Sydney FC will begin their long-awaited Asian Champions League campaign against the Suwon Bluewings at Allianz Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:30pm (AEDT).
It’s fair to suggest Sydney FC enter this ACL with as much hope and anticipation as any Australian team ever has. Taking all before them over the last eighteen months, it would actually be a disappointment to all A-League fans if they don’t give this competition a mighty shake.
With such a stable squad and only the omission of Jordi Buijs to cause any disturbance, Sydney will look to apply their usual physical style and explode through their classy front four when they can create the turnover.
Their miserly defence will be even more important than their attack in this competition. It’s the immense pressure they create all over the park and their excellent fitness levels from which which oppositions teams often crumble.
Suwon are not to be underestimated despite the bookies pumping up the tires of the home team. The South Korean powerhouse has won this competition twice and arrives in Sydney after a third-place finish in the K-League and a subsequent play-off.
The speed the visitors will display in possession will be the greatest challenge for Graham Arnold’s men and the pressure required to cause Suwon mistakes on the ball will be considerable.
With quality right across the park, this should be an exciting opener for the Sky Blues as they begin their attempt to become a true powerhouse of Asian football.
Prediction
At home, Sydney will get the win tonight.
Sydney 2 – Bluewings 0.
Catch all the action on The Roar with live coverage starting from 7:30pm (AEDT).
stu
Guest
Nemesis.....agree, the ACL defines the standard of the A-league and as per the old saying 'iron sharpens iron'. For the record I am so far removed from AFL and NRL that it does no register.
Nemesis
Guest
Only 2 years ago, a much lower quality Sydney FC team finished top of their ACL Group. They finished above Guangzhou Evergrande whose player wage bill would be 10x or more that of Sydney FC. Let's not make excuses because Sydney FC lost a match mainly because their coach & players were too arrogant leading into the game & disrespected their opponent. They do that in ALeague every week, but get away with it. They didn't get away with it in ACL. And, SydFC certainly were not disrespectful 2 years ago when they fared well in the ACL.
punter
Guest
I understand what you are staying Stu & totally agree, our league is good, but not to the standard of the Korean or Japanese leagues. This is mainly due to money, they keep some of their, if not most Internationals at home, while all our best are playing in bigger leagues. Plus they can also afford better foreigners.
Nemesis
Guest
"the ACL clearly defines where the a-league sits" And, that's terrific that ALeague has a competition to measure itself. The AFL has no such competition. Can call it the worst professional Aussie Rules competition in the world. I think RL has a 1 match tournament for English RL winners vs Aussie RL winners? 1 match is hardly indicative of anything and, based on what I've read, it's more a Contiki Tour for the visiting team than sport.
stu
Guest
Not an AFL follower. Ok hold onto the Western Sydney success and totally ignore the benign efforts since. I have no problem with following my local team, however there is a propensity for people who have just started to follow the game that are quick to deride other leagues and view the standard of the a-league much higher than it is. the ACL clearly defines where the a-league sits.
stu
Guest
I did not say contributors deride Asian team, I said other leagues.
Nemesis
Guest
Guangzhou Evergrande are not in SydFc's Group.
Rolly
Guest
Hold on didn't The Wanderers win the ACL .last time I looked they play in Australia in the A league .so guess that just blew your arguement out of the water.yes Sydney had a bad game .one bad game does not make for an inferior local comp. Go back to your afl blog.
Cousin Claudio
Roar Guru
Blah Blah blah. . . no one has ever derided other Asian teams. The favourites in Sydney's group Guangzhou Evergrande could only manage a draw at home to lowly Buriram from Thailand, so its not as easy as it looks and leaves the group wide open still. Save your powder till Sydney play a couple more games in the ACL Pippinu.
Kangajets
Guest
it’s not Ffa , or they are so spineless to comment. Do they Ffa even exist . It’s becoming an A league of roughhouse rulz . Any coach or team who relies on over the top aggression, needs referees who are afraid to give early yellow cards and Aussie refs are just soft . I’ve consistently said that all season . There has never been any bad reflection on the skilled Sydney players like nink Adrian and bobo ,, but sfc are brutal at times and play Arnie thug ball well . Bosnich said exactly the same the other night . He said city should take matters into their own hands . But , maybe I just hope for an ideal world, where flowing attack after attack is the standard for the A league.
Kangajets
Guest
My left foot You have nailed it
MyLeftFoot
Guest
Just got a new contract.
MyLeftFoot
Guest
You must admit that was a crazy game, definitely not usual. Anyway I think I can make a blanket statement if it's true, unless you think Mat Simon who hasn't scored in two seasons offers more than a thug, or a youth striker? Notice Sydney didn't get away with constant fouling and as soon as their twin midfield players got yellows, they had to be careful and not foul to reset the defence like they do in the HAL.
MyLeftFoot
Guest
Arzani, Champness , Italiano are three who are more technical and offer as much if not more than most journey men.
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
Last night's game got better ratings than the Victory v Hyundai game
stu
Guest
Or perhaps Sydney, as the leading team in the A-league simply confirm our teams are not in the same class as the leading Asian contenders. Many on these pages are quick to claim a-League teams are of quality, and equally quick to deride other leagues.
Kangajets
Guest
Yeah mate totally agree , exciting times ahead I’ve said all season , that Newcastle at full strength will be in the grand final, but it’s now about consolidating their belief and building the combination with O’Donovan and get some good wins before finals , or as others keep saying on this site , that Newcastle will fall to pieces. .. but not likely I m o I’ll settle for a win over the in form Wanderers tomorrow for starters . Next season. I think the jets will be going for the double.
tigersandys
Guest
the fact is Csl scores 56.267 points in current AFC club points. J-league points is48.200 K-league points is 48.050,HAL only scores 27.700,0 top 2 or 3 CSL teams have always been favourits in the nearest edition and performend as the stornger sides when playing against most of their oppenents shows the league is gradually becoming the best in Asia
Mark
Guest
“We have seen the quality of the youth coming in this season, they are more technical and can do the job just as well.” I’d like to know who you’re referring to there. Surely not the youngsters that went to Vietnam and we’re bundled out in the Group Stage.
Football is Life
Guest
Hey Kanga Mate I am not sure about how you see it but I am absolutely busting for Sydney to go up to Jets Stadium (should be the full time name of the place) andbtake on a full strength Jets ie Pato Vargas O'Donovan Champness Nabbout the fire power version.