Tara Murray
Western United needs to go back to playing its game for 90 minutes after a second straight loss to start the A-League Men’s season.
United showed some good signs in the first half against Sydney FC on Sunday afternoon, but weren’t able to convert on the scoreboard.
Down 2-1 at half time, United dropped their heads and let Sydney take control of the game. Sydney would score the sealer in the 69th minute to win 3-1.
United coach John Aloisi said it was a mixed performance.
“The first half we were really good, exactly the way we wanted to play,” he said.
”We performed really well and we created a number of opportunities, yes we didn’t take them, that was probably the negative.
“We made some errors, we ended up giving them a lift, the goal and penalties they ended up getting were from our errors,
“Then in the second half we lost our way and lost our structure.”
Aloisi said the second half was the most disappointing thing, as it was something they normally wouldn’t do.
He said they could have quite easily been 3-0 at half time, had luck gone their way.
“The first half the way we want to play it was excellent in all areas,” he said.
“We have to make sure that we don’t lose our way just because we are behind or just because we lost a game of football.
“We have to keep playing to our strengths and what we have been trying to work on, which is why I was disappointed for the second half.”
Aloisi said it was hard to put his finger on what exactly went wrong, but admits their mistakes let Sydney back into the game.
He said the group needs to continue to back in what they’ve done so well the last 12 months.
“We’re always going to be able to create chances, but we ended up becoming too stressed,” he said.
“Too much of a game playing into their hands. They’ve got good players going forward with space, if we didn’t give them that space like we did in the first half, they’re not going to create much.”
Aloisi said now sitting 0-2 as defending champions was the time to show the character and the culture of the group that is spoken about so much.
“Now is the best time to show what we are made of,” he said. “That will show on the pitch if you keep on doing the right things.
“You don’t need to panic, you need to keep playing your football, don’t think you have to win the game, you play your football, you perform well, where normally the results will follow.”
United will face Macarthur on Friday night.
