Sydney FC have sealed a return to finals soccer with a 2-0 win over Brisbane that additionally ended the Roar’s faint hopes of ending within the prime six.
Attacking weapons Robert Mak and Adam Le Fondre every scored at Suncorp Stadium on Monday evening to ensure the Sky Blues – who completed a disappointing eighth on the A-League ladder final season – a berth in subsequent month’s finals sequence.
The Roar needed to win to retain any hope of qualifying for the six-team finals sequence.
However, with the loss, the Queenslanders have put themselves in peril of ending with the wood spoon.
The hosts had their probabilities, however the Sky Blues have been way more scientific when it mattered to ship a warning to their finals rivals to not write them off regardless of what has been a topsy-turvy season for the Steve Corica-coached group.
Sydney’s win was additionally a becoming option to have fun captain Alex Wilkinson’s 600th look as knowledgeable participant.
“The most important thing tonight was to get the win and secure a spot in the finals,” Wilkinson informed Paramount +.
“That’s two wins in a row now for us, and we’ll try to go for three in a row next week (in the final round of the regular season) and continue the form going into the finals.
“Once the finals start it’s a completely different ball game. It’s like a mini season in itself and form goes out the window a little bit.
“If we can go into the finals with three wins in a row and our confidence high, then we’ll give it our best shot.”
Sydney’s solely concern to return out of the win was a hamstring harm that compelled goalscorer Mak off simply earlier than half-time.
“Hopefully it’s nothing too serious because he’s been in great form,” Wilkinson mentioned.
Slovakian worldwide attacker Mak gave the guests the lead within the thirty fourth minute with an aesthetic end after being fed by teammate Joe Lolley.
Former Nottingham Forest winger Lolley continued to torment Brisbane’s defence, with Roar goalkeeper Jordan Holmes developing with a advantageous save to stop the Englishman doubling Sydney’s benefit within the thirty ninth minute.
The Roar then had an excellent likelihood to equalise a couple of minutes shy of half-time however midfielder Taras Gomulka directed his shot straight at Sydney keeper Andrew Redmayne,
The Roar dominated the early phases of the second half, with Socceroo Redmayne producing a advantageous double save on the hour mark to disclaim Stefan Scepovic and Jay O’Shea.
Having weathered the storm, the Sky Blues sealed their win within the 77th minute when Le Fondre scored after some extra good work on the appropriate from man-of-the-match Lolley.
Roar captain Tom Aldred was upset together with his facet’s failure to benefit from their probabilities.
“It’s the reason why we are where we are,” Aldred mentioned.
“We’ve not scored enough goals and if you don’t score goals, you don’t win games.”
Originally printed as Sydney FC safe a spot within the A-League’s prime six with victory over Brisbane
Source: www.dailytelegraph.com.au
