A-League

Douglas Costa Subbed Off as Precaution

Published

1 month ago

10/24/2024

Sydney FC head coach Ufuk Talay has provided an update on the fitness of Brazilian winger Douglas Costa after he was substituted during Wednesday night’s AFC Champions League fixture against Sanfrecce Hiroshima. The number 11, who was instrumental in creating several chances for the Sky Blues, was taken off at the 60-minute mark as a precautionary measure.

Douglas Costa’s Hamstring Issue a ‘Precautionary’ Substitution

Costa, who almost set up Sydney’s first goal late in the first half, was removed from the game after expressing discomfort with his hamstring. Talay confirmed post-match that while the substitution was partly precautionary, there was also a tactical element as they sought fresh legs to chase the game.

“We took Douglas off because he was feeling his hamstring a little bit,” Talay said in his post-match press conference. “We have a game on Sunday in Auckland that we have to win, so it was important to manage his minutes. It was also tactical, as we needed to push for a result and get some fresh energy on the pitch.”

Sydney FC’s Strong Performance Despite Loss in Japan

Despite their 1-0 defeat to Japan’s Sanfrecce Hiroshima, Sydney FC showed resilience and put up a strong fight against one of the top sides in Asia. Talay expressed pride in his team’s performance, noting that the boys delivered a solid display of football but were ultimately unlucky not to come away with points.

“I’m disappointed that we lost, but I’m extremely proud of how the boys performed,” Talay continued. “We played some excellent football, and it’s frustrating that we didn’t get anything from the game. But in two weeks, we’ll have them travel to us, and we’ll look to capitalise on that and hopefully top the group.”

The two teams will meet again in a fortnight’s time in Sydney, in what promises to be a decisive clash that could determine the fate of the group stage standings.

Focus Shifts to A-League Clash in Auckland

With the AFC Champions League match behind them, Sydney FC now turns its attention to Sunday’s Isuzu UTE A-League Round 2 clash against Auckland FC. The match will be held at Go Media Stadium in Auckland, with Sydney FC eager to bounce back and secure a crucial win on the road.

Match Details:

Auckland FC vs Sydney FC
Isuzu UTE A-League Round 2
Sunday, 27th October 2024
Go Media Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand
Kick-off: 2:00pm AEDT (4:00pm local)
Broadcast Live on Paramount+