Four things Sydney FC need to do to win the Semi-Final

Sydney FC have the chance to exact a healthy dose of revenge on Melbourne Victory in Sunday's Hyundai A-League Finals Series Semi-Final, but it is not going to come easy.

It has been more than a year since Graham Arnold's bar-raising reign in the Harbour City came to an end at the hands of their fiercest rivals.

The Sky Blues will be keen to avenge that demoralising 2017/18 Semi-Final defeat – and here's what they need to do to in order to secure a fifth Hyundai A-League Grand Final berth.

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PREVIEW: Sydney FC v Melbourne Victory

Draw on the experience Wellington lacked

Victory were out-passed, out-shot and at times outplayed by Wellington Phoenix in last Friday night's 3-1 Elimination Final win.

But Kevin Muscat's side ultimately proved far too streetwise for their more inexperienced opponents, biding their time and punishing Phoenix brutally when the mistakes arrived.

Sydney are more accustomed to the furnace that is high-pressure football. It is a stage on which players like Rhyan Grant, Alex Wilkinson, Milos Ninkovic and Adam Le Fondre have shown they can thrive, not wilt.

Minimise errors

Although Sydney are masters of finals football in contrast to Victory's last opponents, avoiding errors is no less critical.

Steve Corica's men have learned just how ruthless the reigning Champions can be in capitalising on mistakes twice already this season, with 2-1 defeats to Victory in November and January.

On those occasions, two notable defensive lapses were seized on: first by Keisuke Honda in Kogarah, who converted a match-winning penalty after a sloppy foul by Dutch defender Jop van der Linden.

In the second meeting between the teams, a rapid Victory counter exposed Sydney midfielders Josh Brillante and Brandon O'Neill, with the duo combining to fell James Troisi in a dangerous position outside the box. Ola Toivonen spectacularly converted the resulting free-kick.

Only Western Sydney Wanderers (12) and Brisbane Roar (7) have made more errors leading to goals than Sydney FC (five) this season. Brillante has been responsible for two of those slips.

Monitor Toivonen and Barbarouses

Toivonen and Kosta Barbarouses have a brilliant understanding of each other's attacking roles, and opposition defences have struggled to get the better of it this season.

Swedish veteran Toivonen cuts an imposing figure, but it is the supreme intelligence of his movement – rather than pure physicality – that has consistently allowed Barbarouses space to exploit this season. The Kiwi has racked up a personal record 15 goals as a result. 

It means Sydney defenders must be aware of Toivonen's ability to drift into wide areas and the darting runs of Barbarouses in behind. They coped well in the most recent meeting between the two clubs, a 2-1 win for Sydney FC in April.

Keep Honda shackled

The Japanese playmaker has not been asserting his dominance on matches quite as effectively in recent weeks as he did in the earlier part of the season.

But negating his influence could yet be the biggest factor in Sydney FC getting over the line.

To this end, Corica's side have excelled in their two dates with the former CSKA Moscow and AC Milan star this season – with Honda creating just one chance across those two occasions. 

However, you get the feeling the 32-year-old could be saving something very special for the finals. Sydney must be ready for it when it arrives.