Mark Rudan’s farewell match at Sydney FC sadly was overshadowed by his team’s heavy 2-4 loss to Perth Glory FC.
Cellar-dwellers Perth, thanks to a star turn from Billy Celeski, made the top-four hopefuls look pedestrian. Nearly every player shone for Perth, while many of Sydney’s bright lights were embarrassingly dull in comparison.
Rudan got a big rap from the ground announcer before the game —made captain for his 50th appearance after which he’s heading to rejoin former Sydney FC coach Pierre Littbarski at Avispa Fukuoka in the J. League.
At the end of the game his team mates and the crowd treated him like the (short-term) legend he’s been at the club. I’ve been his fan since his time at Sydney United in the NSL and am sad to see him go.
My daughter near the end of this game said if Sydney were four goals down while Rudes was there, what hope was there when he’s gone?
It was interesting watching Perth shape up for their kick off: with traditional wingers and five forwards while Sydney had five in defence — three defenders and two wing backs.
It was the loss of one of those, Robbie Middleby, in the 22nd minute that turned the game against Sydney.
An early scare for Sydney came when Rudan passed back to Bolton who dawdled on the ball until Leo Bertos shut him down and almost scored when blocking Bolton’s clearance.
In the ninth minute Sydney missed a good chance over the bar largely due to an unfavourable bounce as three players ran into the Perth penalty area looking to connect with a ball from the left.
Celeski had been looking good but was at one point bettered by Terry McFlynn.
Sydney were making too many little passes in the back third onto which Perth were pouncing.
Celeski crossed. Bolton held.
Sydney’s main tactic seemed to be long balls searching for Alex Brosque. Hayden Foxe and Dino Djulbic had the situation under control.
Michael Bridges fell in the Perth penalty area. No penalty was awarded. Then Bridges found himself being outplayed by Foxe.
In the 13th minute Brosque headed wide on a great Steve Corica cross from the right.
Bertos had a long dig wide of goal from the right, Tyler Simpson crossed, Rudan cleared over his own goal and Perth had a corner.
Mark Milligan made a great tackle against Simpson coming into the Sydney penalty area along the goal line from the right, Ufuk Talay made a good block on a shot from Nick Rizzo, and David Zdrilic came on as Middleby was being stretchered off.
Jamie Coyne had a good long shot that Bolton let sail just over the crossbar and Brosque — frequently meeting the turf this evening — copped a Foxe elbow to the head that the ref didn’t notice.
Sydney seemed in a good position with Brosque breaking forward but took too long and eventually James Downey dispossessed Iain Fyfe. Zdrilic was not too bad chasing back on Simpson. But he was no Middleby.
Perth forced a Sydney corner out to Corica who passed back to Talay. Talay hit a long switch to the left post. The ball seemed to be arriving safely in Tom Tomich’s hands but Rudan arrived in a rush and came close to scoring.
Then Sydney fell apart. McFlynn pushing forward almost won a tackle but didn’t and was out of position as Perth countered. Jerry Karpeh, who was innocuous to that point, got past the defence and onto a through ball from Celeski into the left side of the Sydney penalty area. Bolton came out and intervened.
No sooner was I writing that down than Celeski surprised Milligan, intercepting a pass, rounded him, ran to the box and shot past Bolton. Perth were ahead.
And two minutes later — in the 35th minute — it happened again. This time Celeski robbed McFlynn, receiving a poor ball from Milligan, down the middle. Bolton got a hand to the shot but it was 0-2.
Then Rizzo hit a hard ball across the box that almost connected with Djulbic arriving at the left post and Bridges seemed to be on a good break but was ruled offside.
A Sydney fan called out, “C’mon Sydney, you got two goals in ya!” But that hadn’t looked evident so far. Sydney looked stung, however.
Corica messed up a nutmeg pass to Bridges and for the third time in ten minutes a guy below me yelled, “Wake up Sydney!”
At half time another chap to my right said, “After six or seven games undefeated something had to happen. But that was just shocking defence.” He was not alone: Sydney received boos from the crowd as they left and returned to the pitch.
Then they wasted two good chances in the first two minutes of the second half.
Perth were not so profligate. In the 50th minute Rizzo was good keeping the ball in down the right and then hitting a great low cross which was met well by Bertos. The visitors were 3-0 up.
Sydney got something back immediately: ball into the penalty area, headed by Bridges across the top of the box to Corica who hit a wonderful volley over Tomich.
In the 58th minute a good ball over the top found Brosque who shot just right of goal. Three minutes later Djulbic clobbered Brosque on the end of a ball from Corica and earned a yellow card.
Zdrilic was replaced by Adam Biddle and a Sydney fan yelled, “Kosmina put your boots on.”
James Downey made a good tackle on Brosque meeting a long ball from Milligan.
A good ball from Corica, quiet in the first half but finding his place now, got Bridges into the Perth penalty area but Bridges was again ruled offside.
Corica hit an overhead kick down the left sideline for Biddle against whom Foxe was forced to concede a corner.
In the 73rd minute Brosque had a free shot — straight at Tomich. A guy several seats down for the second time called for McFlynn to be replaced.
Perth replaced Rizzo with Naum Sekulovski. Sad because Rizzo had been doing well; happy for me because Sekulovski was a former Wolf.
Then Downey flogged Fyfe down the left, cut into the box and was brought down as Fyfe got some Pyrrhic revenge. Celeski took the penalty and secured his hat trick.
In the 80th minute Brosque was played through by Bridges and forced wide by Djulbic. Sydney won a corner which Rudan headed onto the crossbar.
Milligan was replaced by Mark Robertson — another old Wolf — and Brosque shot wide from the edge of the penalty area.
Sekulovski was first to the ball, in front of Fyfe, on a free kick from the right sideline but hit it wide to the right of goal.
In the 87th minute Biddle had a good effort, evading a tackle and shooting just to the left of goal. And three minutes later Bridges had an easy goal at the right post on a Biddle ball through the top left of the box.
But still Sydney lost. Two-four.
Kosmina said it was a missed opportunity for Sydney to get a spot in the top four. It was always hard to play catch up after giving away two cheap goals.
Rudan thought it might have been a result Sydney needed. He said it was very emotional to get such a send off from the fans. Kosmina concurred that maybe Sydney needed the defeat — it would probably do them the world of good — and said Rudan had the respect of the supporters and players.
Perth coach David Mitchell said the result was very pleasing. Perth tried a couple of things and it had paid off handsomely. He said it was a credit to the way they played: a lot of skill and a lot of flair.
He said Celeski was technically a very good player, though it was hard to play him sometimes. With key players missing he wanted to make sure the midfield was tied up and he was happy with the way the new midfielders adjusted to their responsibilities.