Loss makes task tougher for next Sydney FC coach - The Australian

Alessandro Del Piero remonstrates with the referee during Sydney FC's match against Adelaide at Allianz Stadium .Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: The Australian

IF you listen carefully, the sound of footsteps you hear is the Sydney FC coaching shortlist suddenly becoming a lot smaller as it dawns on some contenders just what a tough job lies ahead in trying to rescue the shellshocked club.

Whoever takes over the job will most probably walk into a club low on confidence, down on its luck and wondering where the next win will come from after the Sky Blues last night succumbed to their fourth straight loss.

A late Dario Vidosic goal with just two minutes left consigned Sydney to a 2-1 loss at Allianz Stadium in front of just over 13,000. It left the home side at the bottom of the table and allowed Adelaide to maintain its lead at the other end.

The result came as news emerged that former Chelsea manager Avram Grant is now favourite to win the vacant Sydney FC coaching job.

It is understood the Sydney board will meet this morning to finalise the shortlist of applications for a position that has been vacant since the resignation of Ian Crook three weeks ago.

It is believed Sydney is looking at a local coach to fill the role until the end of the season.

While it tried hard against a classy Adelaide United unit, the truth is the home side was outplayed for much of the game and only stayed in contention through a bit of fight and determination.

Sydney looked like escaping with a draw after Yairo Yau scored in the 57th minute to cancel out Fabio Ferreira's 21st-minute goal for the Reds, but it could not hold on and fell to a well-taken goal from man of the match Vidosic.

To be fair, Adelaide probably should have had the game wrapped up before then as it had a legitimate goal disallowed for offside on 14 minutes.

United coach John Kosmina agreed. "We were very good for much of the first half then we stopped playing football," he said. "We let Sydney back into the game and conceded a silly goal. But we started playing again and really came at Sydney. If it was a boxing match then we were worthy winners on points."

Dejected Sydney coach Steve Corica admitted his side was poor in the first half but he was happier with the second-half effort.

"We created chances, got the equaliser then looked the side likely to get the next one," Corica said. "But that's how it goes when your luck is out."

The best you could say about the Sky Blues in the first half was that the effort was there, if nothing else.

Otherwise, they were pretty much second best to a smart, effective Adelaide side that held possession, showed great movement off the ball and continually probed down both flanks to expose Sydney's defence.

Vidosic, in particular, was given far too much room in the middle of the park and he ran the show brilliantly with his ability to hold the ball then spread it either left or right, and sometimes through the centre.

Marcelo Carrusca in midfield also excelled, while Ferreira was dynamite out wide with his exhilarating pace and remarkable skill.