Sydney FC captain Rhyan Grant believes Wednesday night’s AFC Champions League Two semi final is one of the most important games for the Sky Blues in years.
Reaching the semi-finals of the continental competition for the first time, a slice of history is on the line alongside a $1.57 million pay packet just for making the deciding clash.
Facing the Singaporean team, Lion City Sailors, for the second time in a week, Sydney FC has the opportunity to progress to its first Asian football final in 20 years with a comeback victory.
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Rhyan Grant leads out his team during the AFC Champions League Round of 16 match between Sydney FC and Bangkok United. Mark Metcalfe via Getty Images
“It’s one of the most important games not only for us as players this season but for the club over a long period,” Grant told Wide World of Sports.
“We’ve been pretty successful within the domestic league, but we’ve never really been able to get the chance to do it in Asia, and now that we’ve got that game right in front of us, it’s pretty exciting.
“We have the opportunity do do something pretty historic.
“A lot is at stake, but it’s a very exciting time for the club.”
While Grant has won championships, premierships, and FFA Cups across his 17 seasons with Sydney FC, he is missing a trophy from a competition in Asia.
“The thing about Asia and Champions League football, if you look around the world, if you win the Champions League or the Europa League, people would die to do that, and it’s a massive trophy that people are very proud of,” he says.
Rhyan Grant of Sydney FC looks on in the tunnel. Matt King via Getty Images
“Sydney FC have been very good over the years domestically, but this is a trophy that we haven’t won.
“So, to win in Australia is one thing, but to go and do it in international football — in Asia — is something else with all the travel we do and the quick turnaround of games. It’s pretty challenging, which adds to how special a win would be.”
With a 2-0 deficit from the first leg to overcome, Sydney FC must defeat Lion City by three goals to progress to the final.
Grant says his side’s game plan will not change for the second leg.
“We’re an attacking side, so scoring goals isn’t really an issue for us, or hasn’t been so far this season,” he says.
“So, we have the same old game plan to go in there, play some attacking football and hopefully score at least two goals to get us back level and then push from there.”
But while scoring does not seem to be an issue for the Sky Blues, their approach needs to be safer so as not to concede any goals.
To balance out their attack, the side will employ rest defence.
Rhyan Grant of Sydney FC and Alex Rufer of Wellington Phoenix get into a physical altercation during their round 23 A-League Men match. Ayush Kumar via Getty Images
“When we have the ball, we need to make sure we’re in a position defensively to be close to their players so that if we do give the ball away, we can shut them down as quickly as possible,” Grant says.
“They’re a team that likes to counter-attack. They sit behind the ball and try to counter-attack when we give up possession.
“So, it’s just a matter of being well organised and trying to manage our rest defence as best as possible.”
If Sydney FC only wins on Wednesday by two goals, the game will go to penalties to determine who will progress.
“As neutral fan, that’s what you love to watch — a penalty shootout,” Grant says.
“It can be a bit nerve-wracking obviously, so hopefully it doesn’t go that far, but if it does, then so be it.
“We have got some unbelievable players, with a lot of attacking flare, so if it goes to penalties, I’m quietly confident that our boys can do it.”
Having performed well domestically in recent years, to go and contest the final of an AFC club competition would be significant.
Adrian Segecic celebrates with his Sydney FC teammates after scoring a goal. Matt King via Getty Images
Sydney FC last took out the OFC Champions League in 2005, before Australia moved from the Oceania Football Confederation to the Asian Football Confederation in 2006.
“It’s do or die for us. If we overturn the two-goal deficit and then get the win, we’ll host the final, which will be massive and something that a club like Sydney FC has always wanted to do,” Grant says.
“So hopefully, we can be the first team to do that for Sydney FC.
“If we can do something so special and turn around the deficit to get us to the final, it would be one of the best games to be a part of and one of the best games to watch.”
The match gets underway at 8pm (AEST).
