Big games need big players and, with a place in the finals on the line, Sydney FC needed their biggest names to stand tall.

The pressure was squarely on Brett Emerton and Nicky Carle.

True to their marquee status, the pair combined on Sunday to heave the Sky Blues past Newcastle and into the finals. If Carle had his doubters last year and Emerton this year, both proved they can play defining roles in whatever remains of Sydney's season.

In the first half, Emerton provided the kind of sparkling performance he's so often reserved for the Socceroos, providing the assists for two first half-goals.

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That laid the foundations for victory but, as the Sky Blues threatened to break under the weight of nerves in the second half, Carle sensed it was his turn.

''Although I'm happy with the way I've been playing recently, I thought in the first half I wasn't giving as much as some others,'' he told the Herald yesterday. ''They were playing brilliantly - it was as if the game was happening around me. I wasn't involved as much as I'd like to be.

''But I knew in the second half we would be inviting all sorts of danger if we didn't keep the momentum going. I wanted to play a big part in making sure we didn't get stuck defending for 45 minutes. I reckon we did that and, in the end, I was happy with my game.''

Carle said his teammates probably weren't quite sure how to defend their 3-1 advantage at half-time. ''There were times when we sat back too much and that can happen when you're defending a two-goal lead, ''he said. ''We had to do a bit of desperate defending right at the end when they scored, but we just did enough.''

Emerton's blazing opening half had Carle and the 15,000 at Allianz Stadium in awe of what the 33-year old can do. Carle said his return to right-midfield was reaping rewards.

''I think his back end of the season, in particular, has been immense,'' Carle said. ''I'm a massive fan of him playing on the right. It's his natural position and it's where he plays his best football. He's in form now and you could see that with his cross to Bruno [Cazarine] for the opening goal. It was world class. I knew it would be a goal as soon as it left his foot.''

Those watching might have noticed Carle's reticence at being substituted recently, but he insists it's because he just wants to keep helping the team. Coach Vitezslav Lavicka, however, might just be playing it safe due to an underlying ankle injury.

''I had a sore foot after copping a knock in the game against Melbourne Victory but, with knocks, there's nothing you can do about it,'' he said. ''It's still a bit sore but it's nothing that will stop me from training or playing.''

If Sydney are to keep their flickering hopes of a trophy alive, they'll need to navigate the chill of a Friday night duel with Wellington at Westpac Stadium. Considering Sydney have lost all three of their matches against the Phoenix this season, they'll need more than Carle and Emerton to bail them out, too.

''We had them on the ropes in the game at home recently but just couldn't score,'' Carle said. ''But over there, we haven't been good either match. We just haven't showed up on the day. I played in the first one and we were never in the game. You can't do that when they have some very dangerous players up front who'll happily punish you. We've learned some lessons. We know what result we need and we know we're going to have to be at our best.''

Making Sydney's task even harder will be the Phoenix's desire to send favourite son Tim Brown out on a win. He has announced he will retire at the end of the season to study for a master's degree in management at either the London School of Economics or Cambridge University.

"The opportunity to continue my studies at either of those places is fantastic,'' Brown said yesterday. "It was tough making the decision to leave what has been a dream job."

- Sydney Morning Herald