Chris Zuvela - 5

The 21-year old’s first professional start in his career was straight into the mouth of the dragon. Zuvela tried to show off some individual brilliance but it was quashed by the rampant Kashima defence.

Joshua Brillante - 5

An enormous error scuffing a header into the path of Mu Kanazaki from the corner as Sydney FC went down on 27 minutes. Brilliant has been in all sorts in the Champions League campaign, not ideal considering he’s about to enter Socceroos camp.

Alex Brosque - 5.5

Brosque was making his usual mazy runs to try and stretch the Kashima defence but the absence of his attacking companions made his job to heavy for even his shoulders. Almost snatched a winner but his shot slid just wide of the post.

Adrian Mierzejewski - 6.5

Mierzejewski was neither here nor there in the match. Without marquees Milos Ninkovic and Bobô the Pol can only operate at half his capacity. Better in the second stanza almost setting up Brosque a number of times.

Matt Simon - 6

A tip of the hat for scoring an important goal, climbing high with twenty minutes to go scoring his first goal for Sydney in over two years and first in the ACL in nine.

Anthony Kalik - 5

Stuck tracking back and defending as Sydney FC began the match on the back foot. Once they got ahold of the ball Kalik was looking to pull strings and he did for a brief period before Kashima’s goal.

Substitutes

Ben Warland - N/A

Making his debut for the Sky Blues with a ten minute cameo off the bench.

Charles Lokoli-Ngoy - N/A

Substituted on for Anthony Kalik and hit the side netting seconds after his introduction. His pace was needed much earlier however.