Adam Le Fondre produced a match-winning goal for Sydney FC to stun Western Sydney in an Elimination Final Sydney Derby. He spoke to KEEPUP while celebrating the upset win.
Sydney FC match winner Adam Le Fondre turned up to CommBank Stadium on Saturday night unsure if the Elimination Final would be his final game in Sky Blue.
“The show goes on,” he quipped afterwards.
Not just for Sydney FC, upsetting Western Sydney 2-1 to set up a date with Melbourne City; but for the 36-year-old striker.
His headed winner extends his streak to five consecutive games; he is a man in form, at the perfect time.
“For me personally, it could’ve been my last game in a Sydney shirt,” he said to KEEPUP, while celebrating with his four daughters.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen to me in the future but obviously I don’t want to go out with a whimper.
“Nights like this are memorable for me and my family.”
Le Fondre is synonymous with the biggest moments in Steve Corica’s tenure, but, his form earlier this season was also bundled in with a narrative that this cohort was finished.
“I think everyone has written us off,” he said.
“For the first time in my career here we’re underdogs, and I quite like it, the fact people slag us off, slag me off.
“The proof is in the pudding, the show goes on, we have a lot of confidence in ourselves and what we’re fully capable of.”
It is fitting, then, as Corica enjoys another shot at a Grand Final, ‘Alfie’ delivered when it mattered most. With most of the focus on Marko Rudan’s attacking riches, Le Fondre, one of the most lethal marksmen in the competition’s history, reminded everyone of his pedigree.
“Unreal,” he said.
“Such an amazing occasion normally, the derby, (and) to have an Elimination Final, and it end like that was spectacular.
“For me personally, I’m delighted for everyone here.
“We should commend Wanderers for having a great season and making the derby special…the derby being an important fixture means the A-League can thrive off that.”
It quite remarkable that the last time these two sides met, the Wanderers prevailed 4-0 at Allianz Stadium.
That triggered the Sky Blues back into gear, arguably saving Corica his position, and re-igniting their run to the finals.
And once they got here, a core of seasoned professionals looked in their element, where, for all the bright sparks this season, Western Sydney did not, ceding 60 per cent of the ball, and managing no shots on target in the second term.
Listen below for KEEPUP’s immediate reaction at CommBank Stadium, or subscribe via Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
What changed?
“We’ve been building towards this; having every player fit – Joe (Lolley) had a bit of a niggle and couldn’t go – but we showed with our strongest line up out, and the intensity we played at, we looked as if we weren’t going to lose.
“(There was) a setback with (what I would say) is a contentious penalty.
“We have got big characters in the dressing room and we just rolled with it and grew into the game even more. We were the only ones who looked like we were going to win that.”
The date with Melbourne City is across two legs, starting at Allianz Stadium on Friday night, a venue the Sky Blues beat them at this season already.
