If Sydney FC requires a penalty shootout to realize uncommon success at AAMI Park on Friday evening, Socceroos hero Andrew Redmayne is able to take centre stage.
With scores locked at 1-1 after final week’s A-League semi-final first-leg at Allianz Stadium, the Sky Blues will begin as underdogs within the second leg towards premiers Melbourne City, who have not misplaced a house match all season.
However, Sydney could not should be forward on mixture come full-time and even on the finish of extra-time if the match extends by half-hour to safe a grand remaining berth.
In Redmayne, the Sky Blues have a penalty-saving specialist.
Nobody will overlook the 34-year-old gloveman’s heroics in final June’s World Cup playoffs when – after being introduced on within the dying phases of Australia’s do-or-die affair towards Peru particularly for the upcoming shootout – he saved Alex Valera’s spot kick to seal the Socceroos’ qualification for Qatar 2022.
Redmayne additionally starred for Sydney within the penalty shootout wanted to resolve the 2019 A-League grand remaining, saving spot kicks from Perth Glory pair Andy Keogh and Brendon Santalab to safe the Sky Blues the championship.
“Obviously we’ve got full confidence in ‘Redders’ to make saves in penalty-shootout situations,” Sydney coach Steve Corica stated on Wednesday.
“He’s done it before, he’s done on the big stage, he’s done it for us, he’s done it for the Socceroos – we’re definitely confident with him.
“(But) we have to score our pens as well, and make the most of our opportunities.”
Melbourne City custodian Tom Glover confirmed within the first-leg he was no slouch in saving penalties, denying Sydney midfielder Anthony Caceres final Friday evening.
However, a lot to Glover’s frustration, the Sky Blues had been capable of re-take the spot kick after City fullback Callum Talbot was dominated to have encroached into the penalty space.
The Sydneysiders didn’t waste their likelihood for a second time, with Adam Le Fondre taking on from Caceres to fit the ball residence.
“I don’t think you’re going to get it off him (Le Fondre) now after he scored,” Corica stated when requested who would by his aspect’s first-choice penalty taker on Friday evening.
Corica added the Sky Blues had finished their “homework” in anticipation of a shootout being wanted to discover a semi-final winner.
“We will practice in the next couple of days as well, but we’ve done that for the last couple of weeks, just to make sure.” he stated.
“It just depends who’s on the pitch as well at that time because it will be 120 minutes in.
“These are things I have to think about as well leading into this game if it does go into penalties – who’s going to be on the pitch and who’s going to take them.”
Corica stated he would wait till Friday to resolve whether or not key attacking pair Robert Mak and Joe Lolley, who each have hamstring issues, would begin the match.
Originally revealed as Socceroos hero Andrew Redmayne Sydney FC’s not-so-secret weapon if penalties wanted to resolve semi-final
Source: www.dailytelegraph.com.au
