Yairo Yau is congratulated by teammates after scoring for Sydney FC against Melbourne Victory at Allianz Stadium. Picture: Adam Taylor Source: The Daily Telegraph
IT was the Big Blue that lived up to its billing, but left the Sky Blues hanging onto a place in the finals for dear life.
On an epic night at Allianz Stadium, Sydney FC's 1-1 draw with Melbourne Victory lifted them a place to fifth, but they could be overtaken by either Brisbane or Perth today as the race to finish in the top six goes right to the wire.
For 90 minutes inspired attacking conspired with kamikaze defending at both ends, to the extent that Victory coach Ange Postecoglou suggested it could have ended 10-5.
A late goal for Yairo Yau rescued a deserved point for Sydney, after Alessandro Del Piero confirmed his mortality by missing a penalty.
"We gave away a poor early goal but after that we were well in the game, and I thought second half we dominated for long periods," said Sydney FC coach Frank Farina.
"After we missed the penalty the boys showed good character and in the end we'll take the point.
"Alessandro has been wonderful for us but it wasn't to be for him tonight. The boys are disappointed but I've told them to start focusing on the Wanderers next week."
After the Wanderers had done them such a favour beforehand, Sydney craved a good start - what transpired couldn't have been worse.
The game was only in its third minute when Archie Thompson, in the centre circle, essayed a peach of a pass down the inside left channel with the outside of his boot, into the path of Connor Pain - the young forward's low cross was bundled in at the far post by Mark Milligan.
The Cove were anguished at seeing one of their former heroes return to haunt them, but it could have got worse as Pain ran amok down the flanks.
Sydney FC v Melbourne Victory at Allianz Stadium in Sydney. Alessandro Del Piero looks for a handball in the penalty box. Picture: Adam Taylor Source: The Daily Telegraph
First he cut in from the left and almost induced an own goal, before parlaying a one-two with Thompson that would have resulted in a goal for the Socceroo striker had Adam Griffiths not heroically blocked the shot.
Sydney were too reliant on long balls, especially from centre-backs Tiago and Griffiths, with Del Piero largely confined to freekick duty. Just before halftime though he should have earned a penalty, as a spin and flick forced Leigh Broxham to handle the ball, only for the officials to miss it completely.
That seemed to galvanise the Sky Blues, for they laid siege to Nathan Coe's goal as the second half unfolded. Del Piero fired in a succession of corners and free kicks, then Terry Antonis weaved his way into the Victory box and forced a full-length save from Coe.
Moments later, just past the hour, Antonis tried a similar run and this time the ball jumped up to hit the hand of debutant Dylan Murlane. Del Piero of course stepped up to strike the resultant penalty, but Coe turned that away too.
It was pulsating stuff, Sydney driving on like an army but Victory scintillating on the break. Necevski faced down first Pain and then Thompson in quick succession, diving at the feet of the former and then moments later forcing Thompson wide to avert the danger.
At the other end, Del Piero was put clear but denied by a brilliant tackle from Broxham, then the Italian unleashed a thunderous freekick that struck the bar.
Victory were desperate to seal it and Marco Rojas should have done just that - Pain squared the ball to the Kiwi striker but he rolled his shot wide, then Rojas ran clear again but saw his shot saved by Necevski.
Both goalkeepers were inspired, but Coe could do nothing about Sydney's equaliser on 85 minutes - a fizzing corner from Del Piero flicked on by Rhyan Grant and steered in at the far post by the substitute Yau.
SYDNEY FC 1 (Yairo Yau 85m) drew MELBOURNE VICTORY 1 (Mark Milligan 3m) at Allianz Stadium. Crowd: 22,233. Referee: Strebre Delovski.
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