Latest news with #WeAreSydney
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Sky Blues seeking revenge on A-League leaders
Sydney FC star Joe Lolley hopes to get a proper crack at Auckland FC as the Sky Blues bid to put the disappointment of their midweek loss in Singapore behind them by beating the A-League leaders at Allianz Stadium on Saturday. Clinging on to sixth spot on the A-League ladder, the Sky Blues are intent on not only increasing their chances of playing finals football, but also exacting revenge on the Black Knights, who beat them 1-0 with a controversial stoppage-time goal from Nando Pijnaker when the teams met in Auckland in October. English winger Lolley has some personal unfinished business to take care of after lasting only 35 minutes in the narrow defeat before being forced off with injury. Saturday will be the first 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 time we face Auckland at home in your tickets to Saturday's historic game & doubleheader 📷 — Sydney FC (@SydneyFC) April 10, 2025 'I didn't really get much of a go against them,' Lolley said. 'They've been great this season, and they are where they are because that's where they deserve to be. 'They're very difficult to beat and score against, and provide a good threat. It'll be a difficult game, but it's something that we need to do in breaking teams down in a lower (defensive) block. 'Also, they're strong on the counter-attack, so again that's another challenge for us in making sure we're better in that department. 'It's always good to play the team at the top of the table, and if you get a good result, it definitely brings confidence.' Which is what the Sky Blues need after losing 2-0 to Lion City Sailors in their AFC Champions League Two semi-final, first-leg clash in Singapore on Wednesday night. 'We've got to make sure we go out with the right mentality (against Auckland). We know how big of a game it is for us,' Lolley said. The Black Knights, who are coached by former Sydney FC championship-winning mentor Steve Corica, are unbeaten in their past 11 matches as they edge closer to claiming the Premier's Plate in their first season in the competition. A big one in Sydney this Saturday. ✈️ — Auckland FC (@fc_auckland) April 8, 2025 'For us, it's about fighting for silverware,' Corica said. 'We're fighting for something special that no-one's ever done in New Zealand. I'm aware of what's going on below us (on the ladder), but the job's in our hands. 'It's up to us to perform when the pressure's on.' Corica expected Sydney to provide his side with a tough test. 'They are a very good attacking team, so we'll have to make sure defensively we're strong, and that we take our chances when they come,' he said. 'It's about us, what we want to achieve, and how we want to play with and without the ball. We're looking forward to the challenge.'
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Sky Blues seeking ‘smart' display
Sydney FC coach Ufuk Talay has urged a 'smart' away performance from the Sky Blues in the first leg of their AFC Champions League Two quarter-final against South Korean outfit Jeonbuk on Thursday night. With the second leg to take place at Allianz Stadium next Thursday, Talay wants to ensure his team remains on target to reach the semi-finals at the conclusion of the first leg at Yongin Mireu Stadium, 'We'll never set up the team not to lose, and we'll always set up the team to try to win but also we need to be smart, need to manage the game and realise that we do have another 90 minutes after this first game,' Talay said on Wednesday. 'It's very important that we get a positive outcome away from home, which will give us a good opportunity back at home in a week's time.' Our first look at the Yongin Mireu Stadium 🏟️#WeAreSydney | # — Sydney FC (@SydneyFC) March 5, 2025 The Sydney squad has been in South Korea since last Sunday night, and despite the cold conditions, Talay has been pleased with his team's preparations for what he described as a 'massive game'. 'The travel was long but it was OK. Being here longer has helped, the couple of training sessions we've already had here has helped, and the climate being fresh and cold will help us with the way we want to play,' he said. 'There are no nerves. It's another game against a good opponent, and we've shown in the past that we lift for these big occasions so we're looking forward to the challenge. 'This competition is very important for us as a club. We want to play in these big games.' Talay said the big-game experience of Sydney's Brazilian marquee man Douglas Costa would be vital against a Jeonbuk team coached by former Tottenham star Gus Poyet. 'He's a great player … and he does influence games and he does change games,' Talay said.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Sydney FC eager to revive ALM title charge
As they fight to win silverware in Asia, Sydney FC boss Ufuk Talay is well aware his side can ill-afford any further slip-ups in the A-League Men (ALM) as they look to break back into the top six. Fancied as one of the favourites for the title before the season started, Sydney side are languishing in seventh, outside the finals spots by two points, with nine rounds left to play. The Sky Blues have just one ALM win in their last six games and face Macarthur FC on Saturday in a match which could have major ramifications for both teams' seasons. The Bulls are eighth but can overtake Sydney with victory. Talay, whose side reached the last eight of the Asian Champions League 2 last week, said his side needed little reminder of their need to improve on the domestic front. Douglas Costa magic 🪄🇧🇷A fitting goal to seal an epic encounter ☄️#WeAreSydney | #ACLTwo — Sydney FC (@SydneyFC) February 20, 2025 "The boys know where we're sitting and where we want to get to, and I think they understand the importance of this game," Talay said. "There's always going to be games we look back at where we could have got better results than we did. "I think the boys have worked tirelessly. There's not a game where I can turn around and fault their attitude and mentality. "Yes, it's a results driven business, but I think we've got the quality too to get us we want to get to." In welcome news on Thursday, Sydney learned that their ACL2 quarter-final first leg - away to South Korean side Jeonbuk Motors - had been relocated due to a poor playing surface. Sydney will now play in Yongin, much closer to the capital of Seoul, in a move which will massively reduce the travel load on Talay's men. "We'll look at Jeonbuk once we get through the game on Saturday against Macarthur," Talay said. "We travel on Sunday, so we will get over nice and early and give us an opportunity to get our feet on the ground straight away." Talay said the only player under an injury cloud was defender Alex Popovic, while the Sydney boss confirmed that Tiago Quintal would link up with the Sky Blues in South Korea after completing national team duties with the Young Socceroos.
