Sydney coach Frank Farina had a drink thrown over him and disgruntled fans staged a mass walkout, as the slumping Sky Blues created an unwanted piece of club history on Saturday with a 3-0 A-League home loss to Adelaide.
It was the first time Sydney have suffered three straight home losses and the result enabled Adelaide to leapfrog them into fifth on the ladder and record just their second win in 10 away games.
First-half goals to Bruce Djite and Fabio Ferreira and a late strike from substitute Jeronimo Neumann sealed the points for surging Adelaide, who have lost just one of their past nine games.
Sydney, who have won only one of their past eight, could fall to as low as eighth, depending on Sunday’s results.
A big banner with the wording “We want Farina gone” was raised in The Cove, Sydney’s main supporter area, before the game and the atmosphere soured even once on-field action commenced.
The two goals added to the tension and a fan was escorted out by security officials after drenching Farina with a drink.
Fans started leaving after 20 minutes and much of the Cove area emptied at halftime with disenchanted supporters taking their protests outside the stadium.
Adelaide dominated possession early, though Sydney squandered the first good chance with Hagi Gligor blazing over from close range.
Djite threaded a shot into the net in the 12th minute following good lead-up work from Isias and Ferreira.
Adelaide doubled their lead when Ferreira latched onto a downfield clearance by Michael Zullo from a Sydney corner and outmuscled Gligor and lashed the ball into the net.
Marcelo Carrusca also smashed a shot against the post as Adelaide dominated against a shellshocked and despondent home team.
Sydney created a couple of chances as Branko Despotovic had a strong shot pushed away by Eugene Galekovic and Alessandro Del Piero curled a free-kick wide.
Sydney were far more competitive after the break, creating several chances as Adelaide appeared content with what they had.
Del Piero put a free-kick just over and had a cheeky chip well taken by Galekovic, while Despotovic missed a couple of good chances and Corey Gameiro also blasted over.
Adelaide swelled their lead when Jeronimo tapped in from close range.
RBBAnonymous
Guest
What you also fail to mention is that two banners held up were probably not approved. There is no way the club would have approved those banners. Sure it may have been harmless enough, but thats hardly the point. Much like your banner about Melbourne Victory. Your fans love to point out infractions made by other clubs and the fact you "self police". But when the shoe is on the other foot you just dont want to know about it and cry innocent. If you didnt bring the banners in the first place all this unpleasantness could have been avoided by your hooligan mob. There would be no mass walk out, no headlines. You have a fan forum slated on the 18th Feb as well, but you just couldnt wait could you. You give me so much free ammunition of course we are going to take pot shots. Like shooting fish in a barrel, too easy.
onside
Guest
Granted, but what if message is wrong. Many Cove supporters appear (on TV) to be quite young . They have their chants ,songs and football paraphernalia, like scarfs in the heat of a Sydney summer. There is the replication of EPL club mantras, instant identification, a tribal sense of belonging. But as important, colourful, and entertaining as all this is to the game, there's something missing. The sign about Farina was out of order. Regardless of current supporter feelings, it was immature. The leader of the group should have said no to his young followers,most of whom have probably never played football at anything more at least than local under age level, do not truly understand the game, and see things through a superficial over simplistic prism of, win good, lose bad.
realfootball
Guest
Yep - a cockup.
realfootball
Guest
Having a go at the protesting fans is simply shooting the messenger.
Kasey
Guest
The best thing to come out of this - besides the excellent performance of the Reds!!:) is that the beer throwing will likely result in the banishing of those damned Bunnings chairs!...Now that SFC fans have given Cranky Franky a Beer Shower, we should see the widespread introduction of proper football dugouts ASAP:) Not before time IMO.
Batou
Guest
The author missed the key point as a few others have already said. That's a pretty big omission. Also, its Ranko Despotovic. Branko (Culina) was our manager several years ago for a short space of time
ciudadmarron
Guest
This explains why you lot had to go back inside to get more people out, and those that did leave at that point (instead of meekly moving to the sides) were chanting "farina out". If you want the focus to be on the ridiculous club/security measures then maybe continuing those chants outside wasn't the best move, because that's what the press picked up on. The cove thinks security at a-league games has gone too far and turn their backs on the club... who would have thunk it.
gawa
Guest
How is it possible to write an article on this game including the walkout by some Sydney FC fans without mentioning the reason for their walkout? Either the writer was unaware of the removal of the banner which led to the ejection of some supporters or the writer purposely omitted this information from the article to leave readers with the impression that supporters walked out in protest at the performance of the team. Either way simply not good enough from the writer.
Cappuccino
Roar Guru
This article is blatantly wrong. What awful journalism. It implies that the Cove started leaving the ground because of the on-field performance. This is not true. The Cove walked because their capo and his wife was ejected from the ground for no reason other than holding up the "Farina Out" sign- so much for freedom of speech. Some Cove memberships were revoked on the spot. The walkout had nothing to do with what was happening on the field. It was about how the club treated its fans.
bobbym
Guest
ADP as coach now !
ciudadmarron
Guest
"Some things you can't turn your back on". Guess Sydney FC isn't one of them after all huh Covites?
Crashy
Guest
Ah Matty boy, until Sydney FC or whatever they are called approaches close to 140 years of history like the Tahs, then you can make comparisons. Until then I'd leave them out. If what I'm reading is true then this soccer club should be shut down.
Daveski
Guest
Ah yes but Tahs supporters might boo their team at halftime but they wouldn't walk out. Pretty heartless and weak effort by the "Cove".
Matthew Skellett
Guest
I was going to say that Syd FC are like the NSW Waratahs -dedicated worshippers to the Great God Sublime Mediocrity -but I can't (cough cough cough) beeecoz Syd FC have actually WON several titles (this is where where anyone associated with the 'Tahs goes Blah blah blah blah) :-)
Australian Rules
Guest
Sydney FC. Does anyone know what this club stands for?