Posts Tagged melbourne victory
Sydney FC’s Mark Bridge cops two-game ban
Posted by Malcolm in Uncategorized on October 13, 2011
AAP
Sydney FC claim they had little choice but to accept the two-game A-League ban handed down to striker mark Bridge on Monday.
Bridge will miss clashes against Brisbane and Adelaide after FFA’s match review panel issued the ban as a result of his elbowing Melbourne Victory’s Roddy Vargas at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night.
Sydney FC chief executive Dirk Melton said the club would have appealed the suspension had a longer ban been handed down.
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However, under current FFA disciplinary regulations, a player or club is not entitled to appeal a decision unless the player receives a suspension over the two-game minimum.
“With the way the FFA disciplinary regulations are structured, there is no realistic avenue for Sydney FC to appeal the decision of the match review panel or to state a case in Mark’s defence,” Melton said.
“Mark was standing his ground trying to charge down a free kick when he was illegally taken out of the game by a Melbourne Victory player.
“… We don’t believe there was conclusive evidence to highlight there was contact to the throat of the player as mark was trying to push him aside to take up his position and challenge for the ball.”
Emerton scores in Sydney FC debut
Posted by Malcolm in Uncategorized on September 26, 2011
AAP
Prized recruit Brett Emerton scored on debut for Sydney FC in a 2-2 draw with Perth in their A-League pre-season match at Kogarah on Saturday.
A crowd of 3577 watched Emerton line up in a right-sided midfield role for Sydney, who twice surrendered a one-goal lead.
Emerton was involved in both Sydney goals, confidently converting a second half penalty, as his new club ended a pre-season scoring drought stretching just over five hours.
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“I thought it was quite good, the first half an hour I thought the team performed quite well and then after conceding the goal I thought we got quite sloppy,” Emerton told reporters.
“But I thought all in all we gelled fairly well together and it was good to finally be out there and play my first game.
“I played on the right today but I think I’m quite comfortable in numerous positions all over the park so I’m sure as the season progresses you’ll probably see me play in different roles.”
Making his Sydney debut a day after fellow Socceroo Harry Kewell’s first game for Melbourne Victory in Adelaide, Emerton got through some good work before being substituted in the 54th minute.
“The reception I got was fantastic so it’s great to be back in Sydney and playing in front of the crowd and hopefully that’ll continue,” Emerton said.
Emerton should have scored Sydney’s opening goal, but hit the post from just a few metres out after Perth goalkeeper Danny Vukovic pushed a Nick Carle shot in his direction in the 19th minute.
However, Carle pounced on the rebound to score.
Perth recruit and former Republic of Ireland under-21 international striker Billy Mehmet rounded off good leadup work to equalise in the 35th minute.
Emerton put Sydney ahead again from the spot after Mark Bridge was fouled.
“I heard Nicky (Carle) missed one last week so I thought I’d step up,” Emerton joked.
“But it’s good to get on the score sheet in the first game and hopefully many more to come.”
The lead lasted just two minutes, as Todd Howarth fired home from close range after Sydney’s defender and halftime substitute Sebastian Ryall fluffed an attempted clearance.
Sydney looked more dangerous early with Carle looking lively, but Perth played with more authority as the game progressed and both teams had chances to win.
Perth coach Ian Ferguson felt his team improved after letting themselves down early and wasn’t happy with the penalty awarded against his team.
“We were good value for the last 60 to 70 minutes,” Ferguson said.
Glory midfielder Liam Miller was stretchered off late in the game due to a severe case of cramping.
Australia international Brett Emerton to commence training with Sydney FC on Monday
Posted by Malcolm in Uncategorized on September 17, 2011
Sydney FC’s marquee signing Brett Emerton is to commence training with his new club on Monday and captain Terry McFlynn says the Socceroo’s arrival couldn’t have come at a better time.The Sky Blues face Newcastle Jets on Saturday in a warm-up game before taking on Perth Glory the following weekend as their pre-season preparation gets into full-swing ahead of their season-opener against bitter rivals Melbourne Victory on October 8.”It’s exciting to be moving a step closer to the start of the competition proper,” McFlynn told AAP on Friday.”As a player the start of the league is always something that drives you during pre-season. We’re looking forward to testing ourselves against Newcastle. They have brought in some good players, as we have, and we can’t wait to get onto the pitch tomorrow.”McFlynn also believes that the arrival of Emerton and the signings of Pascal Bosschaart, Socceroo Michael Beauchamp and former Perth Glory player Jamie Coyne should put them in a good position for the start of the season following last years’ dismal campaign.”As a squad we are fitter and ready to take on Newcastle and Perth over the next two weeks but the real focus is on Melbourne Victory on October 8 for the start of the league,” McFlynn said.Emerton, who left Premier League side Blackburn Rovers after eight years to return home to the A-League will miss Saturday’s clash against Newcastle, but should be in contention for the game against Perth the following weekend.
Australia international Brett Emerton to commence training with Sydney FC on Monday
Sydney FC begin with draw against Korea
Posted by Malcolm in Uncategorized on March 6, 2011
Sydney FC held on to salvage a point despite losing captain Terry McFlynn to a red card in the first half of their Asian Champions League opener against Korea’s Suwon Bluewings.
The reigning A-League champions kicked off their campaign with a scoreless draw at the Sydney Football Stadium on Wednesday in a fiery encounter that saw McFlynn dismissed after just 34 minutes.
The Northern Irishman was sent off after stomping on the arm of Suwon striker Lee Sang-Ho, meaning he is now likely to miss Sydney’s next match, away to Japan’s Kashima Antlers on March 16, through suspension.
While the decision to send off McFlynn enraged many of the 7095 fans, the Sky Blues refused to fall in a heap and fought on well with some desperate scrambling defence to ensure a share of the points.
The performance went some way to making amends for the ACL’s Australian contingent after Melbourne Victory were hammered 5-1 away to Gamba Osaka in their opening clash on Tuesday night.
Unlike the Victory, Sydney were competitive from the outset against a Suwon outfit boasting four current Korean internationals but looking rusty having not played a competitive match since November.
Sydney FC coach Vitezslav Lavicka handed a debut to new signing David Williams and the former North Queensland man put in a lively 70-minute shift that earned the admiration of the home fans.
Fellow short-term recruit Andrew Durante also saw game time, coming on for the final 10 minutes.
The best chance for either side fell to Suwon’s Choi Sung-Kuk, who should have scored when played in behind the line by a splendid through ball but he blasted over the bar in the eighth minute.
The real talking point, though, came when McFlynn was given his marching orders.
The skipper was engaged in a tussle with Lee and the striker went to ground before McFlynn trod on the striker’s arm as he appeared to try to play on.
Despite protests the stomp was unintentional, Singaporean referee Abdul Bashir had no hesitation flashing the red card, earning a hostile response from the Sydney fans.
Although a man down, Sydney looked to grow into the game as neither side was able to create too much in attack.
Sydney looked slightly more under siege after halftime with Yan Sang-Min testing Liam Reddy from long range and oh Jang-Eun coming close with a spectacular scissor kick.
But Sydney fought well with striker Bruno Cazarine putting in an inspirational defensive effort to help get the job done and almost finding a late winner in the dying seconds.
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Sydney FC’s Foxe hangs up his boots
Posted by Malcolm in Uncategorized on February 28, 2011
Sydney FC defender Hayden Foxe has announced his retirement from football with immediate effect.
The former Socceroos, West Ham, Leeds United and Ajax centre-half, informed his teammates of his decision at training on Tuesday and will not feature in the Sky Blues' Asian Champions League campaign.
The 33-year-old joined Sydney FC midway through the 2009/10 A-League season and went on to score a penalty in the grand final win over the Melbourne Victory.
“everyone has had an impact in some way on my career from people behind the scenes to coaches and of course the players. I want to thank them for that”, Foxe said.
“it has been a rollercoaster ride. the highs have been really high while the lows were low but I wouldn't change anything.”
“I have made a lot of great friends in my time in football and I will have those forever.
“I will enjoy some time away from the game in the short term but I have aspirations of being a professional coach and that is what I will pursue.”
Sydney FC coach Vitezslav Lavicka said Foxe would be sorely missed.
“Hayden is a true professional, a great leader and an experienced player that helps the team every time he is at training, in a game and even in personal situations. I will miss him,” Lavicka said.