This is a list of competitions played by Sydney FC involving international clubs, from 2005 to the present season. Despite their short history, Sydney FC have participated in many international tournaments and International friendlies, including the Asian Champions League and the Oceania Champions League (before the Football Federation Australia were admitted into the Asian Football Confederation). Sydney FC alongside Adelaide United are the only teams to have represented the A-League in the FIFA Club World Cup. Sydney FC are currently the only team to have represented the A-League in the Pan-Pacific Championship during the 2008 competition.
Contents
2005 Campaign
Sydney participated in the 2004–05 Oceania Club World Championships after defeating the then Queensland Roar, Perth Glory, and Central Coast Mariners to qualify. The event was being held in Tahiti, and Sydney's first match was against New Zealand team Auckland City FC, Sydney won 2–1, and would go on to defeat AS Pirae and Sobou FC, before winning against Tafea FC 6–0 in the Semi-Final. In the Final against AS Magenta Sydney won 2–0 with goals coming from Matthew Bingley and David Zdrillic.
2005 FIFA Club World Championship
In December 2005, Sydney FC competed in the 2005 FIFA Club World Championship as the Oceania Football Confederation's entry to the tournament following their 2004–05 Oceania Club Championships success in June. On 12 December, in front of a crowd of over 28,000 at Japan's Toyota Stadium, Sydney FC narrowly lost to Costa Rican champions Deportivo Saprissa 1–0, denying the club a semi–final match against European champion Liverpool F.C.. Four days later, Sydney FC defeated the African "Club of the Century" Al-Ahly 2–1 to finish the competition in fifth place. This was to be any Australian football club's last year to qualify for the Club World Championship through the Oceania Club Championship. The FFA announced soon after Sydneys grand final win that Australia will depart from the Oceania Football Confederation to join the higher ranking Asian Football Confederation. The A-league now participates AFC's inter-city club tournaments such as the Asian Champions League held annually during the off-season of the A-league, and also the international cup tournaments such as the Asian Cup held every 4 years. Sydney FC went on to represent Australia in the Asian Champions league in 2007.
2007 Campaign
On 22 November 2006, Sydney FC and Adelaide United, as 2005–06 Champions and Premiers, were nominated as the first clubs to represent the Australia in the AFC Champions League 2007. Expectations were low for Sydney after a troubled season — many key players left the club at season's end and coach Terry Butcher was replaced by former NSL coach Branko Culina. Culina named a revamped 21-man squad and in their opening game on 7 March 2007 had 2–1 away win over Shanghai Shenhua with Ufuk Talay scoring a thunderous goal outside of the 18 yard box. That result was followed up with a 2–2 draw at home against Japanese club Urawa Reds after being up 2–0 in front of 21,010 — a bigger home crowd than had attended any of the last season's regular matches. In a game delayed by a day after near monsoonal rain, they struggled against Indonesian side Persik Kediri, losing 2–1 and showing their lack of match fitness against a better than expected Persik side.
In the return match a fortnight later, Sydney FC revenged the loss at Parramatta Stadium in Western Sydney, defeating Persik 3–0 with goals from Steve Corica and Alex Brosque. Sydney's final matches in the group finished in stalemates, first at home to Shanghai and then in Japan at Urawa Reds. Sydney was one point behind Urawa in their group ladder going into the final match, faced with needing to win in order to progress. Unable to capitalise on good ball possession, the match ended 0–0 and thus ended Sydney's Asian Champions League campaign.
2011 Campaign
Despite a poor 2010-11 season, following several key players being released to other clubs, Sydney were expected to do well during the 2011 Asian Champions League. Unfortunately, Sydney struggled against the superior Asian teams from Japan, however gained 2 points from their opening 2 rounds against Kashima Antlers and Shanghai Shenhua. The home leg against Shanghai was a frustrating match where Sydney missed several easy chances and being forced to settle for a 1-1 draw. In Sydney's final home match against Korean team Suwon Samsung Bluewings, Sydney were belted 3-0 by a dominant Bluewings outfit. However, the team regained some faith with a twice come-from-behind win against Shanghai Shenhua in Shanghai, China winning 3-2 with Brazilian striker Bruno Cazarine helping with a brace.
Sydney would go on to finish 3rd out of 4 teams, unable to qualify for the Round of 16, winning 1 game, drawing 2 and losing 3.
Match details
2008 Competition
On 20 February, Sydney were pitted against Houston Dynamo, who had won the previous season's MLS Championship. The match was played on artificial turf at Aloha Stadium. Sydney FC were never really settled in the unfamiliar conditions, and suffered a 3–0 loss. Sydney newcomer Ryan Walsh was dispossessed of the ball 8 metres from the 18-yard box by Brian Ching, and the Canadian International Dwayne De Rosario put the ball past keeper Clint Bolton. Then, straight after the restart by Sydney, Stuart Holden received a 'through-ball' pass from Dwayne De Rosario, and shot past a stunned Sydney defence from the edge of the 6-yard box. When Chris Wondolowski scored before half-time to make the score 3–0, Sydney FC had really lost hope of coming back.
An understrength Sydney went into the 3/4 playoff against Los Angeles Galaxy fairly confident, as they had already beaten them during the November 2007 friendly match. However, Sydney fell behind only 3 minutes into the match when multi-million dollar English signing David Beckham sent in a pin-point cross from the right wing to find striker Ely Allen, who volleyed the ball past Sydney keeper Ivan Necevski. Defender Brendan Renaud then scored with a powerful shot from 30 metres out in the top right corner, but the Los Angeles team regained the lead soon after, as David Beckham again sent in a cross that Necevski couldn't handle and palmed to the feet of Los Angeles midfielder Josh Tudela, who tapped the ball into the net. LA went on to win the match 2–1, and Sydney finished 4th in the inaugural tournament. Japanese side Gamba Osaka finished 1st, after a 6–1 thrashing of MLS Champions Houston Dynamo.
2007–08
During the 2007–08 season Sydney FC hosted the LA Galaxy in an exhibition game at ANZ Stadium, Sydney. The match was of important significance in Australia as it brought the legend of the game, David Beckham, to its shores. He did not fail to disappoint, scoring a stunning trademark free kick. Sydney FC won the game 5–3, in front of a record crowd for a Sydney FC match of 80,295.
2009–10
See also: 2009–10 Sydney FC pre-seasonSydney had a friendly match in China, with new sister club Shanghai Shenhua. Sydney FC lost the match 2–1, with their goal coming from striker Alex Brosque, who scored halfway through the second half to level the scores at 1–1. John Aloisi, who had a poor last season, showed he had hit form, but being very unlucky to have two goals disallowed during the first half. It was the first game for former Sydney and Socceroos Tony Popovic as caretaker coach.
2010 Sydney Festival of Football (Pre-season)
The 2010 Sydney Festival of Football was an international friendly tournament held during the 2010–11 A-League pre-season in Sydney. All matches were played at the Sydney Football Stadium. The tournament did not follow a traditional structure as points were also awarded for goals scored during the tournament. Each team played each other once over three matchdays. Sydney FC were placed last at the conclusion of the tournament after failing to win any games and scoring four goals (three of which were by Alex Brosque.
International Teams Wins/Loss all time ladder
updated 2 June 2015
A. a Competitive matches only. These include OFC Champions League, AFC Champions League, Club World Cup and Pan-Pacific Championship