grand final. Picture: Getty Images

SYDNEY FC winger Bernie Ibini is facing the heartbreak of missing out on a fourth grand final, with the hamstring injury suffered in the last moments of the semi-final all but certain to rule him out.

Though Ibini will be given until the last moment to prove his fitness, coach Graham Arnold admitted Ibini looks to be losing his battle to be fit, after pulling up sharply in last Saturday’s defeat of Perth.

It’s a viciously cruel twist after Ibini’s long recovery from a badly broken leg 22 months ago, with the on-loan winger having been used regularly off the bench in the latter stages of the season.

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Though Arnold has an obvious replacement in David Carney, he said Ibini had not yet given up hope.

Injured Sydney FC winger Bernie Ibini watches on a training this week.

“It’s not looking great, but we’ll give it right up until the final moments because he’s had such a wonderful impact for us off the bench,” said Arnold.

“The physios are working round the clock with him, and even on the players’ day off he’s been in getting treatment.

“We always knew it would be touch and go but we’ll leave a decision as late as possible. Those are the cards he’s been dealt and no doubt he’ll be stronger in the long run.

“He’s been fantastic for us this season and we’re very appreciative of everything he’s done for us. That’s why we’ll wait until as late as possible.”

Meanwhile Arnold tried to defuse fears over the state of the pitch at Allianz Stadium, insisting his players were unperturbed at the prospect of playing on the surface they know so well.

Attempts to move a Waratahs game at the stadium the day before collapsed on Monday, but Arnold insisted it would not be a factor for his team.

“You can read too much into it,” he said. “I look at Suncorp (stadium in Brisbane) and other stadiums and they’re similar. We’ve got players who are technically good enough to cope with it and the legs to deal with whatever.

“All I know is that when you walk down the ramp at Allianz it’s the best stadium in Australia to play football on.

“I know I have 22 players who love playing there. We’ve had 14 games there this year and won 11, only conceding three goals. That’s the belief my players have going into the game.”

The Sydney coach also insisted that no parallels could be drawn with the Sky Blues’ loss to Melbourne Victory in the grand final two years ago, given the turnover of personnel on both sides since.

“It’s a totally different group of players, we have a different team and so do they,” he said. “It’s about what we do. We know them well and we have to match the fight.

“They play a physical way and we have to match that. We’ve done it in the three games (against victory) this year and it’s one of the ingredients we need.”

Originally published as Sydney FC winger Bernie Ibini looks certain to miss out on A-League grand final as hamstring injury bites