Hat-trick hero as Sydney chases AFC glory

Sydney FC has targeted AFC Champions League Two glory after securing a berth in the competition’s knockout stages with a 4-1 win over Hong Kong outfit Eastern SC.

A hat-trick from attacking midfielder Anas Ouahim was the highlight of Thursday night’s win at Mong Kok Stadium.

With one round of matches remaining in the competition’s group stage, the Sky Blues now cannot be dislodged from a top-two Group E spot.

Japanese outfit Sanfrecce Hiroshima will top the group and accompany the Sky Blues into the round-of-16, which starts in February.

“It’s very significant,” Sydney coach Ufuk Talay said of his side’s achievement.

“We want to go all the way. We love being in the Asian (AFC) Champions League Two, so for us it’s very important that we try to push all the way in this competition and our local (A-League) competition as well.”

The Sky Blues – who were without star winger Douglas Costa and first-choice goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne – took early control of Thursday night’s clash to lead 3-0 at half-time thanks to a brace from former Morocco under-23 international Ouahim and a goal from Polish marksman Patryk Klimala.

Eastern reduced Sydney’s advantage in the 49th minute via a header from substitute Noah Baffoe, but Ouahim soon after restored the visitors’ three-goal lead by scoring from the penalty spot to complete his hat-trick.

Eastern blew a great chance to score a consolation goal in stoppage time, with Baffoe blasting a spot kick over the crossbar after the hosts had been awarded a penalty for Sydney defender Aaron Gurd’s foul on Ng Yu Hei.

“In the second half at times we made life difficult for ourselves with the decisions we made on the ball, but overall it was a game we needed to win and I think the boys did the job quite well,” Talay said.

Ouahim was delighted with individual contribution but happier about Sydney’s effort to reach the knockout stages.

“As an attacking player you want to score goals and if you score a hat-trick, it’s very special,” Ouahim said.

“I’m very proud of it, but it was very important to come here to make the next step. That was the most important thing.”

The Sky Blues aren’t in A-League action this weekend but return to the park next Thursday in their final Champions League Two Group E match against Filipino outfit Kaya FC at Jubilee Stadium.

After that, Sydney’s focus will switch back to the A-League, with a game on Sunday week against the Central Coast Mariners in Gosford.