Captain's knocks, new faces and match-winning braces: The A-League players who were the difference in Round 19
Round 19 was an interesting weekend of football with no draws, 19 goals in six matches, two five-goal games on Sunday and for the…
Sydney FC’s highest-paid player will take no part in their Asian Champions League campaign, after marquee Filip Holosko was omitted from the squad.
Holosko and Senegalese defender Jacques Faty are the two foreigners who didn’t make the cut in Graham Arnold’s final 25-man team, with ACL rules allowing for only three non-Asian visa players.
The coach has instead opted to rely on a trio of midfielders in Serbians Milos Ninkovic and Milos Dimitrijevic, and Faty’s cousin Mickael Tavares.
Arnold put Holosko’s exclusion not down to form, rather injury concern – the Slovak winger did not play in the weekend’s 2-1 home loss to Perth due to a hamstring complaint.
“Filip has struggled getting used to the hard pitches in the A-League this season, having come from Europe, and has been nursing a niggling hamstring injury all campaign,” he said.
“After speaking with him, we both felt he would be best served saving himself for the A-League and avoiding the long travel which could put his whole season in jeopardy.”
With six goals from 16 A-League appearances, Holosko’s absence could be a tough prospect for a team struggling in front of goal this season.
The recent addition of David Carney will at least offer another solid option on the right wing.
Arnold insisted Faty was also happy to avoid the long travel in favour of preserving his physical fitness.
“They understand it’s a difficult decision, and one we have made with the ambition of winning both competitions,” he said.
“It’s been explained to them clearly that they aren’t being dropped or disrespected.”
Sydney are about to embark on an arduous and unenviable fortnight featuring five tough yet crucial matches.
Four days after this Saturday night’s Sydney derby, the Sky Blues will travel to Japan for their first group-stage match against J-League heavyweights Urawa Red Diamonds.
Three days after that they head to Melbourne to face Victory, before hosting reigning ACL champions Guangzhou Evergrande and then returning to Melbourne to clash with City.
The gruelling schedule only compounds the pressure on last year’s A-League grand finalists, who have slid to sixth place and are in very real danger of slipping out of finals contention.
February 24
Urawa Red Diamonds v Sydney FC
Saitama Stadium 2002, Saitama
Kick-off: 7.30pm (local), 9.30pm (AEDT)
March 2
Sydney FC v Guangzhou Evergrande
Allianz Stadium
Kick-off: 8pm (AEDT)
March 16
Pohang Steelers v Sydney FC
Pohang Steelyard, Pohang
Kick-off: 7.30pm (local), 9.30pm (AEDT)
April 5
Sydney FC v Pohang Steelers
Allianz Stadium
Kick-off: 8pm (AEST)
April 20
Sydney FC v Urawa Red Diamonds
Allianz Stadium
Kick-off: 8pm (AEST)
May 3
Guangzhou Evergrande v Sydney FC
Tianhe Stadium
Kick-off: 6.30pm (local), 8.30pm (AEST)