Cahill’s City set to shine

Sydney FC’s defensive style may be downfall, Socceroo says

SYDNEY FC’s unbeaten ALeague run is over and Tim Cahill senses vulnerability.

Melbourne City’s marquee man believes his side has drawn a perfect time to play the Sky Blues when they meet tomorrow night.

City bounced back to winning ways with a 5-1 demolition of Wellington on the same day that Sydney’s un- beaten run ended with a 1-0 loss to Western Sydney.

City also boasts a winning record over Graham Arnold’s side courtesy of its FFA Cup final success in November.

In the AAMI Park rematch, Cahill says he expects Sydney to be on the back foot.

“You know they’re going to come here and defend,” he said yesterday.

“It’d be very unlikely for them to come out and attack. They’ve got a lot going forward but their manager makes sure they’re well drilled.

“The way they play, all the midfield fuses back in. There’s 11 behind the ball, 24/7.”

To Socceroo forward Cahill, that’s a legitimate game style, but it has yet to bear fruit.

“You have to respect that. That’s the reason that they’re at the top (but) questions will be asked when it’s about winning games at the right times,” he said.

“Come finals time, that’s when everyone needs to be firing. You can slip in the backdoor and (last-placed) Adelaide can do it now if they want and finish sixth and win the league.

“It’s whoever is up for the fight at the end of the season.”

Off the back of last weekend’s showing, Cahill would argue City has stolen a march on the competition. Its drubbing of Wellington was just a third win in 11 matches since City’s FFA Cup final win.

Irrespective of its results, Cahill says the club’s performances merited a place in the title conversation.

“We weathered the storm at the start (against the Phoenix) and when you look at it, we played excellent,” he said. “We’re working hard to bring some real steel to the team.

“There’s a fresh buzz about our team and we’re starting to click. This is like another FFA Cup final.”