AFC Champions League: How strong is HAGL’s rival Sydney FC?

When Kiatisak Senamuang was still on the pitch and helped HAGL win the V-League in 2003, the Sydney Club was not yet born.

Representing Australia is the youngest team in Group H AFC Champions League. It was not until 2004 that Sydney FC was established. However, being young does not mean Sydney FC has a modest track record. Only 2 years after its birth, the team nicknamed “blue sky” won the runner-up of the Australian national championship (A-League), then first won the 2009-2010 season. Over the past 10 years, Sydney FC won the championship 4 times, runner-up 3 times.

Sydney FC (No. 17) possesses a strong and fast playing style NGOC LINH

‘s team Coach Steve Corica quickly rose to become the power of Soccer Australia, even with a squad that can only Transfermarkt valued at 10.55 million euros, almost two-thirds of the value of Yokohama F. Marinos Club. In the last call of the Australian team, coach Graham Arnold only called 8 players playing in the domestic league, 2 of which were members of Sydney FC. Those are goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne and defender Alex Wilkinson.

In the competition between Vietnam team and Australia on My Dinh Stadium September 9, 2021 (2022 World Cup qualifiers), another Sydney FC player Rhyan Grant even started and scored against goalkeeper Dang Van Lam. Grant is the mainstay of Sydney FC and will definitely start in tomorrow night’s match on April 19.

The stone path of Sydney FC carries the characteristics of Australian football, which is fast, strong and direct. However, Grant and his teammates also have a disciplined and scientific way of playing. At the A-League 2020-2021, coach Corica’s students only scored 39 goals after 26 matches, ranking 5th in the tournament in terms of attack performance. But in defense, no team conceded as few goals as Sydney FC with only 23 goals conceded.

Sydney FC (purple shirt) surprised when holding Jeonbuk Friend Spirit

Sydney FC played well when holding a draw Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors On the opening day of the AFC Champions League, it was in the match that Corica’s teachers and students had the right to regret the missed opportunities. The Australian team did not attack much, but every time they got on the ball, they caused a storm on Jeonbuk’s goal thanks to the sharp running ability of Adam Le Fondre and Trent Buhagiar.

However, Sydney FC also has its weaknesses. The back four of Grant, James Donachie, Wilkinson and Calum Talbot are no longer as sure as last season when they kept only 2 clean sheets in the last 7 matches. Sydney FC central defenders are not strong in speed and ability to manage short distances, while defenders like Grant, Talbot often reveal gaps when attacking.

Center-back captain Wilkinson was the “dead heart” of Sydney FC’s defense in the match against Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors. The 37-year-old has experience and commanding ability, but is exhausted first in the one-on-one phase with the Jeonbuk striker. Similarly, the midfielder who plays with Wilkinson, Donachie, also has clumsy handling when under pressure.

It was an opportunity for strikers like Cong Phuong, Van Toan, Jefferson Baiano or Washington Brandao to show speed and technique. Sharing before the match, coach Kiatisak Senamuang said he had carefully studied Sydney FC’s videotape. He said: “Yokohama F. Marinos has players who are technically rich and play very quickly, while Sydney FC is more muscular. These two teams are very different, so HAGL will deal differently.”

Even so, Coach Kiatisak emphasizing the identity of HAGL will not change, it is a short ball, one-touch coordination because this is the right philosophy for the players. The performance in front of Yokohama shows that HAGL has never lacked ambition. The Nui street team was very close to 1 point on the opening day with many opportunities to get. Sydney FC is theoretically not as strong as YokohamaHAGL can surprise if you play smart enough and explosively.