Sydney FC has drawn a blank in their AFC Champions League Group H opener against Ulsan Hyundai, playing out a 0-0 draw at Jubilee Stadium on Wednesday night.
A superb defensive display from the K-League outfit stalled the Sky Blues, who were unlucky not to find the back of the net at least once.
Wild winds swirled around Kogarah as the two sides entered the field of play but it didn’t seem to dissuade Sydney from whipping in crosses as they enjoyed the best of the opening exchanges.
Adam Le Fondre in particular was looking ominous, stinging the palms of Ulsan goalkeeper Oh Seung-hoon before heading just wide.
Milos Ninkovic had a great opportunity just before half-time but teammate Reza Ghoochannejhad looked to just put him off as he pulled the trigger, the ball rolling just wide of the unmarked left-hand upright.
The Sky Blues’ assault continued in the second half, bombarding the Ulsan penalty area as they attempted to pick apart an extremely organised defence.
Anthony Caceres tested Oh with a powerful effort while Josh Brillante fired off a couple of efforts from long-range as frustration began to set in.
Try as they might however there seemed to always be a wall of blue-clad defenders in the way every time a member of the home side found themselves within range with the Koreans defiant in their quest to take a valuable away point home.
Ultimately it was a strategy perfectly executed as the full-time whistle blew, denying Sydney a winning start to the continental showpiece.
