Sydney FC have cut the gap between themselves and A-League leaders Perth to three points with four games remaining in the regular season.
Sydney FC have put the pressure on Perth to keep performing or risk setting the stage for a Premiers Plate blockbuster on Thursday week.
The Sky Blues moved to within three points of the A-League pacesetters after claiming a last-gasp 2-1 win over third-placed Melbourne Victory on Saturday.
The Glory can extend their lead back to six points if they can take care of business against last-placed Central Coast on Sunday.
However, a slip-up against the Mariners, or Newcastle next week, could set up a premiership-deciding contest against Sydney FC in two weeks time.
Reminded that the victory puts the onus back on Perth, Corica said: “It does. I’m looking forward to seeing that (Central Coast) game.”
The win against Melbourne Victory kickstarts a challenging month that also includes two Asian Champions League clashes and next week’s Sydney derby.
Sydney, who host reigning Chinese champions Shanghai SIPG at Jubilee Oval on Wednesday, finish their regular season against the Jets.
Perth round out their campaign by hosting Wellington.
“Every game we need to win, from now until the end of the season,” Corica said.
“What happens with Perth is out of our control until next week, when we play them. And then that’s in our control.”
Corica will be buoyed by another strong effort from import Siem de Jong, who came off the bench to set up the late game-winner for Milos Ninkovic.
It came a week after the Dutchman returned from a long injury layoff as a substitute to score a goal and assist on another.
“We knew when he comes on and there’s more space, it’s better for him as well,” Corica said of nursing de Jong through his comeback.
“But he’s going to have to start very soon once he gets his fitness up and he can last the majority of the game.”
At work
Roar Rookie
Okay I’ve been moderated. My comment in summary was this comment section is full of negative types talking about TV ratings, well done you just be so proud to follow your beloved AFL who is oh so glorious and not full of itself. Anyway Sydney’s chance of overtaking Perth is slim as Perth only require a single win from their last 3 to win the premiership.
alexp
Guest
now do central coast marriners v perth
Punter
Roar Rookie
Let's get it into perspective. Giants do play in the world's most popular AFL competition, they are also playing in the No 1 sporting competition in Australia in Australia's biggest city. They are playing the most popular AFL team in the world and only third game in Sydney after a 6 months break. While SFC at the end of a long season, where off field issues have dominated the on field games in a 3rd tier football competition World wide. This is huge win for football.
Beach
Roar Rookie
Fad, you are akin to a drowning man trying to stay afloat on a splinter
Beach
Roar Rookie
The A League is collapsing in fast forward. A number of us have been aware of the gravity of the problem for several seasons but I don't think anyone anticipated the speed of the decline.
Jordan Klingsporn
Roar Guru
Kayo, yes My Rugby, no
Fadida
Roar Rookie
Do super rugby have streaming services?
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Lot's of discussion on sokkahtwitter about these ratings. We've certainly reached a brand new low and we might need some serious discussion on the Roar about this issue. It's incredible to see a Super Rugby game getting double the ratings of a marquee A-League fixture, involving the two biggest clubs in the land, both top 3 and serious challengers for the championship. The ratings for the other game were rock bottom, would be impossible to record a lower number. We need to work out some solutions, the time to shoot the messenger is long past. We must all now face reality and have a civilised, serious discussion.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Stevo let us just say that the latest ratings I saw are so low, you can quadruple them for everyone watching on their devices and it's still a low figure
Fadida
Guest
I watched it on My Football. My eyes aren't counted
Stevo
Roar Rookie
It’s all about streaming. Do Foxtel GO streams count towards the ratings? With the missus on the remote these days I now pretty much stream the games to my PC screen.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Although I just noticed the Fox ratings for yesterday's A-League games are woeful, beyond woeful, one game in particular got the worst ratings I've ever seen in TV history
Mister Football
Roar Guru
At least SFC got about 1,500 more fans through the gates than the Giants did at Giants Stadium earlier in the day, that's a win for soccer.
Punter
Roar Rookie
Tiny Deflection, enough to take it away from the keeper's safekeeping.
Jordan Klingsporn
Roar Guru
Sydney 1st goal: Own Goal Victory 1st goal: No Own Goal but massive deflection Victory 2nd goal: No deflection, good goal Sydney 2nd goal: Big Own Goal Victory 3rd goal: Tiny deflection
Punter
Roar Rookie
Yes it's the immaturity of the sports in this country that football stupidly follows.
Punter
Roar Rookie
There was an own goal that got MV in front as well.
Jordan Klingsporn
Roar Guru
Unlucky deflection?????? How about the luck SFC got from Terry Antonis' own goal in the dying seconds to go to extra time. That was way more lucky then the tiny deflection.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Precisely why many soccer fans prefer the traditional European way of determining the league champion. Will we ever be mature enough in this country to do soccer the correct way?
Fadida
Roar Rookie
It's this Australian thing of needing an "event". Rather than simply choose an appropriate football stadium we want to host it at ANZ or the SCG, Adelaide Oval, despite there being no atmosphere, a terrible service and miles from the ground . Fans aren't fooled