It was an ending that stung but the improvement was there for all to see. Had this been the first game of the season fans would be viewing it as a decent performance amid some optimism, despite the result.

Which isn’t far from the truth. We finally saw our best backline combination, the midfield played with structure and composure and kept possession far better than in previous weeks and Yaira Yau has shown every defender in the competition that he is a force to be reckoned with.

And then there’s Del Piero. Not the influence he was in earlier rounds due to a limited training regime and a pair of dodgy hamstrings, he is still A-League’s most likely to prize open a defence with a pass, a feint or a dribble.

What was the FFA thinking scheduling a Sydney match on a Friday night? I don’t know about other parts of Australia but in Sydney people work long hours and get out of offices late on a Friday night – be it for a deadline or after-work drinks they are “encouraged” to attend. Fourteen thousand came to Allianz, a third of those streaming in throughout the first half. Never again, please. Leave the Friday nights for Hindmarsh or some other place high on delinquency and unemployment.

More brickbats to the FFA – what gives with pulling Terry Antonis into the national team, a week after returning from the 40C Emirates where he captained the Young Socceroos? There is a name for running up frequent flyer points for a young kid and not giving him time to develop his game at home. That name is Ben Kantarovski.

To Antonis, it was great to see him back in Sky Blue. Playing a metronomic game characteristic of Jason Culina at his peak, he was all over the park dictating play, winning the ball, distributing from deep, wriggling out of challenges and supporting the attack. If he gets a decent run of games he can be a great influence on our season. Hopefully the massive icepack he was sporting on his knee after the full time whistle is evidence enough for the FFA to leave him at home.

As for Culina himself, his debut was a quiet one, at odds with the standing ovation he received in the 64th minute. A wonderful Socceroo servant and member of that exclusive club we call the Golden Generation – the generation that made 16/11/05 that most special of nights - he deserves to play out his career on his own terms, and football fans of all clubs should be thrilled at his comeback. Adelaide supporters in the Reserved Section were the only ones noticeable in their lack of appreciation for Culina’s moment, remaining seated and refusing to even applaud as he entered the field. More’s the pity.

Once again we played a team that is weeks ahead of us in playing style development and cohesion. The lead up to both Adelaide goals typified a side whose players know each other’s movements instinctively, something I cannot say for the Sky Blues just yet. There were more good passages of Sydney play than in previous weeks, but still too many misplaced passes and uncertainty of teammates’ movements.

Adelaide were good for their three points, unluckily disallowed a goal by an incompetent linesman who cost both teams through some atrocious decisions. Referee Peter Green wasn’t a whole lot better, consistent only in his inconsistency and arithmetically challenged in his aborted attempt at a red card to Seb Ryall. Whoever said we should be paying our referees more is way off the mark – we’d just be getting better paid referees of questionable competence.

The finale was a kick to the guts just when we were all feeling the Sky Blues had done enough to turn the corner. Anger and frustration was apparent on the faces of all the boys, but especially Yau and Del Piero, and the bitter embrace between Abbas and Fabio after the final whistle summed up the feeling in the team. They care deeply, and to their credit have much to build on after Friday night.

John Kosmina is right – there is no easy way for teams to play their way out of a slump, just hard work and determination. We are in last place but the fight is there and I believe when we look back on this season we will view the encounter with Adelaide as the match that began the turnaround.

In terms of playing style, fitness and cohesion we are currently where we should have been eight weeks ago coming into Round 1. Such is life and for a number of reasons that cohesion and understanding between players are only just coming to the fore.

Only two points separate us from Melbourne Heart. Neither side has settled so far this season, and we will never have a better opportunity to get ourselves back in the A-League contest than this Sunday afternoon. Doubtless the Jam Tarts will feel the same. I firmly believe the Sky Blues will take home all three points on the back of our vocal home crowd support – let’s all get out there and get behind the boys.