Sydney FC forward Joel Chianese has pledged to score the goals in their remaining two home games to fire the Sky Blues into the Hyundai A-League Finals Series.
Sydney FC forward Joel Chianese has pledged to score the goals in their remaining two home games to fire the Sky Blues into the Hyundai A-League Finals Series.
The push for the finals begins this Sunday against the Wellington Phoenix at Allianz Stadium (kick off 5pm) and with the Sky Blues sitting in sixth place, Chianese stressed the importance of the two remaining matches with the ladder still extremely tight.
“We win both games, we play finals, it-s as simple as that,” Chianese said.
“We have two home games, you can-t ask for a better draw, but we have two teams that won-t want to lose [Wellington Phoenix and Perth Glory].
“Wellington this week they-re going to come out and play hard and make sure we don-t win it at home, everyone loves to knock a team out so they-ll be aiming to do that,” he continued.
“There-s always hope for every team in this competition, you know how close it is. If one team slips up the other teams can jump in front of you.
“Everyone wants to beat us, so we-ll be up for the challenge, we-ll work hard this week and we-ll be ready.”
Two years ago the Sky Blues were in a similar situation and it was Chianese who helped propel Sydney FC into the finals with six goals in nine games, including two against the Newcastle Jets in the final game of the season, and the 24 year old is hopeful of repeating that feat this year.
“It-s good to be back with the team in the starting 11,” said Chianese.
“Being an attacking player that-s your aim, to score goals and win us games. It-s just another normal game for me but at the same time I know it-s good to play well, score the goals and get us into the finals where we need to be.
“I-ll be looking to do that again and hopefully the team performs on the day.”
It-s Family Sunday this weekend, with kids being allowed on the pitch after the game, and Chianese said there was nothing better than a Sunday afternoon spent watching the football as he called on as many families as possible to come to Allianz Stadium.
“Hopefully we get a good crowd there on Sunday,” Chianese said.
“Not being too late, the families will be able to get back home and go back to work the next morning.
“We need all the support we can get so they can be our extra man. I don-t think we-ve played a Sunday game for a while so it should be good and an afternoon game should be good for the families to get out there and really give us a bit of support.”
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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