The loss of key personnel isn’t worrying Sydney FC coach Steve Corica, who has hailed the runaway A-League leaders’ depth following a gutsy win over their closest rivals.
A 2-1 home victory over second-placed Melbourne City on Sunday gave the Sky Blues a whopping nine-point buffer at the top of the league.
While they are now firm favourites to win the Premiers Plate, Corica stressed that there was more than half the season remaining.
Not even having Socceroos right back Rhyan Grant, who was sent off after 25 minutes, and missing a penalty fazed Sydney, who overturned an early deficit to stretch their unbeaten run to nine games with eight wins.
The Sky Blues produced a resolute defensive effort despite being without Grant and two other lynchpins, left back Michael Zullo (calf) and holding midfielder Brandon O’Neill (knee), who have both missed the last three games through injury.
Youngster Joel King has slotted into left back and versatile Paulo Retre has also played there as well as in midfield, with the latter a prime candidate to fill in at right back for the suspended Grant.
‘It’s very positive for us even without those two (O’Neill and Zullo),” Corica said.
“Paulo Retre has been wonderful in the midfield, Joel King is doing really well at left back.
‘It just shows thew depth that we have and the players that have come in have done a great job
“It’s just business as normal, they know their roles they come in and do a great job.
‘”It makes it harder for these boys coming back to get back into the team because we keep winning.”
Corica hoped Zullo would be back for next week’s home game against Adelaide United, but thought it would be a couple more weeks before O’Neill was available.
He also hailed the efforts of Anthony Caceres who came on for the second half in place of playmaker Alex Baumjohann, to add some more defensive starch to Sydney’s midfield.
Sydney had almost an equal amount of possession despite being a man down for most of the game.
“Our fitness was fantastic, full credit to our medical staff and our our strength and conditioning, because they saw the game out, I thought we looked fresh towards the end,” Corica said.
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