The Aurelio Vidmar era at Melbourne City has started with a 2-0 win over Sydney FC thanks to goals from Steven Ugarkovic and Jamie Maclaren.
City dispensed with Rado Vidosic this week following their 6-0 thrashing at Adelaide United and saw an instant reaction with a committed, controlled performance – aided by a Sydney FC side that offered very little indeed.
The result edges Steve Corica deeper into the mire following another meek performance from the Sky Blues.
This is now their worst ever start to an A-League season, they are yet to score in more than 270 minutes of football and didn’t muster a single shot on target at AAMI Park.
Corica has plenty of credit in the bank with Sydney fans after their Australia Cup triumph, but the lack of adventure and defensive organisation on display in the three games so far is threatening to any coach.
“Definitely we’re not the same team that won the Cup,” he said. “So it’s something we need to obviously look at and we’ve never had a start like this.
“In the Cup, we were playing some great football, we were defending really well and we’re missing a bit of everything at the moment.
“Everyone’s got to take responsibility, I have to take it as well. It’s my responsibility. But the players need to obviously take responsibility as well.
“They’re silly mistakes, some of them, the goals that we’ve been conceding. But you need to stop the rot really. And it has to stop this week.”
His side conceded within 60 seconds of the start of a half for the second week running and, despite multiple changes to the line-up, showed little to suggest that a major improvement is coming soon.
City’s issues were predominantly at the back, having conceded eight in two games, while Sydney’s were up top, and they travelled south having not scored at all this season.
It was hardly the immovable object and the unstoppable force, but something was going to have to give. Pat Wood was given preference over new signing Fabio Gomes, but when his chance came in the opening stages via a Joe Lolley cross, he was on his heels.
English winger Lolley was the most threatening player in the opening half hour, though it was hardly a crowded field. He had four of Sydney’s five first half efforts, but failed to trouble the keeper with any of them.
City were attempting to play a possession game, but found themselves largely playing in front of the opposing defence with little penetration.
Eventually, they found some through winger Marin Jakolis, who began to find himself left alone – inexplicably so – by right back Rhyan Grant.
His runs from deep often threatened but lacked end product, but did enough to force the defence into retreat that, when the opener finally came, he could claim at least a little of the credit.
Sydney were camped on the edge of their own box late in the half as City found some thrust, and after several potshots that flew wide earlier in the half, Ugarkovic finally found his range from the edge of the D to beat Andrew Redmayne in the goal. By the break, it was no more than the hosts deserved.
It got better yet. Jakolis broke free within seconds of the restart, crossing for Maclaren to break a five game scoreless streak and increase the size of the task facing Corica’s men.
Questions, again, could be asked of Grant, who charged at the ball and left his man to run free behind.
Corica had soon seen enough. He rang the changes throughout the half, but his side failed to generate any sustained pressure and of the subs, only Jaiden Kucharski looked likely to create something meaningful.
As City sat on the lead Gomes was able to get on the end of some crosses, but failed to find the target and, by the end, City keeper Jamie Young was still to face a shot on goal.
The City fans ended the game by suggesting Corica’s time might be up tomorrow. That won’t happen, but with a trip to table-topping Adelaide next week before the derby with Western Sydney before the month is out, things need to improve, and fast.
At work
Roar Rookie
It's not just Sydney's worst ever start to a season, it's the worst start for any team in the history of the A League. There's been other teams start with 0 wins, but they had a better GD, or where equal they had at least scored a couple of goals (think this may have been Auckland Kingz)
At work
Roar Rookie
His entire reign, even the trophy years were very dull football. I cannot fathom how he's been charge for this long, other than the board looking save money and have stability in the football department even when it's not warranted.
jupiter53
Roar Pro
We would see a men’s team with lots of young players being fearlessly introduced. And the women would predominantly be in their 30s, lots of imports, and young players not being trusted. Good for the men, but a big loss for the women…..
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Wood at least makes decent runs and decent presses occasionally and his recent goals were some where harder than the tap in. Gomes what exactly does he do well , I dont see anything that says he is even more useful than the youth players. Gomes took a penalty yes but even Redmayne did that recently.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Funny though at the time no was complaining about it except me, everyone this Brazilian striker was the goods after a tap in.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Sydney FC they did something new , it was take a leaf out of the Osama Malik book of defending when he was Adelaide he would come charging forward out of position to cut off the ball. Its a dangerous thing to do even when you have a 50-50 ball but like Osama they did it on any ball. Socceroos against Germany used a desperation offside trap as well. The move of Girdwood Reich back to midfield was a disaster, Brattan was up to his funny business, and Reich was following him. The Good chance was a result, and then they let Ugarkovic free by Reich doing it .After half time it was a doozy you had Brattan, Reich do it, and then they had a 4 on 4 . Then not just one but both Grant and Gurd do it, so they ended up with 2 against the goal keeper and not one was on a 50-50 ball . Corica didnt look devastated at full time, the young guys were at the end of the match. Corica once he gets wind they are going to sack him if thats not his goal, then might look to turn things around.
Harry Brill
Roar Rookie
I was surprised Corica survived the failures of last season. SFC scrapped into the top half of the table despite having a strong squad...
Limo
Roar Rookie
Corica needs to go.
Nonbloke
Roar Rookie
For me it is all about Corica’s body language on the sideline………. he doesn’t have any. Just stands there with his arms folded, occasionally attacking the officials. It seems he is not confident enough to yell instructions to the players. His passive behaviour is reflected in the team.
Garry
Roar Rookie
Sydney lacks pace in most areas so the counterattacking game is slow. We have clever attackers BUT its not working..
Garry
Roar Rookie
might turn out to be a great financial decision tho
Garry
Roar Rookie
Kucharski looks our better attacker..start him!
Garry
Roar Rookie
swap coaches with the women
Garry
Roar Rookie
I think the same of Brattan – sure his passing game is good but he dwells on possession and is slow getting back ps I truly believe thats why Grant gets exposed sometimes..we cant afford both!
Grem
Roar Rookie
He always looked talented. He had that extra bit of class about him and his touch was excellent.
Garry
Roar Rookie
I seriousy think maybe the women and the men should swap coaches!!..ps it wasnt your tipping I was against ..it was saying it 'out loud' :happy:
Grem
Roar Rookie
That is the better question. His success with overseas and young players was extraordinary for Wellington. He had weaker squads in finals.
coolncold
Roar Rookie
Playing defence and counter attack against a weak Melbourne City to end up losing 0-2. In review, Sydney FC has been playing defence and counter attack for years if not a decade. What can they do when visiting the aggressive AU next week? Probably lose! Then the next match is playing WSW home. But the home advantage vs WSW in Sydney is not that big. And WSW is in form. Can Corica survive after losing 5 matches in a row?
AGO74
Roar Rookie
And Segecic is smashing it over in The Netherlands. What a brain f@rt that decision was to send him over there.
AGO74
Roar Rookie
He has these little spurts which save him. Happened last year with a late run into the semis before getting exposed eventually by City. Now the latest spurt is the Australia Cup. He is also helped by Sydney fc being very conservative on this. I think we have sacked 1 manager in 15 years (Farina). This isn’t a bad thing as you don’t want a trigger happy club but you also want a club wanting to stop the rot and sadly for Sydney fc fans this rot has been set in for some time despite the occasional papering over of the cracks.