Phoenix positive they can defy the odds

BY FRED WOODCOCK

The Phoenix must make the most of any early chances they get in tonight's A-League preliminary final against Sydney FC to take the crucial crowd factor out of the equation, winger Leo Bertos says.

Minor premiers Sydney and the Phoenix have been near unbeatable at home, Sydney losing just three of 14 matches and the Phoenix one (in Palmerston North) of 15 matches.

The Phoenix were spurred on by parochial home crowds during the past fortnight so Bertos knows just how difficult Sydney will be if the 18,000 fans at the Sydney Football Stadium tonight believe they are in the match.

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He said the Phoenix had talked about the importance of starting strongly and taking any early chances they might get, saying he believed the highly expectant home crowd could even turn on Sydney if things aren't going their way.

"It's going to be a little bit of a chess match to start with, I think the teams will try and suss each other out the first 10 or 20 minutes," said the All Whites winger, who will start alongside Paul Ifill and Chris Greenacre in a front three.

"There might be a couple of chances early and I think if we get a chance early on, it's important we score to put pressure on them.

"Obviously they're at home and our plan is to keep the crowd out of the game and hopefully they turn on their own team. It has been known to happen."

Bertos acknowledged Sydney were tough to beat when they score first, and he said the Phoenix would have to be wary of not just the trumpeted front three of John Aloisi, Alex Brosque and Mark Bridge.

"They've got a good squad all around," he said.

"They have got a number of players who can win them the game, so they're a very dangerous team and really well organised.

"They've conceded very few goals [23] this year, their defence is solid. That has given them the platform to express themselves up front."

However, the Phoenix's run of eight wins in their past 10 matches had also been characterised by strong defence and game-breakers, meaning the two teams were at a "similar stage", Bertos said.

"Our defence has been playing really, really well, especially the last few months. We've got players in the team who can win you a game, too. It's got all the ingredients for a good match.

"It's massive game, a massive opportunity for our club and a big challenge for the team, and everyone is really excited.

"We're on a high at the moment and we just want to keep it going.

"We haven't done too well against Sydney this season but we've got a lot to prove. We're just going to go out there and enjoy ourselves."

Bertos was one of four Phoenix All Whites who backed up from the international against Mexico on March 4 to play against Newcastle last Sunday. It's been a hectic 10 days but he said all the players would have no problem going another 120 minutes tonight, if extra time was required.

"The body is great, to be honest, and I'm buzzing. I'm going along for the ride like everyone else - I just don't want it to end.

"It's big game after big game for club and country at the moment, football is on a bit of a roll, and it's great to be involved in. This is what you play for, to play in big matches like these."

Adrenaline had got him through last week and would do so again tonight.

"We all understood how big a game that was so there was no problem getting up for it. It will definitely be the same [today]," Bertos said.

"It would be nice to have the game over and done with in 90 minutes but if it takes extra time, that's what it takes.

"We've been there and done that, and it's probably given our team a bit of extra belief and extra confidence that if we do get to that stage, we've done it before and we know how to handle it."

Phoenix vice-captain Tim Brown said belief that they could defy the odds - the TAB has the Phoenix at $2.80 to progress to the grand final and Sydney at $1.40 - was high.

"Is it going to be hard? Yes. Is it possible? Absolutely. If there's ever a time we are going to do it, this is it."

The match kicks off at 10pm NZT.

- © Fairfax NZ News