‘Time for big decisions at Sydney FC’

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POST mortems are never easy, especially after such a heartbreaking end to your season.

Still, you can't dodge the tough decisions for too long and Sydney FC have some big issues to face over the next few days and weeks.

The moves Sydney FC chief executive Tony Pignata make now will not only shape the direction of the team, but also football in this city.

The Sky Blues were brave against Melbourne Victory in Friday night's elimination final. It's always tough to go interstate for a finals match, knowing you have to win in a hostile environment. That's why a top-two place is so crucial.

Gui Finkler's winner in injury time ended Sydney's season and potentially Alessandro Del Piero's time in the A-League. I think it's fair to say the Sky Blues have underachieved in the two years they have had the Italian maestro.

Time to reflect. Source: Getty Images

He was dispossessed for the first goal to Archie Thompson and he has struggled at times this year with the pace of the A-League. Then you see the exquisite touch and vision and it reminds you how blessed we have been to have Del Piero in our game.

To do what he has done at the age of 39 shows he was one of the greatest footballers the world has seen because this isn't an easy league.

The big question — the only question — is can Sydney win the championship with him? It will be an emotional decision because he has brought so much to the city in terms of profile, everyone loves him and he can still be a match-winner on his day.

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However, teams such as Brisbane, Central Coast, the Wanderers and Melbourne Victory play at a tempo that Sydney fail to match at times. Del Piero, for all his talent, struggles to track back and this season he was hampered by soft tissue injuries.

These football issues have to be weighed against his value as a true marquee star.

If Del Piero's time is up — and he has indicated he wants to play on — it has been a privilege to watch him play in Australia. If you had asked me 20 years ago if a player of ADP's pedigree would come to our league, and embrace it so passionately, I would never have believed you.

Of course, no matter what happens at Sydney, fans will have the opportunity to say thank you when he leads the All Stars against Juventus in August.

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Frank Farina's future is the other issue hanging heavily over Sydney. He needed a top-four finish to guarantee a contract for next season. The Sydney front office isn't known for stability, so who knows what they will do.

Farina did a good job this year under difficult circumstances. It must be extremely difficult to coach a team under so much uncertainty and he handled all the questions about his future with great dignity.

His team was so brave against Victory and they clearly played for the coach. You could never question their heart or spirit.

Will Frank Farina be given another year at Sydney FC? Source: Getty Images

The club has now come to the end of a two-year cycle, they have to sign new players and also decide if Frank's the man to build the new era. I'd like to see him stay.

Finally, if fans want a glimpse of the future, it was there in Terry Antonis.

He is getting better all the time and, at 20, I hope he doesn't go to Europe too soon. His dream of playing Serie A will always be there, but he will leave as a better player if he stays in Sydney for at least one more season.

It's exciting when young talent comes through and you can understand a player wanting it all right now.

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Yet, too many times, we have seen a player leave the A-League and get lost in Europe. You almost need to send a search party out to find them.

The last thing Australian football needs is what happened to Tommy Rogic at Celtic repeating itself with Antonis. He missed so much game time this year with a thigh injury, he needs miles in his legs. He will get that here.

A finals spot was a good result when you consider their early-season problems. But a club the size of Sydney has to aim higher than fifth place.

Sydney should be a club of ambition — and those tough decisions have to be made now.

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Izzy’s early heroics enough for Tahs

Israel Folau celebrates his try after just 30 seconds against the Bulls at Allianz Stadium. Source: Mark Metcalfe / Getty Images

ISRAEL Folau marked his return from injury with the only try of the match as the NSW Waratahs edged the Bulls 19-12 at Allianz Stadium.

Folau took less than 30 seconds to make his mark, running on to an inside ball from Adam Ashley-Cooper to score under the posts.

That was as good as it got for the home side, who had to make do with the rest of their points from the boot of Bernard Foley, who kicked a conversion and four penalties to lead the Waratahs to a gritty victory.

MATCH CENTRE: Full scores, stats and video highlights

Relive all the action from the Waratahs v Bulls clash with our match blog below

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Kossie: change of tactics killed Reds

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WHEN Sydney FC beat Perth in the final minute last week, I believe they did Adelaide a big favour.

The result meant Adelaide went to the Central Coast for a sudden death game instead of Melbourne to play the Victory.

It was always going to be tough but the style of the Mariners suited Adelaide a lot better than that of Melbourne Victory ... until Adelaide changed their tactics and played into the hands of the Mariners.

I learned the hard way that "if it ain't broke, don't fix it"!

The biggest thing they needed to take from last week's loss to Newcastle was that, as the coach said before the game, they needed to take their chances and that, as pointed out on Fox before the game, not to have your centre-backs dragged out of position, which is exactly what happened on Bernie Ibini's season ending goal.

Adelaide changed tactics but not style and this suited the Mariners.

They are the best in the business at sitting back and soaking up pressure, blocking passing lanes and restricting space.

A lot of Adelaide players would have felt like this on Saturday night. Source: Getty Images

The inclusion of Cirio into midfield just made it that much more crowded and as a result neither he nor Marcello Carrusca could find enough room to be effective ... given the way Adelaide like to have numbers around and on the same side as the ball.

They lost the width that Cirio provides on the left and they missed Bruce Djite's ability as a bouncer and focal point in the front third.

They also needed his muscle against a physically imposing Mariners central defence.

Jeronimo, who came in for Djite played wide and made angled runs inside but was largely ineffective and rarely found.

As a result, superior possession once again failed to translate into a result!

To be honest it was always a gamble starting Jero instead of Bruce given his record away from home over the past two seasons and even more risky changing tactics.

Nevertheless, it was a safe bet for the coach to make.

He deservedly has a new contract as well as everyone believing the team will sweep all before them next season.

So now, the team face an early post-mortem after a first week finals exit ... just as it did last year.

That is no big deal because the most important lesson learned from the chaos of the previous three years is that the football must be left to football people, not those that think they are.

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Roosters sink Sharks to snap streak

The Roosters celebrate after James Maloney put them ahead against the Sharks. Source: Mark Nolan / Getty Images

THE Sydney Roosters snapped their three-games losing streak with a gritty win over a battling and demoralised Cronulla Sharks at Remondis Stadium.

In a game that threw up more competition than the ladder placements would suggest, the Sharks looked better than previous weeks, thanks in no small part to the return of skipper Paul Gallen.

And it was the home side who made the first breakthrough, as Ricky Leutele opened the scoring. After that, both sides went try for try, with the Sharks matching the still unconving reigning premiers, with the scores 18-all with a little more than 20 minutes to go.

But the Sharks couldn't hold out, as good work from Michael Jennings created the space for Shaun Kenny-Dowall to give the visitors a 24-18 lead in the 71st-minute.

More to come ...

Follow all the action in our live blog below:

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Finkler strikes late to sink Sydney FC

Archie Thompson of the Victory celebrates his opener. Source: Quinn Rooney / Getty Images

GUI Finkler's dramatic injury time goal at Etihad Stadium has knocked Sydney FC out of the A-League finals and advances Melbourne Victory into the semis.

With just over two minutes left in extra time, the Brazilian calmly side-footed Adama Traore's lofted cross to shatter Sydney FC hearts.

Veteran Archie Thompson opened the scoring in the 20th minute after James Troisi teed him up, but it was a familiar foe who drew Sydney level less than 15 minutes later.

Former Melbourne defender Seb Ryall turned in Ali Abbas's cross for his second goal against his old employers this season.

The second half had plenty of chances - moreso for Sydney FC - but Nathan Coe's superb work between the sticks kept Frank Farina's men at bay.

The contest looked to be headed for 30 minutes of extra time until a totally unmarked Finkler punished the Sky Blues' tired defence.

More to come...

Re-live the action from the thrilling Big Blue in our blog below.

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Inside Josep Gombau’s dream factory

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HE'S the box office coach winning hearts, minds and cult status at Adelaide United – welcome to Josep Gombau's dream factory.

In nine months Gombau has turned United from rust bucket to 'IT' side – winning with a smile and Catalan style.

The Reds on Saturday meet Central Coast Mariners in a cut-throat elimination final at Bluetongue Stadium they were never expected to make.

Gombau has become the talk of the A-League - forging an extraordinary bond with players and fans who love his pure football philosophy, rare passion and whacky goal celebrations.

"Putting on football boots every day is like a present life is giving to me," said Gombau, to remain with United until 2017 following a two-year contract extension granted by an appreciative club board on Thursday.

"I feel I was born to coach. The players are everything to me.

"There is total honesty, everyone is treated equally with a clear explanation of our destiny."

Reds players from skipper Eugene Galekovic down have collectively stipulated Gombau's retention in new contracts.

The 37-year-old has revolutionized the club from the ground up. United have become signature entertainers in a first season that was dedicated to learning a highly skilled, possession game that's formed the bedrock of Barcelona FC's success, Gombau's former club.

Josep Gombau, right, with Adelaide United chairman Greg Griffin at the announcement of his contract extension. Picture: Sarah Reed.

"It is not just me, the club connecting with the fans. They can see us fighting, running and playing the ball," said Gombau, who won a popular, nation-wide vote to steer the A-League All Stars against Serie A giant Juventus in August at ANZ Stadium

Few envisaged a Reds finals assault after their worst start to a season which yielded six points in nine rounds as players grappled with a different game-plan.

Adelaide United's courageous 2-2 draw with 10 men against Melbourne Heart at Coopers Stadium in the penultimate round sealed a finals slot and raw outpouring of emotion.

Gombau belly-slided 10 metres before embracing his men and lifting winger Awer Mabil to the crowd in unabashed joy. The Heston Blumenthal look-a-like makes no apology for true rapture.

"We needed a point to make the finals, Michael Marrone broke his leg, we conceded two penalties, played with 10 men and finally we scored an equalizer," explained former Barcelona FC Youth Academy boss Gombau.

"The moment is the moment.

"Some would say there should be more control but I felt so much happiness inside."

There's more to Gombau than the boundary side theatrics injecting a cult of personality into an A-League scene with a dearth of household names apart from retiring legend Harry Kewell.

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Gombau has already turned refugee Mabil, 18, from a Lost boy of Sudan into a man whose future lies in Europe.

"Josep is an amazing coach, doesn't complicate anything and very easy to talk to. He has something that unites a team, a bit of X-Factor," said crack winger Mabil, whose family escaped the killing fields of Sudan's bloody civil war.

Gombau treats "all his players equally" but notes Awer has seen and experienced "things others haven't".

"Awer's a bit younger, he can go overseas but we have to take care of him first," said Gombau, who holds a prestigious UEFA pro coaching licence.

Original Reds trainer Remo Paris has also been 'touched' by Gombau.

Paris, a club institution and true character, was amazed by the Spaniard's stream of hospital visits and phone calls during a battle with bone marrow cancer that is currently in remission.

"He is a very nice man, keeps sending me messages and wants to know how I am. I hadn't known him that long before my treatment," said Paris, embraced fence side by United's players at Gombau's direction after Marcelo Carrusca's 25th second opener against Heart at Hindmarsh.

Gombau has form with selfless acts.

Kitchee FC president Mr Ken Ng presented Gombau with an Audi A4 for guiding the side to the Hong Kong league title last year. The coach courteously returned the keys.

"Mr Ken said to sell the car and keep the money but I felt it should be for the players," Gombau recalled.

Gombau is humble despite enjoying direct lines to a bevy of Spanish World Cup stars including Andrés Iniesta, Gerard Piqué and Carles Puyol garnered over six years as director with Barcelona's youth set up.

There is quiet satisfaction when Gombau looks to those he directly mentored including Adama Traore, Chelsea's Oriol Romeu, Arsenal's Ignasi Miquel, and Stoke City's Marc Muniesa.

"You are just lucky because you are coaching the best players in the world and helping them to be successful," said Gombau, who coached his village side from 16 and progressed to Barcelona in 2003.

"When I first went to work at Barcelona it was amazing but after the six years I started to think maybe I don't want to spend my whole life teaching kids.

"I wanted to coach a professional team so I moved to Hong Kong. Adelaide then offered me a job, I wanted to go to Australia and I think I took a good decision."

Reds assistant Michael Valkanis says the full impact of Gombau's intellectual property delivered straight from the Camp Nou won't be appreciated until Reds youth team stars graduate to the A-League.

"I have learnt more from Josep in few months than years under so many coaches," said Valkanis, of Gombau who runs free 'coach the coaches" sessions each Monday night for lucky local mentors.

MORE: FAN HOPES FOR A RED-LETTER DAY

"We now have a seamless system. He is a true teacher, great tactically, deals with setbacks quickly and is an exceptional communicator.

"Josep has as huge heart and we are very lucky to have not just a coach but a man like this at our club after so many ups and downs over the past 10 years."

Father of two Gombau is comfortable where he's come from and going to - remaining at Hindmarsh to completing Adelaide's "football project".

"Of course everyone wants to coach at the highest level, in the Spanish first division but I live the moment and am enjoying it here," said Gombau.

"I am not a coach who seeks to get results in one year. I want to finish what I have started and I think that will take three to four years."

JOSEP'S SIMPLE SECRET TO HAPPINESS

TWO venerable football loving restaurateurs and their quaint Italian cafe were the secret clincher in Josep Gombau's contract extension at Adelaide United.

Gombau, 37, wondered into Cafe Sabatini at Parkside on a bleak July day last year, his second in Adelaide - seeking an authentic Italian meal and cheer.

The charismatic Reds coach would discover a second family in Alfredo Forte and Janet Mignone that would make Adelaide feel more home than remote football outpost.

"I went just for a meal at Sabatini and got talking to Alfredo about life and football. Now we visit each other homes, my girls play with Alfredo's grand children and they love Janet," said Gombau.

The low point in Gombau's life came with the loss of grandfather Arturo who shaped his early years growing up in Amposta on Spain's Mediterranean coast.

However, Alfredo has become the sounding board he missed so far from home.

"He is a father figure to me which I value very much," said super-popular Reds boss Gombau.

Gombau says the term "happy wife, happy life" is the best way to describe his captivating journey to Adelaide.

If wife Romina, daughters Maria and Bruna weren't lapping up their Australian odyssey and support network then Gombau's contract extension until 2017 at Hindmarsh would have been complicated.

"When we arrived it wasn't easy as we had a small baby, Bruna, and were away from our family. It was difficult for my wife with a new city and but she now knows so many people," said Gombau.

"We really appreciate the hospitality of Adelaide and support we have."

Romina, a qualified English teacher, is already part of the club fabric, directing Adelaide United youth team's current tour Spanish tour.

"The players have been good and the staff. We were at my fellow coach Michael Valkanis' house on Christmas Eve and the chairman Greg Griffin's house on Christmas Day," he said.

"We also had a Christmas party with Alfredo and Janet. Everyone has welcomed us into their homes which has made us very happy."

Adelaide's traffic and restricted shopping hours remain the only culture shock for Gombau's 'Spanish Armada'.

"Back home all the cars speed up when the lights are red but not here," noted Gombau.

"I also have to check the time here as we are used to shops closing at 9pm each night."

FIVE THINGS JOSEP GOMBAU LOVES ABOUT ADELAIDE

1) Walking with family and his dog at Henley Beach

2) Adelaide's friendly people and hospitality

3) Cafe Sabitini for Italian fare with a family atmosphere

4) Cafe Buongiorno, Norwood, for breakfast on match days.

5) My wife Romina loves the Central Markets

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Stoppage time drama as Victory wins

Archie Thompson takes on Joel Chianese. Source: Quinn Rooney / Getty Images

MELBOURNE Victory is through to week two of the A-League finals thanks to Guilherme Finkler's 92nd minute winner against Sydney FC at Etihad Stadium.

Archie Thompson opened the scoring in the 20th minute, before Sebastian Ryall levelled 13 minutes later.

Victory custodian Nathan Coe kept the home side in the contest in the early stages of the second-half before a tense, absorbing second-half unfolded.

With extra-time beckoning, Adama Traore picked out Finkler in space in the box, and the classy playmaker finished with aplomb.

Re-live how the action unfolded in our blog of the night below.

You can also check out our A-LEAGUE MATCH CENTRE. Click here to visit for video, stats, line-ups and more.

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Gritty Rebels end Force’s five-match run

Japanese hooker Shota Horie had a standout game for the Rebels. Source: Michael Dodge / Getty Images

MELBOURNE Rebels have brought Western Force's fairytale run to an end with a grinding 22-16 victory at AAMI Park.

Rebels skipper Scott Higginbotham made the match-turning play when he crashed over for a try to give the Rebels a handy second-half lead.

Their earlier points had come from the boot of Jason Woodward while Sias Ebersohn kept the Force in it with three penalties of his own.

Nick Cummins did grab a consolation five-pointer and secure a bonus point for the Force but it was another case of them playing with too little possession, only this time the result didn't go their way.

More to follow ...

Relive all the action from our blog below or check out Match Centre for stats and video!

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Ultimate guide: Mariners v Adelaide

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WHAT, WHEN, WHERE: Central Coast Mariners v Adelaide United, Saturday 4.30pm EST, Central Coast Stadium., Fox Sports 3HD.

FORM GUIDE: Mariners: WLWWW, Adelaide: LDWWD

MATCH ODDS: Mariners $2.15, Draw $3.40, Adelaide $3.10 (TAB — as at 17 April)

THE NEXT STEP: A win for the Mariners will see them take on Western Sydney Wanderers for a spot in the grand final. If Adelaide wins, it will travel to Brisbane for a clash with the premiers.

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TALE OF THE TAPE

The Mariners go into this clash as favourites, and rightly so having finished three places above Adelaide in the regular season.

But the table doesn't tell the full story.

Both teams were in with a shot of securing second spot heading into last week's final round, but Adelaide's unusually lethargic performance in Newcastle resulted in the Reds dropping all the way down to sixth.

However, Josep Gombau's men have shown they're capable of matching it with the very best and have outplayed just about every team in the league at some stage during the season with their, dare we say it, Barcelona-style football.

Adelaide United's Spanish coach Josep Gombau. Picture: Sarah Reed. Source: News Corp Australia

Meanwhile, the Mariners continue to do what they've always done — fly under the radar and exceed most people's expectations.

All hope appeared lost when Central Coast suffered a slump after Phil Moss took over from Graham Arnold earlier in the season.

But the club has recovered from that loss and is in the midst of a serious spike in form, having won four of its last five games in the A-League.

However, they'll need to recover from their mid-week AFC Champions League heartbreak, where a late own goal by veteran skipper John Hutchison saw them relinquish top spot to FC Seoul.

LAST MEETING

The Reds put on an attacking masterclass to comprehensively beat Central Coast 2-0 the last time the teams met, back in February this year.

Marcelo Carrusca looms as a key figure for Adelaide. Picture: Sarah Reed.. Source: News Corp Australia

Star imports Marcelo Carrusca and Fabio Ferreira found the back of the net in the first half, and they received strong support throughout the evening by striker Bruce Djite and Sergio Cirio.

And who can forget what happened in the previous encounter, when the Mariners reached their lowest ebb this season after being hammered 4-0 at Coopers Stadium.

STATS AMAZING

Let's start with the best news for the Mariners — they are unbeaten in their previous eight home matches against Adelaide, and have won the last six of those.

Couple that with the fact Adelaide has won just one of its last five away games, and the picture that start to takes shape is one likely to give Central Coast plenty of confidence.

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But the hits don't stop there. Moss's men are yet to be shown a red card this season, while Adelaide has received a league-high four send-offs. In a pressure-cooker like finals football, this stat could prove to be as important as any numbers around goals or assists.

K EY MATCH-UPS

Nick Montgomery v Marcelo Carrusca

Probably the most important battle on the park. Carrusca is Adelaide's chief creator and has a handy knack of finding the back of the net as well. Mongtomery is the Mariners' chief destroyer and was trialled as a centre back last week, to great effect. If he can negate Carrusca's influence, Central Coast will go a long way towards cutting off the Reds' supply lines.

Storm Roux v Michael Zullo

Storm Roux has had a breakout season with the Mariners. Source: Getty Images

The battle of the flying wing-backs. Both Roux and Zullo like to get forward, but they'll need to be wary of getting caught in the attacking third when their team loses the ball, because both have lightning pace. Look out for this game of cat and mouse down the Mariners' right and Adelaide's left.

WHAT THEY SAID

"I played Copa Libertadores in Argentina I know the feeling of playing in finals, it's different than a normal game" — Adelaide striker Jeronimo Neumann.

"Suffice to say they put six goals past us in the last two games so we know where their strengths are" — Mariners coach Phil Moss.

MARK RUDAN'S VERDICT

Anything could happen in a game like this.

Central Coast is at home, where they're always tough to break down.

You want momentum heading into he finals and winning is always good. Adelaide don't have that. They need to be a lot more ruthless against the Mariners or it's lights out for them.

Adelaide has proved they can score goals. They are the entertainers of the league, while there's nothing wrong with having a good defensive structure like the Mariners have – where everyone knows their role.

It's going to be a chess-type match. Attack v defence. Bruce Djite has come into his own this season. He does a lot of hard work for his team. He's a key player for the Reds and the Mariners will go a long way top winning if they can nullify him. Carrusca has been one of the form players of the season.

But I'm going for the away team, Adelaide. I think they'll turn around their recent form and get this done against the Mariners.

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Ultimate Guide to the Big Blue final

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WHO will prevail when Melbourne Victory hosts Sydney FC in A-League elimination final?

Foxsports.com.au brings you everything you need to know about Friday night's A-League elimination final between long-time rivals Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC.

WHAT, WHEN, WHERE

Melbourne Victory v Sydney FC, Friday, 7.30pm EST, Etihad Stadium, Fox Sports 1HD.

FORM GUIDE:

Victory (W,D,D,L,W), Sydney FC (W,W,D,L,D)

MATCH ODDS:

Victory $1.90, draw $3.45, Sydney FC $3.70 (TAB - as of 16/04/2014)

Championship CVs: Andy Harper gives his verdict on the top 6

What sets Big Blue apart from rest

Pressure like no other at 'Bling FC'

The A-League stars on Ange's Roos radar

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THE NEXT STEP:

The winner goes into a grand final qualifier next week, against who is yet to be determined. The lowest ranked winner from the two elimination finals plays Brisbane Roar, with the higher ranked winner to face Western Sydney Wanderers. It's a bit complicated, but it goes like this…

If Sydney FC (5) and Central Coast (3) win, Sydney FC faces Brisbane (1).

If Sydney FC (5) and Adelaide (6) win, Sydney FC faces Wanderers (2).

If Melbourne Victory (4) and Central Coast (3) win, Victory faces Brisbane (1).

If Melbourne Victory (4) and Adelaide (6) win, Victory faces Wanderers (2).

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TALE OF THE TAPE:

What a rollercoaster season it's been for all the teams, but particular these two. Just two months ago Sydney FC was apparently in crisis, fans walking out of its match against Adelaide and calling for coach Frank Farina's head. Now the Sky Blues are two matches from a grand final appearance. Football's a funny old game.

It's been a bumpy ride for Victory too. Ange Postecoglou left the club for greener pastures as Socceroos coach just three weeks into the season, and it's taken some time for Kevin Muscat to adjust to the hot seat. But the side has responded to his methods, and has finished the season strongly both domestically and in Asia.

VICTORY 4-2-2-2

Coach: Kevin Muscat

Likely XI: Coe, Geria, Contreras, Ansell, Traore. Milligan, Broxham, Finkler, Troisi, Barbarouses, Thompson

SYDNEY: 4-4-2

Coach: Frank Farina

Likely XI: Janjetovic, Jurman, Petkovic, Ognenovski, Ryall, Dimitrijevic, Abbas, Antonis, Del Piero, Garcia, Chianese.

LAST TIME THEY MET

It finished 1-1 after a frenetic 90 minutes at AAMI Park just three weeks ago. The Sky Blues led through Joel Chianese before James Troisi ensured the points would be shared. The result meant that Kevin Muscat's men are yet to inflict defeat on Sydney FC in three meetings this season. The other two haven't been bad either. Sydney FC won the first 3-2 — despite playing most of the match with 10 men — and hammered Victory 5-0 on Australia Day in the other.

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STATS AMAZING

You can expect goals in this one. It's been a whopping 18 matches since Victory last kept a clean sheet in the A-League, while the Sky Blues have scored in each of their last nine fixtures.

With two championships each, Victory and Sydney FC are level with Brisbane Roar as the league's most successful ever teams. Victory is the only team in the A-League not to lose this season after scoring first - winning eight times and drawing once.

KEY MATCH-UPS

It will be intriguing to see how Sydney FC's defence copes with the threat of Kosta Barbarouses, Archie Thompson, Gui Finkler and James Troisi. TheVictory quartet have been irresistible in attack of late — putting four goals past Wellington and two against Guangzhou midweek - but Sydney FC has rediscovered its defensive steel since the addition of Socceroo Sasa Ognenovski. His partnership with Nikola Petkovic at the back has seen the Sky Blues become a lot harder to break down.

There was plenty of spice between opposing skippers Mark Milligan and Alessandro Del Piero in the AAMI Park meeting in March. The Italian maestro loves to drop deep to dictate the play, so it will be up to the Victory skipper to nullify his threat in the midfield.

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WHAT THEY SAID:

Victory skipper Mark Milligan on the rivalry: "If you can't get up for a final, let alone a Big Blue on Friday night, then you're probably in the wrong industry. I think all the boys will be fine".

Victory coach Kevin Muscat on the momentum gained from a midweek ACL win: "I couldn't be happier with the position we're in at the moment. We've got three full days before Sydney, and if you walked through that change room you'd see a group of players who are jumping out of their skin to be in that team for Friday night".

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Sydney FC coach Frank Farina on what to expect from Sydney's opponent: "I'm expecting them to come out all guns blazing in the first 15-20 minutes so we've not only got to survive that, but hopefully put pressure on ourselves. If we can score first it's an advantage".

Italian legend Alessandro Del Piero on his Sky Blues future beyond this season: "We have already chatted with the owners, with (chairman) Scott (Barlow) and the club. We are ready for talks at the end of the season and we will do the best thing for everyone, but I don't think about that at the moment."

THE VERDICT FROM MARK RUDAN

It was a fantastic win by Victory during the week in which all players lived up to the expectation. What a result that was for Kevin Muscat, but the Sky Blues will be primed for this.

I think they (Sydney) do have a mental edge over Victory. They're yet to lose against Melbourne and of course they had a fantastic 5-0 result on Australia Day.

I reckon they've got the wood over Melbourne Victory and I reckon a lot of their players will be confident heading into this match.

Del Piero is the key to Sydney FC winning. He's the man that pulls the strings and threads those balls in. If he's on fire there's every reason they can win that. It's Mark Milligan's job to nullify that. That match-up will determine what happens and which was the result goes.

Victory has plenty of attacking threats in Barbarouses, Troisi and Archie Thompson so I think there will be goals in this one. It will be an absolute crackerjack and one not to miss.

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Bellamy pushed to the brink this year

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MELBOURNE Storm coach Craig Bellamy has been pushed to the brink this season in the wake of the Alex McKinnon-Jordan McLean incident.

But the premiership coach declared he won't be side-tracked from keeping his side on task.

News Corp Australia reported on Thursday that Bellamy was so disillusioned by the NRL's handling of the sensitive issue, and a seven-week suspension for McLean, that he wanted to quit his post.

CRAIG BELLAMY WANTED TO QUIT

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Bellamy — contracted until the end of 2016 — conceded on Thursday the incident, and the fallout, had pressed plenty of emotional buttons.

"It was just a tough period and I thought with a couple of things that had happened to a couple of young men … it got to me there for a couple of days," the premiership coach said.

Bellamy admitted the first six weeks of the season had been emotionally draining for him and the club.

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But he said he had put the incident behind him and was intent on improving his side.

"We've certainly had some ups and downs this year — it feels like a whole season already and it's only been six rounds," he said.

"We all go through different emotions at different times. But we're through that now.

"Hopefully we can start ¬getting a little bit better out on the playing field and start building our form a little bit."

The Storm coach – who almost walked away from the club at the height of the salary cap scandal in 2003 – did little to play down News Corp Australia's report on Thursday.

A relaxed looking Craig Bellamy enjoys a laugh at Storm training. Source: News Corp Australia

He admitted he struggled with seeing McKinnon injured and was upset with the treatment dished out to McLean.

"That was a difficult time for everyone at that stage," Bellamy said.

"Obviously we were all feeling for Alex, and Jordan was a little bit hard done by as well. A couple of things added up there, but I certainly never ever really had a resignation. It was a tough time for everyone and things happen, I suppose."

McKinnon has been transferred from the intensive care unit at The Albert to a spinal rehabilitation ward in a Sydney hospital.

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Newcastle reported movement in his right arm was improving, he could also move his left arm and control an electronic wheelchair.

McLean is on personal leave, spending time with his mother in his small NSW home town of Young but will meet his teammates this weekend when they clash with the Raiders in Canberra.

"Basically we've left him alone so there hasn't been much interaction at all," Bellamy said. "But he'll come and join us in Canberra. We'll see how's he feeling and hopefully he can start getting back into a bit of training."

Melbourne meets the Raiders in Canberra on Sunday before clashing with the Warriors on ANZAC Day at AAMI Park in front of an almost sold out crowd.

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Culture kings won’t dig JOC beat

James O'Connor is still hoping to represent the Wallabies at RWC 2015. Source: Mark Kolbe / Supplied

JAMES O'Connor has made no secret of his desire to return to Super Rugby in a bid to win a place at the World Cup but it's looking increasingly likely there won't be a home for him at Western Force.

The standout story of this year's Super Rugby competition, the Force are riding a wave of success that has seen them win five straight and take the scalps of the Chiefs, Reds and Waratahs.

And it's success that cult figure Nick Cummins and skipper Matt Hodgson have repeatedly attributed to the new-found "culture" at the club, and a "family" feel that is the talk of the competition.

It's also surely one that history shows O'Connor's personality won't fit.

Still, Force coach Michael Foley hasn't completely closed the door on O'Connor but said any player who wanted to join the franchise had to do so for the right reasons.

"I think we're open-minded to anyone joining us here," Foley told Rugby HQ.

"We're not for one minute saying the doors are closed, but I think it's really important that we understand somebody is coming to the team for the team.

"And there's got to be a balance there, everybody's individually ambitious. To want to play for Australia is a very personal thing and a commendable thing, and we encourage that.

"You have to come to our team to want to be part of the team. I think that's an easy thing to identify when you're talking to somebody. When somebody's talking about all the things they want out of it, not so much what they're going to give to it it's really easy to differentiate. So we're open-minded."

Currently playing his rugby with London Irish in Europe, O'Connor has made it clear he wants to return to Australia in 2015 to give himself the chance of playing at the World Cup in England.

He'll spend the first half of the next northern season with French powerhouse Toulon but is hoping to secure to a Super Rugby contract for 2015.

O'Connor headed to the northern hemisphere late last year following a succession of off-field incidents that saw the Australian Rugby Union rip up his contract.

But it seems some time out of the Australian spotlight may have been the perfect remedy with London Irish director of rugby Brian Smith saying the former Wallabies utility had been a valuable addition.

"James has been a terrific signing for the club. It coincided with the announcement of the new ownership and it was probably a declaration of intent by our new owners to say we can attract world-class players," Smith told England's Reading Post.

"It would have been nice for James to spend the next six months with us as well before he heads back to Australia, but you cannot ask someone to turn down the sort of financial incentives to swing via Toulon.

"He has been terrific. He's a very good player and been instrumental in a couple of key wins for us."

Still, it's hard to see O'Connor settling into the sense of "belonging" at the Force, something Cummins trumpeted earlier this week.

"The culture's changed a little bit here, which has probably put on a little bit of belief and a feeling of belonging," Cummins said.

"And everyone's buying into it, that's what's helping us."

If the Force decides against recruiting O'Connor, the fallen superstar's only option may be Queensland Reds.

Struggling with backline injuries this season, the Reds could throw the 44-Test veteran a lifeline next year although coach Richard Graham was at the helm of the Force when O'Connor left Perth in the best interests of his rugby "brand".

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Robbo: AFL must act in good faith

Essendon could be one of the teams to play on Good Friday next year. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Wayne Ludbey / News Limited

The fury will come if his Western Bulldogs miss out on a Good Friday match, tipped to be in the 2015 fixture.

Already, Carlton reckon they've secured one of the spots, while North Melbourne is on war footing and, with the Blues, believe they are going to be the other Good Friday specialist.

Both clubs are so confident they've booked priests for the pre-match.

However, it might be best they kneel down and pray for calmness.

Under their noses, it has emerged Essendon is one of the teams most likely.

It is a staggering revelation.

Do you agree with Robbo? Have your say below

Every year, Essendon, one of the established powerhouses of the competition, have Anzac Day, Collingwood twice and Carlton twice. And this year it's Richmond twice.

They don't need or deserve Good Friday football.

If they do get it, the AFL would stand accused of looking after their KPIs and bank balances, instead of looking after the greater good of its 18-team competition.

It is an accusation with merit.

The fixture has always been doctored by the AFL to facilitate maximum crowds, money and the TV audience.

With Good Friday, they have an opportunity to facilitate good faith in a competition needing as much as it can get.

Essendon looms as a Good Friday threat to Western Bulldogs, North Melbourne and Carlton. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: News Corp Australia

Good faith in the sense that the clubs and the fans know the AFL is serious about equalisation.

The league instituted variable ticket pricing which forces the fans to cough up for blockbuster games, and it would appear they are trying to inject Essendon into another prime-time event.

It's not right. Indeed, what becomes of a competition which continually ignores opportunities for clubs with moderate-sized fan bases?

The Western Bulldogs president stressed yesterday his club wanted the Good Friday fixture and said the AFL had an ''obligation'' with the draw to execute it in the "best interests of the game as a whole".

Gordon spoke of "structural inequities" in the draw, including existing blockbuster features "which lock out other teams".

"One of the principles of equalisation is that clubs need to remain entrepreneurial and hungry," Gordon said.

"We as a club are entrepreneurial and we are hungry. We want to showcase our product and show it to a whole new generation of supporters, particularly in the western region of Melbourne.

"But it doesn't make it easy for us when every Friday night and every Saturday night, kids who we want to be influencing to become Bulldog members and supporters for the next decades to come, are watching the same old teams from the other side of town.

"Good Friday is a new product and I think the principle the AFL should use to decide this question (of who plays) is very much linked to equalisation.

"The AFL needs to measure itself not just against how much it grew the aggregate attendance from year to year, but also how much it's doing to build the attendances of the smaller franchises.

"This a rolled gold opportunity for AFL to take a long-sighted vision."

After all, Good Friday is a time of giving and sharing.

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Bombers in line for Good Friday

Essendon is in line to play on Good Friday. Picture: Getty Source: Quinn Rooney / Getty Images

ESSENDON has emerged as a serious contender to play in a historic Good Friday game as the AFL attempts to start the 2015 season with a bang.

The AFL seems determined to push back the season until the first week of April as a twilight Good Friday game looks increasingly likely.

Essendon ticks several boxes as a loyal Etihad Stadium tenant which pulls big crowds and is based in the inner northern suburbs near the Royal Children's Hospital.

The return of the prodigal son James Hird will also have massive drawing power if the Bombers dodge infraction notices and he is the 2015 Essendon coach.

Carlton-Richmond is a strong chance to go ahead as the season-opener on Thursday April 2, despite the Blues wanting to play a Good Friday game the following day against North Melbourne.

Carlton boss Greg Swann was this weekend extremely confident about the North Melbourne-Carlton proposal, saying of its chances: "Lock it in".

But the AFL has made it clear that proposal has not been ticked off, with the AFL Commission not yet ruling on the game going ahead on the religious holiday.

North Melbourne has led the charge on playing on Good Friday, with Western Bulldogs president Peter Gordon also launching an official request.

Roos chief executive Carl Dilena said the club's first submission in 1992 was to play Carlton and little had changed.

"We are waiting to see what happens, but at least the AFL have done some due diligence around it and it is being seriously considered,'' he told the Herald Sun.

Cartoon: Macca Source: Supplied

"We haven't had any guidance from them about whether it will go ahead and who the participants will be.

"Carlton have said they would forgo that opening round with Richmond and they are keen to play against us.

""People are becoming more tolerant of playing (on Good Friday) as generations change and society becomes more multicultural. The theme of a twilight match would be marrying it into the Good Friday telethon with crosses into the game, some interviews and then the coaches and players would head up to the Appeal after the game and donate money."

The AFL will closely monitor the A-League final on Good Friday final between Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC this Friday night at Etihad Stadium.

Essendon already has two marquee games — the April 25 Anzac Day clash against Collingwood and the Dreamtime at the 'G fixture against Richmond.

But as much as the AFL wants to help develop marquee games for struggling clubs, it also believes maximising revenue through blockbusters will allow it to raise money to distribute across the 18 teams.

The AFL executive is working on all options, with AFL football operations manager Mark Evans saying on Tuesday no one was locked in.

"There hasn't been a decision to play on Good Friday. I noticed some clubs are jockeying and there are about 15 who think they were the first two write in proposing a match on Good Friday. It's not relevant unless a decision has been made,'' he said.

"Next year is tricky with the fixturing around the World Cup. of cricket. We won't have access to the cricket venues for a couple of those weeks, so it will be tricky for us at the start of the year."

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Wanderers not in ACL to make up numbers

Fox Sports football expert Mark Bosnich says the respective victories of Melbourne Victory and the Western Sydney Wanderers in their overnight Asian Champions League fixtures is a turning point for Australian sides in the competition.

SHANNON Cole believes Western Sydney has proved they can do more than just compete in the Asian Champions League after downing Ulsan Hyundai 2-0 in Korea.

The Wanderers, playing in the tournament for the first time, are on the verge of qualifying for the knockout stages of the competition after the comfortable win.

Cole was pleased with his contribution after he set up Mark Bridge for the Wanderers' first goal and said it was a satisfying performance.

"We're very proud to be in this tournament," Cole said.

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"We worked hard last year and we got the reward to be part of it now. We're in this tournament and we're showing that we can do more than just compete — we want to go as far as possible.

"It was a really satisfying result and the boys worked very hard together. There was a lot of pride to take out of that game."

After securing second spot on the A-League ladder and a week off, the Wanderers can afford to focus all their ­attention on Tuesday's final ACL group match against Guizhou Renhe.

A win, or possibly even a draw, in front of their home fans at Pirtek Stadium will be enough to see the Wanderers through to the next stage.

Western Sydney coach Tony Popovic was delighted to come away with a win against difficult opposition and is determined to finish the job in Parramatta.

Shannon Cole of Western Sydney competes for the ball with Ko Chang-Hyun of Ulsan. Source: Getty Images

"We still feel we need to do a job on Tuesday, but what this result has done is put it in our control," Popovic said.

"So we know now that a point or three points — if we just get a result at home — we will definitely go through. We don't need to rely on any other results, which is something you always wish for.

"We've earned the right to be in this position on nine points and now we need to finish the job at home."

Defender Matthew Spiranovic was moved into the midfield, where he was partnered by Jason Trifiro.

"Matt has the qualities to play in midfield," Popovic said. "He is a centre-back, but we've tried him there a few times in the league.

"Against the strength they have we felt we needed to control the midfield and we felt the combination of Matt Spiranovic and Jason Trifiro worked very well.

"For large parts they controlled the match and we felt that was the key to winning.

"We're very proud of every one of the players and now we need to recover well and ­prepare for the match against Guizhou."

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Mariners OG cancels out Reddy heroics

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A HEARTBREAKING injury time own goal to skipper John Hutchinson has seen Central Coast Mariners lose 1-0 to FC Seoul in their Asian Champions League clash.

Phil Moss's side did well to withstand the Koreans' pressure for most of the game - thanks largely to Liam Reddy's heroics in goal - but a lapse in concentration late on cost them dearly.

The Mariners can still qualify for the knockout stages of the tournament with a win on the final matchday in Japan.

More to come...

Re-live the action in our blog below.

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Live: Victory wins, Wanderers in tussle

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MELBOURNE Victory has completed a famous 2-0 win over Guangzhou Evergrande while the Wanderers are holding their own against Ulsan Hyundai in Korea.

Victory skipper Mark Milligan struck inside two minutes and James Troisi capped off the famous win with a second late in stoppage time.

It was a frustrating evening at times for Victory coach Kevin Muscat, who watched his team waste chance after chance, but the win ensures the A-League side is very much in the running to advance to the knockout stages of the tournament.

The Wanderers were locked at 0-0 at half-time in Korea.

Follow the Wanderers action live on Fox Sports 2HD from 8:23pm (EST) or in the blog below.

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Malthouse: Lets just play, boys

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CARLTON coach Mick Malthouse is set to abandon his ultra-defensive philosophy in a bid to trigger a response from his players against the Western Bulldogs on Sunday night.

It's believed Malthouse plans to release the shackles and drop hard taggers against the Dogs.

It's a plan he hopes will boost a return of run and adventurous football — and deliver a first win for 2014.

As the Blues confront crises on and off the field, the Herald Sun has learned Malthouse encouraged the players to socialise together after Saturday's dismal loss to Melbourne.

THE SUPERFOOTY PODCAST PANEL DISCUSSED CARLTON'S LATEST WOES IN THE ROUND 4 EDITION. LISTEN BELOW

A dinner had been planned for players and partners, and questions were raised about it going ahead.

Malthouse was asked and he strongly supported the group session.

YUCK FEELING IS BACK AT BLUES

THE TACKLE: DAISY COASTING AT BLUES

Club president Stephen Kernahan was also pleased the playing group gathered socially.

As spotlight continued to be trained on Carlton yesterday:

Coach Mick Malthouse arrives at Visy Park this morning. Picture: Michael Klein. Source: News Corp Australia

DIRECTORS gathered at Visy Park to assess the club's worst start since 1989, with Kernahan confirming he would step aside midyear.

KERNAHAN had a swipe back at club powerbroker Bruce Mathieson, saying the pokies king "wanted to throw the keys in" when the club was at its lowest ebb a decade ago.

THE club flagged more heavy cuts to the list at season's end.

CAPTAIN Marc Murphy said he was the man to lead the club out of the "hole" and disputed criticism the team was too "quiet" on the field.

VICE-captain Kade Simpson said the team was failing to execute Malthouse's instructions and admitted the Blues had carried "a couple of passengers".

BIG man Lachlan Henderson said the team was playing "lack of confidence footy".

Malthouse is looking for answers after his 0-4 start to the season and is understood to have calmly asked his players after the Melbourne match why they had abandoned "playing on" and why they continually kicked the ball deep into the forward pockets.

Henderson said the players were suffering from self-doubt.

"I think it is lack of confidence footy," Henderson said.

Captain Marc Murphy arrives at Visy Park this morning. Pic: Michael Klein. Source: News Corp Australia

Simpson denied the team was suffering from a lack of on-field leadership, but put the blame on the players for not implementing Malthouse's plans.

"I don't think it (leadership) is a problem," Simpson said.

"We've probably lacked 22 contributors out there and you are not going to win too many games of footy — it's so competitive these days — if you have got a couple of passengers.''

Simpson said the team would rely on Malthouse to guide them out of the form slump.

"Mick has been through all this before so he's definitely the right man and he will have the answers for us and put some things in that we can execute," he said.

Kernahan is stepping aside after the club's 150th-year celebrations in June. He implored Blues supporter to unite behind Malthouse.

"Our members and supporters are hurting out there and I'm so aware of that, I really am, that's why people (such as Mathieson) make comment," Kernahan said.

"But it's so important that our club sticks fat at the moment. We've got people who have worked their butts off to get this joint from where we were 10 years ago (when they were) gone.

Carlton president Stephen Kernahan at Visy Park this morning Picture: Michael Klein. Source: News Corp Australia

"I think Bruce even wanted to throw the keys in then, but we've worked and made it a $60 million business and successful.

"We are 0-4, so we have got to cop our right whack.''

Asked if the leadership group was doing its job on the field, Kernahan said: "At 0-4 you'd say no".

"Murph is a young lad, he has played 160 games, he is 26 years of age," Kernahan said.

"You can't lump it on one person, it's never been about one bloke.''

Murphy said he had "always wanted to a leader of the club … I am keen to stick it out and make sure we get this club to where we want to be".

"We have acknowledged that we are not the loudest group but I think we have taken steps forward — on the weekend I think we were talking enough and communicating making sure we were in the right structures and the right setups."

Murphy would not be drawn on what rejigged expectations he had for Carlton's year.

"We're in a bit of a hole at the moment, but I have got a lot of confidence in the group that we can turn it around.

"Mick has got my full support and the whole team … game plan is something that we have been working really hard on ever since he got to the club, but at the moment it has just been inconsistent and that has been letting us down."

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Domenicali quits as Ferrari’s F1 boss

Stefano Domenicali has resigned as Ferrari's boss following 23 years at the Italian team. Source: Mark Thompson / Getty Images

FERRARI'S Formula One boss Stefano Domenicali quit on Monday following the Italian team's disappointing start to the 2014 season.

"Ferrari notes the resignation of Stefano Domenicali and thanks him for having served the company ... for 23 years," a company statement said.

Domenicali, Ferrari's team principal since 2008, has shouldered the blame for the F1 giant's poor show in the opening three races, with drivers Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen failing to produce a top-three finish.

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Storm slay Dragons in controversial finish

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MELBOURNE Storm produced a Monday night miracle with Young Tonumaipea scoring a try in the last play of the match to snatch a dramatic comeback win over St George-Illawarra.

Storm trailed by 14 points in the second half before producing three tries in the final 15 minutes to score a 28-24 victory with a try after the hooter.

Halfback Cooper Cronk put up a kick that fell to winger Sisa Waqa, who in desperation threw it back inside to Tohu Harris.

Cooper Cronk was voted man of the match for his performance. Source: Getty Images

The big Kiwi quickly moved it across to Ryan Hoffman, who found Cronk and then finally Tonumaipea in the corner.

He was able to lunge over to break the hearts of the St George players.

It was an amazing escape given what had transpired in the first 60 minutes.

All week the theme for Melbourne had been defence and discipline.

Yet the home side gave away two penalties inside the first five minutes, which led to the first try of the game to St George.

Young Tonumaipea crashes over to score in controversial circumstances. Source: News Corp Australia

A sensational flick pass from Jason Nightingale found Dylan Farrell for a four-pointer to continue Melbourne's run of poor starts this season.

It was a very lacklustre start by Melbourne but it soon had the lead after a spilled high ball led to a Jesse Bromwich try.

They should have had a second try on the board not long after when Kevin Proctor crossed following a deft pass from Cronk.

A forward pass was called but replays showed the pass was good, much to the ire of the AAMI Park crowd.

But there was no doubt when a Billy Slater grubber kick found Will Chambers for Melbourne's second try.

Storm looked to have the momentum but they let the Dragons back in the door courtesy of a spilled high ball from Slater.

A Dragons fan tries to comes to terms with a stunning end to the game. Source: Getty Images

It allowed Brett Morris to bring the Dragons into the match and the visitors then led at the main break courtesy of penalty goal on half-time.

Melbourne could not have started the second half any worse with skill errors and missed tackles proving costly.

Gerard Beale soon crossed after a sensational run from Josh Dugan.

The lead ballooned to 14 points when Storm winger Sisa Waqa spilled a Michael Witt high ball and Dugan pounced for the try.

It went to the video ref and replays appeared to show Dugan offside.

But to the shock of many, a try was awarded because video ref Henry Perenara said there was "insufficient evidence" that Dugan was in front of the kicker.

Brett Morris, Josh Dugan and Mitch Rein look dejected after the game. Source: News Corp Australia

Melbourne used that anger to fuel its comeback.

First Will Chambers was able to cross after a great pass from Cronk.

Then Cronk went in himself after a beautiful piece of play from late inclusion Ben Roberts, who exploded through a gap and found his halves partner on the inside.

They trailed by just two points with 10 minutes remaining,

It took until the last play of the match to finally reel in the Dragons.

Was the Melbourne Storm's match-winning try legal?

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Pritchard sidelined for four months

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IT is only mid-April but Frank Pritchard may have played his final game for 2014.

Scans last night confirmed Canterbury's giant second-rower tore a pectoral muscle in Sunday's dramatic win over New Zealand at Auckland's Eden Park.

Pritchard will miss between three to four months of football but remains a slight chance to return in time for the Bulldogs' finals charge.

Canterbury officials were told of the damaging news last night, which also rules the Kiwi international out of New Zealand's Test against Australia at Allianz Stadium on May 2.

Frank Pritchard in action for the Bulldogs. Source: Getty Images

Losing Pritchard, who only made his return from an ankle injury last weekend, is a devastating setback for the second-placed Bulldogs.

"It is disappointing for Frank," Bulldogs coach Des Hasler conceded. "He was in for a big year.

"Hopefully Frank can make it back later in the season.

"We will have to rely on our depth now. We do have good depth in our forwards."

That depth includes Aiden Tolman, James Graham, Josh Jackson, Tony Williams, Dale Finucane, Greg Eatswood, Sam Kasiano, Pat O'Hanlon, Tom Browne, David Klemmer and Reni Maitua.

Hasler will today name Pritchard's replacement for Friday's big match against South Sydney at

ANZ Stadium, but Finucane, Williams and Jackson are expected to start in the back-row.

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The Rabbitohs could also be without forwards George Burgess and Ben Te'o, who both face one-match tripping bans unless they can successfully defend their respective charges at the NRL judiciary on Wednesday night.

Pritchard had taken on extra responsibilities at the Bulldogs this year after Hasler named him a co-captain along with regular skipper and hooker Michael Ennis.

At the time, Pritchard said: "I'm very excited and honoured to be leading the boys and sharing the load with Mick.

"It's something I'm looking forward to. Nothing changes for myself — just do my role on and off the field and helping Mick out where I can."

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Lottery means ugly win is no worry

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SYDNEY FC coach Frank Farina admitted his side had secured an ugly victory, but insisted that the lottery of finals football meant he was unconcerned by his team's display.

Finishing only fifth means Farina must probably win the championship to activate the final year of his contract, but he took comfort from winning a game in spite of the performance, rather than because of it.

"It wasn't pretty - maybe in patches it was decent but it was particularly disappointing to concede a soft goal right on halftime. But in the end, we'll take it," he said.

"We were playing a team with nothing to lose, and we had everything to lose. At least we have some consistency in results, and if we can get those results without playing at our best, that's a bonus.

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"The finals are a whole new ball game - it's all about who turns up on Friday night [against Melbourne Victory], who's better prepared and who plays the best. All the previous form for every side counts for nothing, now we're into sudden death.

"Whoever you play will be tough, especially away. We have a short turnaround, only five days, but then Victory have to play on Tuesday night in the Asian Champions League so we can't complain. We're ready."

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Perth coach Kenny Lowe was less optimistic about Sydney's chances in the finals, despite conceding a late winner to the home side.

"I think probably it'll be tough [for Sydney], you have to be realistic at this point of the season," he said. "Really they're not one of the top sides at the moment.

"They do have some quality players, it's a question of whether they're able to show that quality. We didn't see much of [Alessandro] Del Piero tonight, but then he popped up at the crucial moment.

"Terry Antonis has done that to us before, it was a world class goal - I think he wants to play us every week."

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Mossy’s simple message: bring ‘em on

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FRESH from shocking the Premiers - and defying popular sentiment by locking in third spot - Mariners boss Phil Moss has already thrown down the gauntlet ahead of Saturday's semifinal against Adelaide, declaring the 2-0 win in Brisbane a "real shot in the arm".

Goals from Nick Fitzgerald and Adrian Cacares secured an unexpected triumph for the champions at Suncorp Stadium, earning the Mariners a home semifinal that looked a distant prospect in February when the club lost an unprecedented four games in a row.

Moss has overseen a remarkable resurgence, a run of 12 points from five A-League games while juggling the demands of an Asian Champions League campaign. In his eyes a victory born on the tactics board shows the Mariners are hitting form at the right time.

"Bring them on," Moss said of Saturday's semifinal. [Beating Brisbane] certainly fills us with a lot of confidence. We're playing in two competitions at the moment and we came with a plan that was a little bit experimental and something we hadn't done before.

"I am just so delighted with the way the players bought into it [the plan] early in the week and adapted to it as the week went on. If players don't like the plan or system it can't be executed but they were fantastic.

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"We made the whole week about us, not about any other result or any other team in the league.

"We know that we let second place slip from having destiny in our own hands last week [against Perth Glory] and we were disappointed with that but there were certainly extraordinary circumstances surrounding that performance."

"We knew it was just a blip in our season and we wanted to prove that tonight and I thought the energy levels, the discipline, the focus, the intensity, and the belief was outstanding."

"Every time we broke with the ball we looked dangerous. So full credit to the players and certainly it's given us a real shot in the arm moving forward."

Central Coast is finishing the season in fine form. Source: Getty Images

The Wanderers meanwhile flew to Korea on Sunday having a earned a weekend's rest thanks to finishing second, Youssouf Hersi's late goal on Saturday securing a dramatic 3-2 win over Melbourne Heart.

Having missed a penalty and trailed 2-1, Western Sydney's refusal to lie down led coach Tony Popovic to hail his players' fortitude.

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''I think we'll gain a lot from the result and the way we got the result is the key,'' Popovic said. ''We showed a similar mentality last week, going a goal behind at half-time, and pressure was on but the boys came back and got a deserved point.

"[Against Heart] they showed that character again. They don't know when they're beaten, they fight to the last minute and we showed that again. I feel, mentally, we will certainly be very well prepared [for the finals].'

''This year we've had different challenges. This year the challenge was, can we maintain the high standards of last year? Apart from two weeks in the season we've always been in second spot. So we've had a real level of consistency.''

"We look forward to [the semifinal], whoever comes to our place to play in a couple of weeks,'' Popovic said. ''We look forward to doing everything we can to get in the grand final.''

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Late goal sets up finals Big Blue

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SYDNEY FC's season will extend into the finals, but to say they travel more in hope than expectation might just be the understatement of the year.

Faced with a Perth side playing only with a holiday on their minds, Sydney scraped a 2-1 victory thanks to a goal from Richard Garcia with the last kick of the game. It was scarecely deserved, yet such is the tightness of the table that it allowed Sydney to climb above Adelaide to fifth.

MATCH CENTRE: VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS, LIVE STATS, COMMENTARY AND LINE-UPS

It means they must travel to Melbourne to face Victory on Friday night in the first semifinal. Paradoxically they might have preferred the trip to Gosford that was their fate until Garcia's late, late strike, but at least the goal gave them something, however fleeting, to take from a numbing display. In truth, the manner of their stagger over the finishing line won't inspire optimism against anyone if repeated in the finals.

Club legend Terry McFlynn enjoys his farewell. Source: Getty Images

FINALS FIXTURES

Melbourne Victory v Sydney FC

Friday night, 7.30pm EST

Etihad Stadium

Central Coast Mariners v Adelaide United

Saturday afternoon, 4.30pm EST

Central Coast Stadium

Last minute celebrations for Sydney FC. Source: Getty Images

No doubt the pitch made for heavy going, the centre rather oddly relaid after so much rain. But all the words that sprang to mind on viewing the Allianz surface - lumpen, boggy, erratic - could equally well have applied to a Sky Blue performance as disjointed as an Ikea flatpack assembled in the dark.

Though there were individual chances, almost none were the result of a collective move - Milos Dimitrijevic fashioned two decent shooting opportunites, both on the edge of the box, but volleyed one straight at Jack Duncan then screwed the second narrowly wide.

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No doubt the pitch played a part in the nervousness of players in possession on both sides, but even when the ball was airborne - as when William Gallas's long pass found Chris Harold loping into the Sydney box, only to sidefoot wide early in the game - the final touch was too often a letdown.

If Sydney's goal in the first half stood out like a crumb of gold on a hillside of cinders - Terry Antonis accepting a square pass from Del Piero and rifling home a shot from 20m - then Perth's equaliser rather summed up the mood.

It was also the last game for Jacob Burns. Source: Getty Images

With seconds to go before halftime, Vedran Janjetovic flapped at a corner and the ball more or less hit an unmarked Rostyn Griffiths six metres out and rolled into the Sydney goal.

Maybe the timing was particularly bad from Sydney's point of view, giving them the halftime break to stew on the concession, for remarkably the lack of endeavour became even more marked.

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It might have been a different second half had Alessandro Del Piero stabbed Abbas's fiercely driven centre either side of Duncan on 53 minutes, rather than close to him allowing the young Perth keeper to make a brilliant reflex save.

In the almost horrified reaction to the miss, could you see the nerves suffusing the home camp. It showed on the terraces, in the silence punctuated by cries of frustration, and on the pitch where Nikola Petkovic upbraided Antonis for not tracking back.

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When Petkovic promptly sent a square pass sailing over the head of his teammate Sasa Ornenovski and into touch darkened the mood still further. Twice in a minute Garcia gave possession away aimlessly with Del Piero well placed close by, prompting a look from the Italian to his teammate that could have curdled milk.

But finally, with seconds to go, Del Piero found his only killer touch of the night, lobbing Perth's square back four and sending Garcia away for an emphatic finish.

At least now Sydney can look to the memory of their 5-0 win over Victory on Australia Day for inspiration, for there is little to glean from the result that actually got them into the finals.

A magnificent tribute to Terry McFlynn. Source: Getty Images

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Lippi and co arrive to derail Victory

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WORLD Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi and his star-studded Guangzhou Evergrande squad arrived in Melbourne on Sunday aiming to plot another Melbourne Victory downfall on Tuesday night at Etihad Stadium.

The reigning Asian champions and the continent's richest club landed in Melbourne courtesy of a chartered flight with its full complement of international stars aboard, headlined by Italian World Cup hopeful Alessandro Diamanti and Brazilian pair Elkeson and Muriqui.

Guangzhou overturned a two-goal half-time deficit to beat Melbourne Victory 4-2 in their Asian Champions League opener in February.

Evergrande are now top their ACL group (seven points) and the Chinese Super League, after a 5-2 win over Tianjin Teda on Saturday, albeit only on goal difference on both fronts.

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Anything less than a win for Victory (four points) will leave its destiny in others' hands, particularly Koreans Jeonbuk who are on seven points and travel to Yokohama (four points).

Victory faces Jenobuk in Korea on Tuesday week in its final group game _ it will be played four days after its Good Friday A-League elimination final at Etihad Stadium.

Victory hope to regain Chilean defender Pablo Contreras for the Guangzhou clash, while Kiwi Kosta Barbarouses will be fit for the clash after coming off in the 80th minute of the 4-1 win at Wellington to secure a home final.

But Western Sydney won the battle for coveted second spot and the accompanying week off over Central Coast and Victory, who all won their round 27 games.

Wanderers coach Tony Popovic revealed the importance of having next weekend off after his team departed Melbourne yesterday at 6am to commence the long journey to Korea to tackle Ulsan Hyundai.

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"Its very important, with the ACL having that weekend off will help,'' Popovic said after the 3-2 win over Melbourne Heart.

"We've got a 6am flight to Sydney then we go straight to Korea, two flights and another internal flight and we play Tues.

"This result makes it an easier trip psychologically and also knowing we don't have to play the weekend when we get back, we can prepare for the game against Guizhou on Tuesday.

"We love playing in this competition and wouldn't have it any other way but finishing second does help.''

Any Australian sides that make the Champions League knockout phase will continue juggling with A-League finals commitments.

The final ACL group games are scheduled for April 22/23, while the two-legged round of 16 games are on May 6/7 and 13/14.

The A-League grand final is due to be played on Sunday 4th May.

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