Sydney FC’s AFC Champions League Two campaign has suffered a set-back with a luckless 1-0 home defeat against J.League heavyweights Sanfrecce Hiroshima.
Sanfrecce’s Mutsuki Kato scored the only goal of an open contest at a rain-sodden Jubilee Stadium on Thursday night and while Sydney FC saw two penalty claims waved away, the visitors had goalkeeper Keisuke Osako to thank for all three points.
Sydney FC went into the contest missing injured star duo Joe Lolley and Douglas Costa, though Sanfrecce - coming third in the J.League - started without a host of key personnel either left at home or on the bench, though they still lined-up with an imported all-Brazilian forward line.
The Sky Blues made just one change from the side which defeated Brisbane Roar last Friday with Joel King omitted and forward Adrian Segecic included for his first start since returning to the club.
Sydney FC looked dangerous for much of the first 45 minutes but arguably it was the visitors who had the better of opportunities at either end of the half.
Marcos Junior’s underhit close-range shot was saved by Andrew Redmayne on the five-minute mark, and Yoshifumi Kashiwa swept a shot wide with only the goalkeeper to beat.
Sydney FC weren’t without their chances as Rhyan Grant’s snap-shot was instinctively blocked by goalkeeper Osako and Segecic flashed a shot narrowly wide.
Sydney FC had never beaten a Japanese club in 15 previous attempts over 17 years dating back to a 2-2 draw against Urawa Red Diamonds in 2007 – a match in which current coach Ufuk Talay scored for the Sky Blues.
The contest opened up in the second period and it was Sanfrecce who pounced on the hour mark.
Substitute Kato scored with his first touch in losing his marker and powering home a header from a textbook cross.
Almost immediately Anas Ouahim seemed set to equalise but Osako produced a stunning one-handed save, the best of several by the Japanese goalkeeper.
Max Burgess was seemingly grappled to the ground soon after but the referee thought otherwise, and with no VAR utilised in the competition, Sydney FC’s complaints went unheard.
There was no joy soon after when Grant’s appeals for a similar challenge were also dismissed.
Second-placed Sydney FC went into the contest three points clear of Hong Kong’s Eastern, who were up against Philippines’ club Kaya-Iloilo later in the evening with two further group-stage rounds remaining.
