Sydney FC coach John Kosmina has backed his depleted squad to stand up to A-League leaders Melbourne tonight despite having to field a back four with combined experience of just 26 games.
Sydney’s defensive stocks became critical after Tony Popovic (hamstring) and Iain Fyfe (suspension) were ruled out the Telstra Dome clash, forcing Kosmina to blood two A-League debutants in the biggest game of the season so far.
Youth player Antony Golec, 18, and short-term injury signing Beau Busch, 24, will be handed starts in front of an expected crowd of more than 30,000 in the first-versus-third clash.
The pair will mostly like join make-shift centre back Mitchell Prentice (18 appearances) and left back Shannon Cole (eight appearances) in a very inexperienced back four.
Kosmina admitted today he was throwing the youngsters in the deep end but predicted they would make the most of what he described as a big opportunity for them.
“I think we’ve got a few young players who might make a bit of a name for themselves,” Kosmina said.
“I think the players we’ve got coming in are up to the task, they’re hungry and they’re keen.
“Sometimes you need to be thrown in at the deep end and see if you can sink or swim and I think these guys will swim comfortably. ”
Busch was formerly on Newcastle’s books but failed to break into the first team.
He has been given a six-week contract with Sydney in place of injured veteran Simon Colosimo and has no doubt tonight’s will be the biggest match of his life.
“I think the biggest game I would have played in would have been probably (NSW State League) Manly against Sydney at Cromer Park, which was about 3,000 people,” Busch said.
Golec, meanwhile, received a double boost today with Sydney signing him up on a fulltime basis for two years from next season.
“I’ve been working for this for quite a long time now … I remember three or four years ago watching the A-League and now all of a sudden I’m here,” Golec said.
The inexperienced defenders will at least not have to deal with leading Victory strikers Archie Thompson and Ney Fabiano who both miss the match through suspension.
The Victory have vowed to put their disciplinary lapses behind them, and have urged fans to attend the clash against their arch-rival.
Melbourne midfielder Billy Celeski is looking forward to another taste of the edge Victory-Sydney clashes have, as tonight’s clash will be his first against Sydney in his hometown as a Melbourne player.
“It’s going to be a fantastic occasion for myself, being a Melbourne boy and growing up here,” Celeski said.
“I’m really looking forward to it.
“It’s a massive derby. The Melbourne-Sydney game is the pick of the round, I’d say.
“Playing in Perth (for the Glory) when I did, I’d always watch this game.
“It should be a fantastic crowd this week at Telstra Dome, so we’re really looking forward to it.”
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
Just four teams remain in the hunt for the 2023/24 A-League Championship and the action will be intense in the opening legs of the…
Cameron Burgess scored the winner to confirm Ipswich’s status as a Premier League club.
In a statement weekend, Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory made significant ones in advancing to the final four of the A-League finals. Now, most…
Paul Izzo has inspired Melbourne Victory to one of the greatest-ever A-League Men escapes as they rose from the ashes to beat Melbourne City…
Joe Lolley was outstanding for the Sky Blues, scoring a brace as Sydney FC equaled their biggest ever victory.
Here is the way the Roar expert panel sees all the action unfolding across the final weekend of play prior to the semi-finals.
