As the Sky Blues prepare to face off against Melbourne Victory on Saturday at AAMI Park (kick off 7:45pm) one man Sydney FC will be looking to for impetus is fullback Seb Ryall.
As the Sky Blues prepare to face off against Melbourne Victory on Saturday at AAMI Park (kick off 7:45pm) one man Sydney FC will be looking to for impetus is fullback Seb Ryall.
With three of his seven Hyundai A-League goals coming against the Victory, Ryall enjoys nothing more than playing against his former employers and the Sky Blues fullback has his eyes firmly set on increasing his goal-scoring record against the Victorians.
“It-s always a good to play against my former club,” Ryall said.
“It-s a special game because of the rivalry over the years and this week coming into it the importance is huge for us.
“It-s a great feeling scoring goals and hopefully there is more to go this season. There would be no better chance than this weekend if I could get a third against Melbourne it would be something special.”
After going his first 80 Hyundai A-League games without a goal Ryall now has seven in his last 47 matches, with his first ever strike for the Sky Blues coming against the Victory, and rates his solo slalom effort in Sydney FC-s 5-0 rout on Australia Day as his best to date.
Picking the ball up on the right flank, Ryall cut inside two defenders before driving forward into the box and unleashing a shot with the outside of his foot that nestled into the bottom corner of the net.
“There was a lot of mixed emotions that day [when he scored his first goal],” said Ryall.
“I actually came on off the bench and had been copping it from the crowd the whole game and I literally scored with my first touch.
“It was a good moment for my career and to score down there it was good,” he continued.
“The goal when we beat them 5-0 was my best I think. In the manner of the game as well we won 5-0 against my old club in front of their fans.
“It was a good day that one and something I won-t be forgetting for a while.”
It-s no surprise that Ryall carries this goal-scoring talent. As a junior playing with West Pymble Soccer Club, Ryall was routinely used as a striker and midfielder before progressing to defender as he moved through the youth ranks of the New South Wales Institute of Sport and the AIS.
“I played upfront when I was younger for many years and in midfield,” Ryall said.
“I don-t want to get ahead of myself but I used to knock in a few when I was young and then slowly by slowly got put in the back.
“Playing fullback as well gives me more of an opportunity to get forward and help in the attack. I enjoy it.”
BATTLE FOR THE FINALS AWAITS – With two home games remaining, the battle for finals football is well and truly on for the Sky Blues. First to visit Allianz Stadium is the Wellington Phoenix with Sydney FC-s last minute winner in the previous encounter still fresh in the memory. A week later Perth Glory will visit in what will be a season defining game for the Sky Blues – will finals football beckon? Be at Allianz Stadium to see it all unfold.
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