Skip to Content Skip to Navigation

News

Sydney looks within

Sydney looks within

03/05/2010 09:03:39 PM

Sydney FC midfielder Stuart Musialik insists he has no interest in whether injured Melbourne Victory duo Archie Thompson and Robbie Kruse will make surprise returns for the second leg of the major semi-final at the SFS on Sunday.

Both Thompson (foot) and Kruse (ankle) trained with the Victory squad in Melbourne on Friday, with coach Ernie Merrick confirming both strikers will make the journey to Sydney ahead of the blockbuster clash.

While neither player is capable of playing a full 90 minutes, any game time they receive would be a massive bonus for the visitors given that Nik Mrdja is unavailable through suspension.

But Musialik is confident the Sky Blues, who trail 2-1 on aggregate heading into the deciding leg of the tie, can repeat the performance that saw them claim the Premiers Plate with a 2-0 win over their arch rivals on the final day of the regular season.

"We're not really worried about who plays for them," Musialik said.

"We're going to focus on our own job and go out there and worry about what they're doing, and it doesn't really matter who they've got out."

"We're in pretty much the exact same situation that we were in to win the minor premiership."

"That was three weeks ago but it's just pretty much the same game re-enacted, so we need a 1-0 win (to advance to the grand-final) and we're confident we can go out and do the job."

Despite his confidence, Musialik admits star midfielder Carlos Hernandez is one player the Sky Blues won't be taking lightly.

The crafty Costa Rican found the back of the net in the opening leg of the tie at Etihad Stadium but was below his best on his most recent outing at the SFS.

"Hopefully I can keep him quiet again on Sunday," Musialik said of the Johnny Warren medallist.

"Whenever he's involved Melbourne's definitely a much stronger outfit when he gets on the ball and can orchestrate things for them, so hopefully we'll be able to keep him quiet on the weekend."

"He's a very smart player and he likes to get himself into sneaky little holes off your shoulder and that sort of thing so it's just about being smart and trying to be aware of where he is when more so when we've got the ball."

Meanwhile, coach Vitezslav Lavicka admits his side was not as switched on as he would have liked them to be in the opening leg, but is quietly confident his charges can turn things around in front of a parochial Sydney crowd.

"I think we were physically good but maybe mentally it was difficult to switch on immediately a couple of days after we achieved the (Premiership)," Lavicka said of the last-start loss.

"But that's football, we scored one goal and we lost the game but still we have a real chance to qualify (for the grand final)."

In injury news, Sydney defender Shannon Cole is in serious doubt for the clash with a hamstring injury suffered in the Socceroos' 1-0 victory over Indonesia on Wednesday.

Former Victory player Sebastian Ryall is expected to start the match at right-back if Cole fails to complete the side's final training session on Saturday.

 

Latest Headlines

Dufner moves into top 10
Dufner moves into top 10
05/28/2012 11:20:57 AM
Jason Dufner moved into the top 10 in golf's world rankings for the first time after his ...
 
 
Pulse outgun Steel
Pulse outgun Steel
05/28/2012 10:19:01 AM
The Central Pulse have picked up their fourth win of the season with a 58-50 victory over ...
 
 
Adelaide keen for another scalp
Adelaide keen for another scalp
05/28/2012 09:37:10 AM
Adelaide United have their sights firmly set on a quarter-final berth as they look to ...
 
 
Yakubu set to leave Blackburn
05/28/2012 09:00:45 AM
 
Carroll ready to shine at Euros
05/28/2012 08:58:43 AM
 
Kompany: England may surprise
05/28/2012 08:48:18 AM
 
Knights sign Broncos discard
05/28/2012 08:27:12 AM
 
Tapia's life ends at 45
05/28/2012 08:05:07 AM
 
Eagles star faces ban
05/28/2012 07:55:10 AM
 
 
 

Our Say

Freo's failure comes down to talent
Freo's failure comes down to talent
05/27/2012 11:02:27 PM
Fremantle's finals hopes are in disarray but the dire situation they find themselves in ...
 
 
Cats need kick up the backside
05/25/2012 11:13:51 PM
 
Interstate sides back on top
05/23/2012 02:51:54 AM
 
Crackers' Call: Dees sinking further
05/21/2012 02:16:28 AM
 
Is it too late to make the eight?
05/20/2012 09:38:56 PM