SYDNEY FC coach Ufuk Talay has questioned his side’s character after they coughed up a two-goal lead in a 2-2 draw with last-placed Western United in Hobart last weekend.<\/p>\n
The Victorian outfit trailed 2-0 after the clinical Sky Blues made the most of limited first-half opportunities, but rallied and found goals through Noah Botic and Ben Garruccio to force their way to a point.<\/p>\n
It was a blown opportunity from Sydney, who could have jumped inside the top six with a victory and appeared on course for a comfortable result with their two-goal advantage.<\/p>\n
Talay acknowledged it wasn’t a good showing from his side and outlined the defensive lapses that let United back into the game.<\/p>\n
“It wasn’t our greatest performance,” Talay said.<\/p>\n
“We went 2-0 up, conceded another soft goal we could have dealt with defensively… and the second goal from the throw-in because our setup wasn’t ready.<\/p>\n
“Overall the performance wasn’t great… Western had a bit more passion and desire to get the outcome that they wanted.”<\/p>\n
The Sky Blues looked lifeless at times in the first half before finding their two quick goals, both via VAR intervention.<\/p>\n
They went 1-0 up thanks to a Fabio penalty on 36 minutes, referee Lachlan Keevers spotting a handball on video review when Max Burgess’ cross struck the outstretched hand of Western defender Kane Vidmar.<\/p>\n
Jake Girdwood-Reich secured Sydney’s second goal on 43 minutes, a VAR review finding he was onside when he drifted from a Fabio flicked-on header to drive the ball home.<\/p>\n
But Western quickly fought back and had a goal before the half when Botic slammed the ball in from close range after the Sky Blues’ defence capitulated.<\/p>\n
Garuccio made it 2-2 on 53 minutes, after Botic got on the end of a clever through ball and pulled the ball back for him to smash in.<\/p>\n
Western United would be wondering how they didn’t leave Tasmania with all three points after two golden chances for striker Nikita Rukavytsya late in second-half stoppage time.<\/p>\n
First Rukavytsya got on the end of a deep Zach Lisolajski cross but dragged a volley from close range well wide.<\/p>\n
And the veteran’s embarrassment only grew less than a minute later, firing a shot from point-blank range straight at Sydney keeper Andrew Redmayne.<\/p>\n
A shocking day on the injury front for United saw important talents Josh Risdon and Garruccio each substituted out of the contest in the second half.<\/p>\n
As if that wasn’t bad enough, Garrucio’s replacement Connor O’Toole lasted just 21 minutes before succumbing to his own injury.<\/p>\n
“It’s unfortunate those players got injured during the game because it affects the way you want to play,” United coach John Aloisi told Paramount.<\/p>\n
“But in the end I thought they did really well and deserved more from the game… we showed a lot of effort, we had the clearer of the chances and they scored two dubious goals.”<\/p>\n