Paul Reid has described Rockdale City’s FFA Cup round of 32 clash with Sydney FC as the biggest game in the Suns’ history.
All grandstand tickets have sold out for the FFA Cup national round fixture, with only general admission and away tickets still available.
A crowd of between five and six thousand is expected at the Ilinden Sports Centre on Wednesday night as Rockdale, who play in the Football NSW NPL 1 competition, look to cause one of the biggest upsets in Australian football history.
Sydney FC have become one of the best A-League clubs since the competition’s inception in recent years. The Sky Blues have been A-League premiers and reached the grand finals in each of the last two seasons, winning the 2017 title. Sydney FC are also the FFA Cup holders.
Rockdale are fifth in the NPL 1 competition and look likely to reach the finals despite a slow start to the campaign.
The Suns have also endured some key player losses in recent weeks with Jordan Figon and Bai Antoniou taking up professional contracts in Cyprus. Former Sydney FC defender Trent McClenahan has also suffered a serious knee injury, reducing Rockdale’s squad to 15 outfield players and three goalkeepers.
But Suns player-coach Reid told the Leader the anticipation around the club for the match was palpable as Rockdale embraced their underdog tag.
“I’ve only been at Rockdale for six years but I’d have to say it is their biggest game,” he said.
“I know the club has its 50th anniversary next year. This is a great lead up to that milestone. It’s got to be up there, especially with the game at Rockdale as well.
“We’re in a position where people say you’ve got nothing to lose, which we don’t. But we’ve got the team and players to do something special.
“I know the board and the supporters have all been talking about it. And a lot of preparation has gone into it to make it a huge event and I’m sure it will be the biggest [game] in their 49 years.”
Rockdale secured a 1-1 draw with fellow finals chasers Blacktown City on Sunday and have been on an excellent run of form in the league, highlighted by a 1-0 win over heavyweights Sydney Olympic.
The Suns have experience at this stage of the competition having reached the round of 16 in 2015. They gave a good account of themselves on the big stage that night, losing 3-2 to then A-League champions Melbourne Victory at Jubilee Oval.
Reid, a former Sydney FC player and now the club’s community football officer, said he had enjoyed the challenge as a coach of trying to work out tactically how to beat one of the best A-League teams of all time.
He hinted a physical approach might be the way for the Suns.
“We’re definitely going to have to be physical and in the face of their players. Obviously they are quality players with the ball and if you give them extra time they’ll punish you,” he said.
“I feel like we’re not going to take a gamble but try and put them under pressure higher up the park. Our pitch is a little bit smaller than others as well. And we’ve got the players to cause them some problems if we’re smart about it.
“The way I think is you’ve got to limit the time on the ball for their other players before they get to their attacking players. If we give guys like [Josh] Brillante and [Brandon] O’Neill time on the ball it’s going to be very difficult for us, there’s no hiding that.
“Obviously it’s been going through my mind the last few weeks how to play against Sydney. We’ve had the league to worry about but it has been in the back of my mind, how do you beat the best A-League team of the last two seasons. They’re such an attacking threat.
“The thing in our favour is they’re only four weeks into pre-season. We’re coming to the end of our season and the players are at a good fitness level and looking really good.
“Defensively we need to be really switched on. We’ve conceded too many goals this season and Sydney FC are the best attacking team. That should be our main focus to use our strengths and put ourselves in the opposition’s faces.
“The main thing when I look at a team is trying to exploit their weakness. It’s easy to know a team’s strengths but it’s something I’ve learnt over the years as a player and from coaches. I like to try and pick a team’s weakest players and exploit them. Whether they’re not as good on the ball or a left footer player on the wrong side at right centre half. If they’ve got a slow player put a fast player on him.
“That’s the thing I really enjoy in football. Trying to out think your opposition. It doesn’t always come off but you try and get your players to think on their feet as well. And our players will be full of excitement and energy come Wednesday night.”
Reid said he was undecided on the make up of his final XI including whether or not he would play. But he hoped the buzz around the squad would give Rockdale another small advantage.
“Even being in fifth [place in the league] the guys are disappointed because we feel we should be higher up the table,” he said.
“We’re close to being the form team in the league in the second half of the season, probably apart from APIA [Leichhardt]. We started off slowly and were in a terrible position but we’ve hit our straps and it’s a great time to be finding form.
“We don’t have the option to rest players, to be honest. We’re a bit thin at the minute. But everyone is going to want to be playing on Wednesday night anyway, no one will want to be rested.
“It’s exciting times, a massive game, and we’ll be going all out to win it.”
