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Sydney FC’s A-League season remains bleak but the long-term future looks much brighter after Sunday’s 1-0 win over Wellington at Sydney Football Stadium.
Ghana-born 17-year-old Kofi Danning, in just his second A-League appearance, scored in the 85th minute to end Sydney’s four-game losing streak and leave coach John Kosmina believing they can still sneak into the finals.
Kosmina fielded a youthful starting team with an average age of just 23, but it was 63rd-minute substitute Danning who broke the deadlock with the game looking headed for a scoreless draw.
The promising midfielder, who grew up in Australia and trained at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra, combined with late substitute Steve Corica and Alex Brosque to cooly slot home his memorable first A-League goal.
“I saw my opportunity and I just took it and it’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” a beaming Danning said after the match.
“Kossie always told me the harder I worked, the more opportunities I’d get to play and I finally got my chance and worked hard and I’m very grateful.”
Kosmina was delighted not only with Danning’s performance, but also those of 17-year-old defender Rhyan Grant and 19-year-old Zach Cairncross, who was handed his debut.
Sydney’s team also included 20-year-olds Brendan Gan and Adam Biddle, while promising striker Chris Payne, 18, also come on in the second half, boding well for the future of the club.
Kosmina said he would continue to rely on youth though Sydney will lose both Danning and Grant for next week’s clash with Sydney FC with both set to represent Australia at the Youth Olympics in Sydney.
With two matches remaining, sixth-placed Sydney are now five points outside the top four.
Asked whether his side could do the unthinkable and sneak into the finals, Kosmina said: “Mathematically, yes.
“If we win next week and the week after, we’ve got 29 points.
“(Third-placed) Queensland have got three games to go, they might lose three and (fourth placed) Central Coast have got (to play) Adelaide and Melbourne, so anything is possible.”
It had been a relatively uneventful match in front of 9605 fans until the Phoenix were reduced to ten men when Troy Hearfield was shown a red card in the 64th minute for a slight head butt on Brosque.
Brosque had earned a yellow card for bringing Hearfield down out wide and the players came together in a heated confrontation.
What looked only a gentle nudge was enough for Hearfield to be shown his marching orders by referee Ben Williams.
Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert had no complaints about the send-off and admitted his side now faced a difficult assignment to reach their maiden finals series.
They are three points outside the top four, but also face top two Adelaide and Melbourne in the final two rounds.
“I think it’s put a dent in (our hopes) really,” Herbert said.
“Two more big games, Adelaide and Melbourne away, so the path gets no easier but we won’t be giving up yet.”
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