Sydney FC’s David vs Goliath 2-1 victory on Wednesday night offered light at the end of a bleak tunnel, not just for the Sky Blues’ ACL campaign, but the remainder of the season.
Sydney’s starting lineup illustrated how stretched the squad has become fighting on both domestic and continental fronts. With injuries, suspensions and squad limitations enforced by the AFC, Robert Stambolziev and Aaron Calver were introduced to the XI on a huge night for the hosts entertaining the biggest and richest club in Asia.
If only the locals knew what they were in for on a blockbuster night of drama and action.
Tight opening half
The opening stages saw both teams feel each other out. Chinese giants Guangzhou settled quickly as Colombian striker Jackson Martinez just missed the mark and outlined immediately that he was worth the lavish price tag.
Then, against the run of play, Milos Ninkovic and David Carney linked for a game of what Andy Harper described as “aerial ping pong” in the 18th minute, with fringe player Stambolziev finishing from close-range to put the cat among the pigeons. Yet Sky Blues fans would not be cheering for long as the joy was short lived.
Guangzhou responded to the setback three minutes later. Seb Ryall was caught the wrong side of Martinez, pulling his shirt and stupidly conceding the penalty to Ricardo Goulart. Then another twist in the tale – Janjetovic pulled off a great save and the hosts maintained the lead at 1-0.
However, the pressure from the multi-millionaire visitors appeared unrelenting. Goulart missed a chance from the wing until Huang Bowen found acres of space on the left with Rhyan Grant abandoning his post. Janjetovic could do nothing on this occasion as the score leveled to 1-1 at the 25th minute.
Evergrande’s class started to tell. All of a sudden Matt Jurman, against the run of play, hit the bar from a dead ball opportunity. Going end to end, Martinez became a handful to outmuscle Jurman and bended a chance past the post of Janjetovic that demonstrated how lethal the $65 million man is.
Carney moves central to combine well with Smeltz
David Carney and Shane Smeltz linked up well in the 40th minute, playing a lovely one-two in the box before the former Novacastrian’s shot was parried away by Zeng Chang in goal. The pair combined again minutes later when a through ball deflected back to the Kiwi striker, but only resulted in a corner. It put an end to a pulsating half that went up a further gear after the main break.
The second stanza started very much like the first, until Carney and Smeltz once again joined forces and created a save from the Chinese keeper. A delicious lofted through ball ended up going wide after a lovely flick from Carney, but it didn’t provide the dividends Graham Arnold’s side desperately wanted.
Then Calver and Ryall were caught at sixes and sevens as Huang Bowen’s shot from just outside the six-yard box was inexplicably hit wide. The game was warming up nicely for a big midweek football fixture in the heart of the harbour city.
Sydney were warming to the task when Milos Ninkovic went inches wide, ignoring Carney’s run out wide to launch a shot going past the keeper in the 55th minute. All of a sudden it was Scolari’s team that looked flustered and began to show the rustiness of preseason.
Brandon O’Neill selfishly wasted a four-on-two scenario, blasting wide while Stambolziev, Smeltz and Ninkovic were left to lament the effort of the Olyroo. In the 66th minute, one Milos was replaced with another, as Dimitrijevic was given an opportunity to impress at the expense of Ninkovic.
Finally, Ali Abbas was given the chance in the 71st minute, replacing Aaron Calver. The Iraqi had been strangely maligned since his return from a serious injury, playing a full 90 minutes in the 2-0 defeat to Urawa Red Diamonds in Japan but used sparingly since. Andrew Hoole then completed the changes, coming on for Stambolziev in the 75th.
Guangzhou fatigue alters dynamics
Some amusing decisions by the official soon followed. The worst of which was the failure to book Goulart for kicking the ball into the net after an offside call. The Brazilian was then pulled back in the box, yet the official lacked the conviction to make the right ruling.
As Evergrande legs began to tire, Sydney pushed and pressured the visitors. The ball was shifted inside to Dimitrjevic, whose shot was poorly parried by Cheng as the shot stopper could not deny the Serbian midfielder. At 2-1 in the 88th minute with superior match fitness, the upset of the ACL season was on.
From that point forward the Sky Blues shut the game out and Sydney FC not only won their first Asian Champions League game at Moore Park, but defeated the biggest scalp on the continent in the process.
It felt more than just three points for Graham Arnold’s men. The win was reward for diligence, patience and endeavor on a night that most observers expected a shellacking of significant proportions. Suddenly the injuries, suspensions and ACL restrictions do not appear so imperious as they were prior to kick-off.
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