Sydney FC 0 Sanfrecce Hiroshima 1
All it took was a moment where the Sydney FC defence switched off and Sanfrecce grabbed the goal they needed to take the points and secure top spot in the Asian Champions League 2 Group E. An emotional return to the Cove had the home fans in good voice against their bouncing counterparts, but ultimately a combination of expert game management from the visitors and some conservative refereeing denied the Sky Blues at least a share of the spoils. We live to fight another day, and a win in our next fixture in Hong Kong will secure our passage into next year’s group stages, but tonight was not our night and we look forward to Sunday’s welcome return to A-League action at Allianz Stadium.
Wary of the unpredictable directions offered by the various maps applications on our phones, we managed to negotiate the correct route out of the city this time, not long before 6pm, and onto the new motorway to take us to Kogarah. As we stepped out of the car in the backstreets behind Jubilee Oval, the sound of unfamiliar songs rang out; our Japanese foes were here in force, and we would need to give an extra decibel to make ourselves heard.
Entering Gate B on the side of the stadium and grabbing a refreshment, we were puzzled when we walked into our usual spot underneath the main stand. Where was the Cove? Surely we weren’t the first ones here; it was only twenty minutes to kick off. Sure enough, as we walked further into the stand, we could see the Cove back in the familar section 19 behind the goal. No way! Memories flooded back as we ventured around and took up our familiar back row spot to look down on the action below. Oh how much better is Allianz Stadium?
With a Coldplay concert denying us our regular capo and drum combination, it was left to a familiar face from Sydney games to lead away the chants. We Are Sydney was almost drowned out by the noise of the Sanfrecce fans and the stadium music, but we were off and running, and the game kicked off to the final round of the famous Sydney FC chant. The Cove started to fill up, the 7pm kick off just that bit too early for a lot of people, and the rain remaining light enough not to scare people back under cover.
Sydney were shooting towards the ice cream van end, away from the Cove in the first half, so either we had won the toin coss, or the visitors didn’t know the Kogarah tradition. The first half was quite tricky viewing as most of the action was at the other end. Andrew Redmayne did make a smart save in the opening minutes, spreading himself wide to deny a great chance at the far post, but the Sky Blues were looking good in possession. As we have seen already this season, there was no panic on the ball, and the chances started to arrive, Patryck Klimala outfoxed by the Japanese goalkeeper who raced out at his feet in a flash when he had broken clear, albeit on a difficult angle, and Adrian Segacic had a chance but the ball whistled wide.
Just as the half was drawing to a close, Sydney had a double escape. First, Hayden Matthews shoved a Hiroshima player in the back inside the penalty area in full view of the referee. It looked a nailed on penalty but the referee looked the other way, and when the ball was finally played across to the far post, the Sanfrecce winger was all alone to finish but got his volley all wrong and sent the ball well wide to the relief of Redders who had been totally exposed. Goalless at the break, it was time to have a wander and see what was going on.
The Sanfrecce fans had been animated all through the first half, but didn’t appear to be that numerous. They outsung the Cove, who were having a few technical difficulties staying in time and in tune, but that would all change as the second half started in mild drizzle.
The second half was a cracker. Sydney looked dangerous and were building. At one point Leo Sena (or it could have been Anthony Caceres, or even Anas Ouahim, they all play in the same manner) got a toe to a ball before the defender after a mesmerising run and was poleaxed, the referee not even awarding a free kick when a yellow card would have been completely warranted. The visitors then got possession up on the left and seemed to have way too much time; the ball was crossed and the Sanfrecce striker got in front of the defender and headed home brilliantly past Redders. Totally against the run of play, and just as we were in the middle of a chant. The players in white all raced over to the pocket of away fans and milked it for as long as possible, the referee in no rush to restart.
Maxi Burgess, who was playing with confidence and purpose, hit one goalwards that took a deflection and looked as though it might loop in, but it just cleared the bar. Ouahim did brilliantly to find space in the box and shoot low, the Hiroshima keeper touching the ball around the post brilliantly, so much so that our German midfielder hugged the keeper on the way past to congratulate him on the save.
Sydney continued with their breath-taking midfield wizardry, Sena dribbling his way out of trouble and being hauled down for his efforts. A sure-fire penalty was waved away as Maxi was wrestled to the ground – it looked nailed on, but the referee was again un-moved. Rhyan Grant was also brought down when skipping into the box and the Sydney players made sure the referee knew what they thought. Maxi found himself at the far post with half a chance, right in front, but the goalkeeper was quick to grab the ball as he shot, and took an almighty blow, sending him to the floor for another long period of inactivity to wind down the clock.
Redders made a save towards the end and, as Sydney pushed further up the field, had to sweep a little. A triple substitution towards the end by Ufuk Talay pretty much signalled the end of the contest, but Sydney kept pushing for the equaliser, although it was never going to come. In the end, you would say this was a fortunate win for the visitors, but they saw out the game with perfection and took their chance brilliantly.
The Cove had almost cleared out by the time the players came over to applaud. ‘Sydney til I die’ rang around the home end as the remaining fans let the players know that they had done well despite the result. All the players made their way to the sideline to shake hands, take selfies and sign stuff, some of the Cove fans swapped merch with their counterparts in the away section, the general feeling was not one of anger or disappointment to have lost this game, and the atmosphere was positive, knowing that qualification is still completely in our hands.
As we walked past the Jacaranda trees, spilling their Sanfrecce Hiroshima colours all over the path after the incessant misty rain, we reflected on a game where the little things counted. That one incredible piece of skill from Sena to beat four players, getting out of an impossible situation, was a highlight, the referee could easily have given penalties to both teams but chose not to, the continued standing over the ball that went unpunished by the referee, and the warm feeling when the seccies told people to get off the seats was like a comforting blanket – nothing ever changes at Kogarah!
The journey home was quick up until just after Olympic Park. We were early enough to miss the Coldplay traffic, but we were quite close the the scene of a really bad accident, the police and ambulances arriving onsite as we crawled past a horrible scene, driving over debris as people were helped from overturned cars. Drive safely everyone, remember why Redders wears that number 0 shirt every year at Commbank Stadium.
Back in the house just before 10, this was nice and early for a midweek game, and we were already planning ahead for Sunday’s return to Allianz when the Bulls of Macarthur come to the big smoke to see if they can repeat tonight’s outcome. See you all at Moore Park on Sunday. Forza Sydney FC.