Immediately after full-time, the post-match analysis of Saturday’s Big Blue began with a dissection of Rhyan Grant’s absent-mindedness in the buildup to Melbourne Victory’s goal. Shortly afterwards Sydney FC’s right-back was deservedly named the man of the match. It was a topsy-turvy night.
It was as much a battle of wills as it was football. A pair of strutting alpha clubs and their headstrong coaches refusing to take a backward step in an interstate pissing contest. But what at times may have seemed like posturing and hot air mattered nonetheless.
In the early weeks of the season the prevailing strategic battle has been between competing interpretations of proactive football. Almost all teams, whether at home or away, are now setting out to dominate possession and control tempo; it’s the modern way. But the evenness of the A-League and the uniformity of approach can lead to stalemate. That arm-wrestle for control is vital.
In seasons past Victory might have travelled north happy to sacrifice territory and possession early on to safeguard its defensive structure. Equally, once it became obvious that Sydney were vulnerable to sharp incursions down the flanks the Sky Blues might have instructed their wide attackers to double up on the visiting wingers and place a greater emphasis on avoiding mid-pitch turnovers. Not on Saturday. The Big Blue was a high-stakes face off with neither combatant daring to blink.
The outcome was a collection of moments that combined to form a game, more than the methodical reveal of a cohesive narrative. Such was the power and controversy of those moments, the match soared to dramatic peaks.
In the first half they belonged almost exclusively to Melbourne Victory. Marco Rojas should have scored from open play and Besart Berisha should have buried a spot kick. When he didn’t, the posturing and hot air spilled into ugly goading of the penalty taker that reflected poorly on the Sydney players involved.
After surviving two such gilt-edged chances, and arriving into the game without conceding a goal all season, there was disbelief when Sydney’s defence was so collectively sloppy in allowing Mitch Austin to open the scoring. The well-timed finish capped Austin’s best half for Victory in the A-League, but afforded greater licence there is surely more to come. He appears under instructions to cross early and often to exploit Berisha’s movement on the shoulder of the last defender, but in preseason and at the Central Coast Mariners, Austin looked most dangerous powering his way to the byline or into the box.
Kevin Muscat wasn’t exaggerating when he remarked after the game that his side should have been “2-0 or 3-0 up at half-time”. But at just 1-0, history was still on his side. On 80 of 98 previous occasions that Victory had led at the break in the A-League they’d gone on to win – and only once during the other 18 had they relinquished all three points. But this was a game played in its own bubble to its own rules.
Things began to change after the break as Sydney asserted their will with greater authority. Possession was retained with more composure, denying Victory the forward momentum they rely on.
Grant, Josh Brillante and Alex Brosque in particular displayed the character of a team that would not be cowed. It wasn’t pretty, Brosque especially testing Chris Beath’s patience with a string of indiscretions, but it was further evidence this season’s Sky Blues relish a fight. Graham Arnold seized brilliantly on his team’s growing authority with the introduction of David Carney in the 59th minute, the decisive moment of the game.
“I just thought young [Stefan] Nigro was getting tired,” Arnold told Fox Sports after the game about his observations of Victory’s left-back. “Carns is very good one versus one and having a left-footer on the right side coming inside might cause some trouble”. The veteran did indeed cause trouble, transforming the match with two superbly taken goals. Nigro was culpable for both. Plans won’t always work as effectively as this but the Sydney boss deserves to bask in a few days of managerial glory.
Victory can feel aggrieved that the referee failed to spot Carney’s clear handball in the buildup to his equaliser but the hapless Nigro not only had the misfortune to miss his clearing header but in so doing obscured Beath’s view of a blatant foul.
For Sydney, the Big Blue was always going to be the first major test of the campaign, and it’s one they’ve passed. Five matches for five wins, a settled team and a coach in the groove, the outlook is bright for the table toppers.
For Victory, the season must feel like it’s not yet begun. After a confident preseason and boasting such an imposing squad, results have not matched expectations. Muscat will hope Max Beister is the missing ingredient for his side already playing catch-up, eight points behind the Sky Blues.
