Mariners claim advantage in A-League semi-final tie after victory over nine-man Sydney FC
The Sky Blues took the lead at home but couldn't hold on as the Mariners came back to claim a 2-1 win in the first leg of the semifinal.
Sydney coach Ian Crook was a relieved man after the win, admitting he even started to doubt his coaching approach after his side’s opening two losses.
After looking disjointed in their opening games, the Sky Blues were much more cohesive and Crook said things were starting to click.
“Certainly for me I felt some relief,” Crook said.
“You start to question yourself a little bit but for me it was all about the players tonight, they were brilliant.”
Crook said Del Piero was also fitting in better with every match.
“It’s getting to know people and playing with them and knowing what they need, where they’re going to be,” he said.
“We haven’t had a lot of time as a team to do that. But it’s gradually picked up.”
Wanderers coach Tony Popovic had no complaints about the penalty, and was confident his side was on the right track despite a second successive loss.
“I think performance-wise it was good,” Popovic said.
“… I can’t say anything bad about the players’ effort, work rate, commitment. We just need that something to happen for us in that final third.
“We’ll keep improving and we’ll get better.”
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The Sky Blues took the lead at home but couldn't hold on as the Mariners came back to claim a 2-1 win in the first leg of the semifinal.
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