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Melbourne Heart coach John van ‘t Schip admits his club face the highest stakes match in their short history this weekend after a third successive defeat left them vulnerable at the edge of the A-League top six.
The 10-man Heart lost 2-0 to a resurgent Wellington Phoenix in New Zealand on Wednesday – a defeat particularly galling after the visitors controlled the game for long periods and had three gilt-edged opportunities go begging.
Instead, Wellington climbed back into finals contention and turned around some tepid form with two second half Paul Ifill goals, and the Heart had skipper Matt Thompson sent, adding further misery.
Now the Heart must back up for their fifth match in 17 days against Sydney FC at AAMI Park on Saturday, knowing anything less than a win plunges them back into the ruck developing at the fringe of the top six.
“It makes the next game even more important because Sydney won their last game and they are coming nearby as well,” van ‘t Schip told AAP from Wellington.
“If we want to be a little bit clear of the teams below us, we have to win that game. With a short turnaround because it’s only in three days’ time, it’s going to be tough.
“But we’re capable of doing it. I’m not afraid of it.
“It’s not that we’re not playing good football. We just have to give a little bit more in front of the goal.”
The Heart didn’t operate with anywhere near the goalscoring efficiency of Ifill, who dominated the second half to steer his side over a bad patch of four defeats in their previous five matches.
Ifill delivered twice in an action-packed 11-minute second half period.
First the Barbados international latched on to a deflected Vince Lia pass on 62 minutes to slot the ball past Heart goalkeeper Clint Bolton.
Then as he began to assert his influence in the front third, the Heart lost Thompson as he clattered clumsily into the striker to earn a second booking and his marching orders from referee Jarred Gillette.
Just three minutes later Ifill had a second and could have had a hat-trick on 78 minutes, but Bolton deflected a clear sight at goal wide of the left-hand post.
The Heart were left lamenting a host of wasted opportunities in the first half and early in the second – Brazilian striker Alex Terra most culpable with two clear-cut chances.
In the first half, Terra was put on goal by a clever Adrian Zahra through ball but shot badly over the bar.
Then Phoenix goalkeeper Mark Paston saved a second Terra chance after Gerald Sibon again sent the Brazilian bearing down on goal.
Soon after Sibon also forced Paston to touch a lofted shot away, and Terra was unable to direct a resulting header with any power towards goal.
“You have to make goals – that’s what it’s all about. We’re not sharp enough doing that at the moment,” van ‘t Schip said.
“We were controlling the game and also having the best chances – clear one-on-one chances.
“If you don’t make those chances you always know the opponent will have their chance.”
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