Sydney targets second and week off in hectic May schedule

RETIRING Sydney FC captain Alex Brosque has labelled the Sky Blues’ last two ALeague regular season games as “must-win” matches, as they try to earn a precious rest in a hectic month.

Second-placed Sydney, which hosts Premiers Plate winner Perth tomorrow, holds a two-point advantage over Melbourne Victory.

Sydney and the Victory have to play three Asian Champions League games through May, when the ALeague finals series is held, with Steve Corica’s team facing two overseas trips.

However, the team that finishes second will not have to play in the opening week of the finals, which falls a few days before the next mid-week round of ACL group games.

“We’ve got two (A-League) games left and I think both of them are must-win,” said Brosque, who announced on Monday he would end his career at the end of the season.

“We’ve got a lot of travel with the Champions League and just the fact we’re competing in both competitions, I think that week off will be welcome to us and give us a bit of a chance to freshen up.”

He rates himself a 50-50 chance of playing against Perth after hurting his heel while scoring in the 1-1 Sydney derby draw last Saturday.

“It’s not too bad, it’s been improving every day, it’s still quite sore but I got scans on it yesterday and the results are quite positive,” Brosque said.

He said it would be good to get another win over Glory going into the finals.

The Sky Blues have split two games in Perth.