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Sydney held goalless but retain pole position in ACL

They were playing to top their Asian Champions League group with a match to spare, but Sydney FC couldn’t quite get the job done last night against Urawa Red Diamonds.

Apr 21, 2016, updated Apr 21, 2016
Muto Yuki of the Urawa Red Diamonds reacts after a missed strike on goal. Photo: Dean Lewins, AAP.

Muto Yuki of the Urawa Red Diamonds reacts after a missed strike on goal. Photo: Dean Lewins, AAP.

Sydney played out a scoreless draw with the Japanese giants at a torn-up Allianz Stadium, safe in the knowledge they were already through to the knockout stage thanks to Guangzhou Evergrande’s win over Pohang Steelers 24 hours earlier.

Graham Arnold’s Group H leaders remain two points clear of the Reds, but whether they progress in first place and secure a favourable round-of-16 match-up will come down to the final fixtures in a fortnight.

Sydney’s final group match is a tough away trip to China to face Guangzhou Evergrande, although the cashed-up defending champions are no chance of advancing.

Finish top and they’ll likely avoid FC Seoul, and could instead play Chinese outfit Shandong Luneng FC.

In a match offering little excitement, goalkeeper Vedran Janjetovic stole the show by saving the hosts from conceding late.

The Reds fashioned the best chance of both teams 10 minutes from time when Yosuke Kashiwagi capitalised on a quick break with a brilliant backheel to Shinzo Koroki.

Koroki struck low at point blank, but Janjetovic crouched lower and the forward could not make good on his second shot.

That was the highlight, but Sydney were under pressure from the start.

Within the first 10 minutes, Tadanari Lee’s well-timed shot sailed just wide, and Janjetovic pounced on a Tsukasa Umesaki cross a split second before Slovenian striker Zlatan Ljubijankic arrived for tap-in duty.

Tomoaki Makino, who produced the sublime long ball for Umesaki, ran the defence but Sydney still managed to concoct their own attacking forays with teenage striker George Blackwood making a couple of impressive solo runs and Chris Naumoff shaving the near post just before the break.

They just couldn’t find a large enough opening, and Arnold finally introduced benched playmaker Milos Ninkovic for added spark.

Both Sydney’s camp and the 8803 crowd appealed for a late penalty when Blackwood appeared to be hauled down in the box, but their screams went unanswered.

Both coaches bemoaned the poor state of the pitch, which was ripped to shreds after the NSW Waratahs and Sydney Roosters both played home games in wet conditions over the last few days.

Arnold revealed Ninkovic felt too apprehensive to start on such a bad surface after copping a knock on his knee during training two days ago.

“When we saw the pitch he was a little bit vulnerable about starting the game,” Arnold said.

“We only made the decision just before we did the team sheet to start Naumoff ahead of him because he wasn’t confident.

“It was tough for both teams on a field like that, it wasn’t an easy surface to play on.

“But overall we did very well – they’re a very difficult team to play against.”

Mihailo Petrovic was happy to take a point and keep his side in contention to finish top of the group.

“Obviously if the pitch conditions were better, we could have played a better game,” Petrovic said.

“Also, we played on Saturday night and only had four days’ rest while Sydney FC had 10 days’ rest.

“Considering this, we fought very hard.”

-AAP

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