Brazilian super-sub Fabio Gomes’ Australia Cup remaining brace has given Sydney FC coach Steve Corica a nice choice headache forward of the Sky Blues’ A-League season opener towards Melbourne Victory.
Having lately joined Sydney on mortgage from Atletico Mineiro, Fabio got here off the bench along with his new staff trailing Brisbane Roar 1-0 in Saturday evening’s Cup decider at Allianz Stadium.
And simply three minutes after changing Patrick Wood, who was a star of Sydney’s run to remaining, the towering 192cm striker scored from the penalty spot to equalise for the hosts.
Four minutes later, Slovak worldwide Robert Mak gave Sydney the lead earlier than Fabio sealed his facet’s 3-1 Cup remaining triumph in stoppage time along with his second aim of the evening.
It’s simply the impression Corica needs 26-year-old Gomes to have after bringing him to the membership following the low season departure of veteran English marksman Adam Le Fondre, who joined Hibernian, the Scottish membership now managed by A-League championship-winning coach Nick Montgomery.
However, rising expertise Wood, Le Fondre’s long-time deputy, staked his declare for a everlasting spot as chief of Sydney’s assault with 4 targets in his facet’s five-match run to Cup glory.
Corica admitted he wasn’t but certain who would begin out of Wood and Fabio towards the Victory on October 21 in Sydney.
“Woody’s had a very good Australia Cup,” the Sky Blues coach mentioned.
“He scored in every game except for (the final). He’s worked his socks off, he’s done a great job, so that’s full credit to him.
“Fabio’s just come in. He’s still finding his feet, but he showed (in the Cup final) exactly what we brought him here to do.
“He really loved it. He probably could have had another goal … so we’re happy with him as well, but he wasn’t fully fit when he got here, so he’s going to take a little bit of time.
“Communication is a vital thing as well. We have to make sure exactly that he knows his role defensively, as well as with the ball.
“He looks fantastic with the ball but we need to do a little bit of work on his defence as well to make sure he knows what we expect from him, but … I’m very happy with both of them.”
While undecided who out of the attacking pair would begin, Corica was all however sure that English defender Jack Rodwell and Socceroos left-back Joel King, who missed the ultimate with respective hamstring and calf accidents, wouldn’t recuperate in time for the beginning of the A-League season.
Originally printed as Brazilian ace in battle with rising attacker Patrick Wood for Sydney FC striker’s spot
Source: www.dailytelegraph.com.au
