World Cup hopeful Alex Brosque has made a case for a starting spot in Australia’s match against Kuwait next month with a starring role in Sydney FC’s A-League win over the Central Coast Mariners on Wednesday.
In front of Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek and 12,689 fans at the Sydney Football Stadium, Brosque, who was inspirational, scored the only goal in the 1-0 win at the Sydney Football Stadium, surely boosting his chances of starting the crucial Asian Cup qualifier on January 6.
The win lifts Sydney level on points with league leaders Melbourne, while the Mariners have now lost a club record four matches on the bounce to sit precariously on the edge of the top six.
Brosque’s strike came in the 34th minute to reward a dominant opening period by the Sky Blues.
Northern Ireland midfielder Terry McFlynn’s clever pass with the outside of his boot found Brosque, who lashed a first time shot with his left foot past fellow Socceroo Danny Vukovic’s near post from outside the box.
The only other moment of note in the opening half was when a beach ball from the crowd blew into Vukovic’s path with Sydney on the attack.
But fears of a moment similar to that which famously helped Sunderland beat Liverpool in the English Premier League earlier this year were quashed as the attack petered out and Vukovic was able to remove the beach ball.
The best the Mariners could muster was when Michael McGlinchey’s pass found Dylan Macallister in the area in the 52nd minute, but his shot was well blocked by Clint Bolton in the Sydney goal.
The Mariners’ lack of self-belief was never more evident than in the 66th minute when Sydney’s Korean defender Sung-Hwan Byun appeared to handle the ball in the box and the visitors barely appealed for a penalty.
Sydney recovered well, but despite a long-range effort by McFlynn, two shots from captain Steve Corica and another smart strike by Brosque they couldn’t find the second goal needed to jump above the Victory on goal difference.
The Mariners had the better of the final ten minutes as they pressed for an equaliser, but lacked a finishing touch.
Sydney coach Vitezslav Lavicka, who called Brosque’s strike a “great, important goal”, said both the striker and defender Simon Colosimo were not going to leave the club in January to try to secure a spot in Verbeek’s World Cup squad.
“I’ve just met Pim Verbeek and he was very happy as well (with Brosque),” Lavicka said.
“We know that Alex and Simon are playing in the Socceroos at the moment but we are going to keep them in January now because we have a serious, serious goal to reach good success this season.
“We’ll help them after this season for good preparation to reach the World Cup.”
Sydney skipper Corica said the chance to win an A-League title with Sydney was a real one for Brosque.
“Obviously he wants to go to a World Cup but I think he wants to stay until the end and see the season out,” he said.
“If he does well and he wins the championship for Sydney that’s going to help him as well.”
Mariners coach Lawrie McKinna said he felt the Sung-Hwan incident was a penalty but that the referee wasn’t to blame for the result.
“Over the course of the season hopefully you get the breaks, we’ve lost four in a row now and we’re not getting any breaks,” he said.
“That’s just part of the game, it would have been nice but we had enough half-chances to finish.”
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Football said | December 24th 2009 @ 5:54am | Report comment
My first game this year. What an atmosphere. The cove were great, the football was outstanding in patches. Having been to hundreds of NRL & AFL games with much larger crowds, I can tell you they simply dont match the atmosphere created by the Cove regardless of how many people are at the games.
Redb said | December 24th 2009 @ 8:43am | Report comment
Not according to this article by Adrian.
http://www.theroar.com.au/2009/12/22/lack-of-atmosphere-stifles-a-league-games/#more-26472
Simmo said | December 24th 2009 @ 8:48am | Report comment
you don’t know what you’re on about Redb.
Redb said | December 24th 2009 @ 8:59am | Report comment
Really?
Been to 3 A League games including Melb v Sydney with the Cove in action. They were good, different, colourful,etc
In Adrian’s article on the lack of atmosphere at A League games he states : “There is little time in the AFL, for example, for breaks in the play or lull periods, so crowds sit transfixed to the action – hollering and howling to the umpire, the noise level dictated by how unjust they feel his decisions are. ”
I agree with this comment as do the majority of Australians who attend AFL matches over the A League..
It was ‘football’ who brought the AFL and NRL into the debate – have a problem deal with him.
Redb
Simmo said | December 24th 2009 @ 9:06am | Report comment
In ‘football’s experience he had more fun at an A-League game than he has had at any AFL or NRL game he has attended. That’s his experience. His opinion.
Here’s some videos on the Cove where he stood last night.
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=%22the+cove%22+sydney+fc&search_type=&aq=f
It’s like One Day cricket. The nature of the event lends itself to a more vibrant, active atmosphere.
Tell me that’s not fun.
Redb said | December 24th 2009 @ 9:17am | Report comment
Simmo,
I said the Cove were good, different, colourful – not disparaging remarks are they?
The point is the crowd provides the atmosphere more than the game itself at soccer games, whereas tthe reverse is ture of AFL game, that is my experience.
Swans games have few opposition fans, this does detract from the experience. Two tribes big game at the MCG – is massive fun. Especially against those Carlton scum.
Redb
Redb said | December 24th 2009 @ 9:18am | Report comment
yes Simmo,
I said the Cove were good, different, colourful – not disparaging remarks are they?
The point is the crowd provides the atmosphere more than the game itself at soccer games, whereas tthe reverse is often true of AFL games, that is my experience.
Swans games have few opposition fans, this does detract from the experience. Two tribes big game at the MCG – is massive fun. Especially against that Carlton slime.
Redb
Punter said | December 24th 2009 @ 9:24am | Report comment
Blah blah blah Redb, AFL is better than A-league, Blah blah, give it a break. It’s boring
KB said | December 24th 2009 @ 10:08am | Report comment
I don’t agree Redb, I have also been to a fair number of AFL games in my day and the game is full of stop/starts with slow midfield marks and when the ball goes out of play etc … Simply you guys are not passionate about your code as Football supporters are…. Adrian’s team, Adelaide United, is running last at the foot of the HAL table and have had a bumper season with crowds, but they can’t win at home so hence the silence or low key chants… He is desperately disappointed with his club as all the AU FC members are and is taking it out on the more successful SFC… How disappointing for him…
Simmo said | December 24th 2009 @ 10:39am | Report comment
woah woah woah
I completely disagree that A-League fans are more passionate than AFL fans. That’s just not true. They’re equally passionate people.
They just don’t show it as much.
KB said | December 24th 2009 @ 8:48am | Report comment
Football,
I have attended all the GCU FC home matches and some NRL Titan home games… Football supporters create a special atmosphere that no other code can match… With Titan NRL crowds 3x larger then the GCU FC for home game fixtures with GCU FC just barely reaching 5k avr they create an atmosphere that Titan supporters can only dream of achieving even with there superior numbers… So looking forward to the GCU v ROAR on Boxing day….
~~~~~~
KB
MV Dave said | December 24th 2009 @ 6:54am | Report comment
“My first game this year” Hopefully you will attend plenty more
Thought the goal was excellent but SFC sat back too much in the 2nd half and let CCM back into the game.
Watching on Fox it was great to hear Anthony LaPaglia before the game and his discussion on the WC bid. Nice to hear high profile people who have such passion for the game reinforcing the importance of getting behind the bid and, if achieved, how the hosting of such an event will be of benefit for all Australians.
KB said | December 24th 2009 @ 8:29am | Report comment
MV Dave,
watch out for SFC and Chelsea, coming home with a wet sail…. Well i.e. SFC is coming home on a wet sail ‘cos Chelsea have all but sewn up the double and heading for the FIFA world club championship tournament… What a year … they may meet SFC in the final …. Will it get better than that… ?
Merry Christmas to all the Football writers and its supporters, north and south of the Murray
and of course the ROAR forum admin Zac and Spiro 
(and the whole team)
~~~~~~
KB
MV Dave said | December 24th 2009 @ 1:50pm | Report comment
Cheers KB
Have a great Christmas and New Year.
BTW Construction of the 2nd level extension of Man U’s trophy room has just been completed so we are now ready to win the EPL, FA Cup etc again. MV have asked the same architects to start enlarging their trophy room to fit in the Premiership Plate, Championship Trophy and ACL Cup!
Football said | December 24th 2009 @ 8:33am | Report comment
I cant wait for Sundays game. I will be going to many more games. Sydney were playing on the counter in the second half & wasted chances.
Didnt see the LaPaglia interview but you could see the passion at the game from the supporters.
Punter said | December 24th 2009 @ 8:55am | Report comment
The atmosphere in the ground was electric & for a crowd of only 12k it was amazing.
I must admit walking out of the stadium, there was a huge buzz around the place, it was an important win for Sydney. We started talking about those great moments in sport in Australian sport & that night in Nov 2005 was at the top of our list.
Football said | December 24th 2009 @ 8:56am | Report comment
Redb,
The article was was prompted me to write the comment & provide an actual perspective of what the atmosphere is like.
Football said | December 24th 2009 @ 9:01am | Report comment
Punter
There was a huge buzz around the place outside the ground after the game & can advise that my 13 year old & his friends were singing & chanting all the way home.
Punter said | December 24th 2009 @ 9:31am | Report comment
Yes there was a massive buzz after the game, like I said it prompted us to talk about that greatest of Buzz, Nov 2005.
This was an important game for both teams & so happy to come away with a win, it was a tense game all the way to the end.
I think most people who were there last night will come again.
Football said | December 24th 2009 @ 9:08am | Report comment
Redb,
Yes I did bring the other codes into the debate because this is what I experienced until the A League came into being. I actually agree with you that the noise levels at AFL matches are dictated by rections to the Umpires.
What i found last night was that the chanting & singing is a rection to what takes place on the field & the breaks in play usually commence the start of a new chant in reaction to what just happened.
It was simply outstanding.
Redb said | December 24th 2009 @ 9:21am | Report comment
Well its not just the umpires, but the also a range of other plays like tackles, marks,etc.
In any case I agree the atmosphere is different and the crowd chanting far more obvious but disagree that the game itself drives more crowd behavior compared to AFL.
After awhile the Victory chants were starting to annoy me
Redb
Simmo said | December 24th 2009 @ 9:31am | Report comment
I tend to characterise it as “passive” v “active” atmosphere. All sports have ‘passive’ atmosphere where the crowd oohs, ahhs, boos according to what’s happening on the field. Some clubs in some sports also have the more active atmosphere. And not forgetting that active atmosphere itself reacts to the story of the game as it unfolds.
I’ve noticed recently that Collingwood are developing a core of active fans. It’ll be interesting to see if their game day antics will spread wider in the AFL…*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ny-m_cET4Ao&feature=related
*and no, I’m not talking about their violence
Redb said | December 24th 2009 @ 9:34am | Report comment
Simmo,
yes they do, it’s very inventive, not. (and only when they are winning – not cool)
Do the Cove still do the whole Messi Warrior thing? (youtube wasted ahem its banned)
Redb
Luke W said | December 24th 2009 @ 10:06am | Report comment
It’s a miracle the Sydney supporters had such a wonderful atmosphere considering they were up against the atmosphere black hole that is the Central Coast Mariners. Watching them play away, home fans are too busy being bored to tears than chanting and singing.
Simmo said | December 24th 2009 @ 10:08am | Report comment
CCM are very good defensive side and they really squeezed SFC out of the match in the second half…well, made SFC’s attacks kinda blunt and unimaginative. I’m glad we got away with the win.
KB said | December 24th 2009 @ 10:15am | Report comment
Nicky Travis came on for CCM, Kisel and Corica were replaced and the game suddenly changed somewhat for CCM… They CCM started to look more threatening with a 4-3-3
Vicentin said | December 24th 2009 @ 10:09am | Report comment
Unfortunately I couldn’t make it to the game as there were so many Christmas related things to do but I did manage to watch enough of it while cooking etc… Sydney really should have had a least three goals by half-time and in general should have created more clear cut chances. This aspect of their play must be really frustrating for Lavicka. As much as I’m a strong advocate for possession football and building things up with patience etc I do think that Sydney – for a team that often plays on the counter – don’t take enough risks either in their speed of passing or in individually taking players on one-on-one when they find themselves in a potential overload situation. There’s a bit too much of just holding the ball up for a better option which realistically most often means a chance for the opposing team to get more players behind the ball. CCM are very good “scrambers” in defence and didn’t need to be asked twice to shut down the spaces.
I think Sydney should try and counter faster and with more support players therefore increasing the chance of going forward rather than sideways or back. I generally think they need to transition from defence to attack a lot faster. They’ll more likely find players in better positions and space to go directly for goal. At the moment it is often too slow and crowded by the time they get to the penalty area. As much as a like Brosque and Bridge they’re both “second” strikers and Sydney could really do with someone like Van Dijk in current form – and I’m sure their goal difference would be a lot more positive too. Aloisi is neither fast enough or mobile enough to help in the style that Sydney is trying to play. Is this his last year? I hope so.
Anyway Kudos to Brosque but I thought he should have had a couple more. And what has happened to CCM – have they won a game since McKinna was on TWG getting plaudits from Foz? Maybe they needed that “everyone hates us” victim mentality to win games?
Back to Xmas …please make it end.
KB said | December 24th 2009 @ 10:31am | Report comment
Good points Vicentin, I have banged on about SFC strikers not taking their chances with fist time strikes and suddenly out of the blue Brosque did with a well executed move and great goal… Please more of it … otherwise I think Lavicka has the team playing very much to 85% where he wants them to be—-by finals time I hope he can squeeze that 15% extra out before they meet MV in Sydney again…