Sydney FC enter finals in form rut after late defeat to Western United
Sydney FC put in their best performance since the A-League's resumption but a 2-1 loss to Western United only raised more concerns over their form leading into the A-League finals.
Steven Lustica's 90th-minute winner for United soured the evening for Sydney, who were finally presented with the Premiers' Plate they won four games ago. Celebrations with supporters carried the humbling undertone that they head into the elimination games having not won in five games, three of which were defeats.
Familar foe: Besart Besrisha scores for Western United.Credit:Getty
It was a result that - on the balance of play - may have seemed cruel for the Sky Blues, who edged closer towards the fluid and tenacious style synonymous with their games before the league's hiatus in March.
However, their inability to translate an impressive performance into even a solitary point did little to silence their recent detractors, in the last match before the elimination series.
By contrast, United showed they they could be the finals' dark horses with another dogged and disciplined performance that clinched their third successive victory.
In a further blow for Sydney FC, Michael Zullo could be in doubt for the finals series after being forced off early due to a hamstring injury.
Sydney FC are awarded the Premiers' Plate.Credit:Getty
The Sky Blues' concerns grew more worrying soon after. After being criticised by coach Steve Corica for repeated defensive errors, another one proved costly in the 21st minute. Sydney failed to shut down United's Alessandro Diamanti, who unleashed a curling left-foot shot from distance that deceived Sydney goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne. Misreading the flight of the ball, Redmayne palmed the shot straight into the path of Besart Berisha for a tap-in.
Diamanti was a thorn in Sydney's side. He was lucky not to concede a penalty for a possible foul on Adam Le Fondre before almost leaving Redmayne red-faced from 50 metres. The Italian shot from halfway, beating the Sydney goalkeeper but not the crossbar.
Sydney came close to an equaliser through a dipping Luke Brattan free-kick late in the half before Anthony Caceres forced a fine save from United's goalkeeper, Filip Kurto. Driving past two defenders, Caceres fired a powerful shot from the edge of the box that was tipped narrowly wide minutes before the break.
Corica's team talk during the break led to more poise from the Sky Blues in attack and, five minutes after the restart, they found an equaliser. Le Fondre ensured the race for the golden boot will go down to the wire, heading home Brattan's cross at the far post for his 20th goal of the season, drawing him level with Melbourne City's Jamie Maclaren on top of the scoring charts.
With Milos Ninkovic and Alex Baumjohann pulling the strings in the middle, the Sky Blues probed for the lead with a fluency that had been absent in their past four games. The two attacking midfielders have barely played together since the season restart but grew into the contest to show the threat they pose as a duo. They combined to create a chance for fullback Rhyan Grant on the hour that should have led to more than a comfortable save for Kurto.
However, frailties in defence continue to haunt Sydney FC. Just as the match looked to be heading for a draw, Lustica slotted a 90th-minute winner from close range to humble the newly crowned premiers.