Ranko Despotovic takes on the Phoenix defence. Photo: Getty Images
The sight of a foreign striker staying back late after training to practise set-pieces was a frequent occurrence at Sydney FC's training ground last season, and that was again the case on Monday morning after their 2-1 win over Wellington Phoenix.
It was not Alessandro Del Piero this time, rather new signing Ranko Despotovic, who continued to work on his finishing while his teammates had all returned to the sheds.
The 30-year-old Serbian became an instant hit with the Sky Blues faithful after netting a 94th-minute winner in front of the Cove, just minutes after the Phoenix equalised.
He was not revelling in the moment for long and, at his first training session after that match, was already working beyond requirements to ensure his dramatic goal would not be a one-off. Despotovic was lining up five balls at a time after the session - from various angles - and practising shots from the edge of the box with both feet.
It is this work ethic and his immediate impact against the Phoenix that have made him popular among his peers, who believe the best is yet to come.
''It's done him the world of good straight away, coming on and getting that last goal for us and three points to seal it,'' goalkeeper Vedran Janjetovic said.
''He's looking sharp. I reckon he's still got a couple of sessions in him until he's really ready to go. He's looking good, he's a great finisher, but there's more to come from him, surely.''
The last-gasp winner against the Phoenix sealed the club's third successive win and has given the squad belief they can contest for the title after ending a sluggish start to the season.
Players were defiant throughout their three-game losing streak, and said confidence stayed strong, although there was a boost in morale at Monday's training session. There was more pace in possession, composure in front of goal and greater awareness and communication, which Janjetovic believed reflected a sense of relief. ''The way we started off, you could tell a few sessions that we were slow,'' he said. ''Now, three wins on the trot, everyone's a bit more happy.''
The Sky Blues face the Newcastle Jets on Saturday night in a battle for third spot, and will come up against the A-League's in-form striker, Adam Taggart. The 20-year-old forward has scored six goals in his past three games, including a hat-trick against Melbourne Heart on Sunday, and has been identified as the man to stop.
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