FULL TIME: Sydney FC 3 Persik Kediri 0
Sydney pulled out a great second half performance after a frustrating first 45 to claim all three points in great style. Steve Corica was the man of the match by a mile, not just for his two goals but he was playing the part of three players this evening, filling in for the missing Dave Carney, his own position and as a striker. Alex Brosque too raised his game in the second half, and Rudan was always a danger in the air upfront, even if his defence wasn't tested much in the second half. Branko Culina will be very pleased with the second half performance, and relieved that they got through the first half without conceding.

94 He tries his luck but it forces a great save...and the full-time whistle goes. Sydney were very impressive in the second half.

93 Brosque brought down on the edge of the box. Corica has a real chance from the free kick.

92 Milligan tries a snapshot but it's parried well by the Persik keeper.

90 GOAL! Brosque is onside on the wing, gives it to McFlynn who sends a great ball to the far post where Corica puts it away perfectly.

90 Sydney don't look as tired as they have in previous matches at this stage.

88 Corica and Casey through two on three but Corica stuffs up the pass. Oops. Brosque penalised for another offside clear through on goal and again it looks wrong.

87 Talay tries a one-two with Brosque on the edge of the box but it goes a bit wrong.

86 Sydney are still taking the game to Persik. Talay's cross from the left is behind the strikers but Sydney recover. Casey is bundled off the ball on the byline but it's a Persik free kick. Ref judges Casey to be shirt grabbing. Crowd unhappy.

85 Milligan gets a great ball to Casey running straight at goal, shoots but it's saved. Rebound comes again to Casey but he couldn't keep it down.

84 Persik push forward and try to play the ball in but Middleby catches it with his arm and is booked. Looked harsh decision. Free kick goes straight to Bolton.

82 Another Corica corner fails to make it pastthe first defender. Sydney put the ball back into the box but it's just too high again for Rudan.

81 Corica flights in a great corner but Rudan mistimes his run and misses it. It floats over the whole box.

80 Persik on the attack once more but the assistant ref ends it with an offside call. Sydney try to launch a quick attack but it comes to nothing. They're back in possession in midfield though.

80 Persik substitution - Hadi off.

79 Persik's passing is getting loose and Sydney have another goal kick.

78 Persik are trying to regroup in midfield to get themselves back in the game. Sydney look happy to calm things down. A Persik cross troubles no-one. Sydney goal kick.

76 Zdrilic comes off for Adam Casey. Sydney free kick 35 yards out, flighted in but comes to nothing.

75 Brosque and Zdrilic are falling over themselves in the box, Zdrilic takes the shot but he's off balance and it goes wide.

75 Almost another chance again for Sydney but it's offside again.

73 GOAL! Zdrilic knocks it down to Brosque who blasts it home off the left post to score. Superb.

72 Milligan puts a great ball forward for Brosque who is clear with only the goalie to beat but it's called offside. It wasn't.

71 Fyfe gives a good ball to Corica who shrugs off a hefty challenge to cross it in front of goal but no-one's there to apply the finish. Corica could have gone to ground for a penalty there but stood up and completed his move.

70 Sydney launch another attack but Persik snuff it out and try to counter. A pass down the wing is just too tight and goes out for a Sydney throw in.

69 Fyfe makes an important tackle in the box but gives away a corner. The cross comes in but the ref blows for a foul in the box to Sydney's benefit.

68 Sydney have 64% possession so far in the game.

68 A testing cross is caught confidently by the new Persik keeper.

67 A Persik free kick is wasted and rolls harmlessly to Bolton.

65 Talay switches it to the right, Middleby crosses but it's cleared. Sydney still in control on the edge of the box but finally Persik clear and counter. Hyphen makes a pinpoint tackle to end the move with a throw in.

63 It looks like Sandi is coming off. Wahyudi replaces him.

61 Brosque takes a shot, Sandi parries it and Zdrilic goes for it but catches Sandi in the process. Persik players very unhappy but Zdrilic was entitled to challenge... Sandi receiving treatment for a hand/wrist injury.

61 Zdrilic beaten for pace by the Persik defence but he wins a throwin. Persik retake possession but give it away. Rudan passes back to Bolton who makes a poor clearance but gets away with it.

60 Persik cuts down Milligan in midfield and it's a yellow for Fagundes.

58 Milligan's corner comes back to him and he crosses back in again but Sydney can't find a way to goal. Persik on the back foot here completely.

57 The ball is deflected into the path of the running Brosque in the box but he miscues totally and it's an awful effort that should have been a goal.

57 Milligan penalised for a push in the box. Persik free kick.

56 Sydney piling on the pressure. Talay crosses in from the right channel and Zdrilic again finds it with his head but it's deflected wide for a corner.

54 GOAL! Corica gets to a rebound and slots it home. A cross from the right wing finds Zdrilic's head which forces a diving save from Sandi but he can only palm it into Corica's path who slots it home beautifully.

53 Sandi is caught ahead of the ball as a header is cleared off the line by his defence and comes straight intot he clutches of the retreating keeper facing his own goal. Persik very lucky there.

52 Milligan DOES take the chance for a longshot and forces a good save by Sandi for a corner.

52 Corica had a chance to take a long shot but hesitated and is robbed, Persik counters wuickly and take it to the byline but it just runs away from him. Sydney sigh with relief.

51 McFlynn tries an extravagant cross/shot from 40 yards that comes down trickily but safely into the keeper's hands.

49 Zdrilic is on the penalty spot and tries to chip the keeper but it goes well over.

48 Gonzalez is struggling with an apparent calf injury. He's limping but looks to be continuing for the moment. Sydney lose it on the edge of Persik box but the long Persik ball is headed almost to safety by Hyphen. His team-mates clean up for him. A high ball into the crowded box is just too high and it's a Persik goal kick.

47 Milligan picks out Brosque on the edge of the box to Fyfe who puts a poor ball towards Zdrilic which is easily cut out

46 And we're back. Persik restart. No apparent changes to either side.

Half Time: Sydney 0 Persik 0
It's been a scrappy match with few chances for either side. Sydney will be unhappy when they see the replay of their disallowed goal, but to be fair to the ref, he had blown his whistle before the ball crossed the line. Bolton's diving save was his only real test of the game, with Persik happy to sit in their own half for most of the game and counter. Sydney need to lure out the defence in the second half to create space for them to attack - and improve on their finishing. Persik are clearly weak in the air and Sydney will be wanting to capitalise on that in the final 45.

46 Persik make a last run of the half but the move breaks down and Sydney hold possession as the whistle sends them to the dressing rooms.

45 One minute of stoppage time. Zdrilic tries a shot from nothing with time and space but it's straight to the keeper.

44 Persik have space on the right wing but they slow down play and switch wings but lose it for a throw in.

43 Corica finds Rudan again in the box but he can't keep the header down. He's winning everything in the air but needs that little bit of luck to make them count.

42 The Cove has got behind the team and Sydney win a corner.

41 McFlynn's ball into the box behind the defence catches the attack off guard and it's collected by Sandi.

40 Hadi lunges into Talay and it looks bookable but he escapes a yellow.

39 Corica gets an arm in the face but it's a Persik free kick. Wasted. Sydney holding onto the ball in their own half. The push forward and Corica tries to make an incisive pass into the box but it's intercepted.

37 Rudan headed the free kick into the back of the net from Corica's cross, but the ref had already blown for a foul for Rudan allegedly climbing. Controversial!

36 Sydney battling back and Zdrilic's nice work on the right wing is brought to an ugly end as he's brought down by a shirt pull. Corica's free kick.

35 Persik turning up the pressure now and win another throw in on the right wing near the box. Sydney deal with it and Hyphen launches it long but Persik retake possession and cross in. Hyphen misses the clearance but Rudan saves his blushes. Cleared to safety.

34 Free kick comes to nothing. No-one is smoking on the Persik bench this time...but they are smiling.

33 McFlynn's loose pass is intercepted well and Persik push forward. They draw a foul 35 yards out as Middleby's hefty challenge is penalised.

32 Talay clears well with his head and Sydney counter. Brosque brought down near halfway line. Free kick.

31 Hyphen puts out an awkward ball on the edge of the box., Persik throw in. Taken and great shot on the turn is saved well by a diving Bolton, Rebound results in Persik corner.

30 Confident play in defence by Sydney sees it played out of the final third to Fyfe and possession kept in midfield.

29 Handball by Brosque in midfield. Free kick. Persik on the attack on the edge of the box, Rudan puts it out for a throw in.

28 McFlynn tries to find Zdrilic in the six yard box but Sandi is off his line quickly and collects confidently.

27 Zdrilic on the right tries to find Brosque in the middle but Brosque just loses out in the tackle. Zdrilic puts it back to Milligan but his shot isn't on target. Sydney turning up the pressure now.

26 Corica takes it, Sandi is most in no-man's land and Milligan finds it with his head but he just gets it the wrong side of the post. Good chance missed.

26 Corner for Sydney .

25 Corica's studs-up challenge earns him a yellow.

23 Corica chips the ball into the centre of the box but there's no-one there except the white shirts of Persik and it's cleared back to midfield again.

22 At the other end, Persik put in a dangerous attack and Hyphen just manages to scramble it clear. The danger's not gone but it ends in a goal-kick.

21 Corica puts a lovely left-foot cross into the box, Brosque is clear but he can't connect properly and heads it high over the bar.

20 Persik are happy to wait for a chance to counter while Sydney are prepared to grind them down. Sydney throw in near right corner flag.

19 Patient play by Sydney. Persik have most of the team behind the ball. Goal kick.

18 Sydney keeping possession on the halfway line, looking for a break in Persik's defences.

17 Milligan's midfield pass is overhit and comes to Persik but the ensuing pass is too late and it's offside.

16 Middleby knocks a great ball into the box but it's just too high for Zdrilic. Sandi clutches it gratefully.

15 Milligan knocks the ball into space on the right edge of Persik box, but Corica doesn't have the pace to catch it.

14 Rudan heads forward to Brosque but Zainuri muscles him off it. Persik push forward by Sydney reclaim possession.

13 Talay crosses into Persik box, Zdrilic gets a touch to it but knocks it out of McFlynn's path.

12 Persik throw in - Persik switch wings, long cross into the ball which finds Rudan's head but fails to clear it and Fagundes' shot hits the side-netting.

11 Hyphen gives it away with a square ball across, but Persik's attack ended with a tough challenge. Ref plays on.

10 Sydney give it away again with a loose pass in midfield but Persik return the favour. Talay plays Brosque in on the box, passes to Fyfe - Sydney throw in.

9 McFlynn gets back well to cover the danger as Sudarsono runs at Sydney goal. Persik throw in wasted.

8 Shanghai have drawn 0-0 with Urawa, improving Sydney's chances of qualifying.

7 Rough and tumble as Fyfe brings down Persik player in Persik's half.

6 Talay's free kick is straight into the wall.

5 Yellow card for Haianto after bringing down Milligan? Promising freekick position.

5 Persik goalkick gives Sydney a free kick for a nudge on Rudan by Gonzalez.

4 Corner allows Persik to counter but Sydney regroup and clear with a lovely ball into the Persik half but it's offside.

3 Nice ball onto the edge of the Persik box looks like a handball but ref waves play on. Milligan plays rebound to Corica who's show earns a corner.

2 Midfield tussle gives Sydney another throw in in their own half.

1 Sydney try to play it out of defence but give it away. Reclaimed for a throw in.

0 And we're off - Sydney kick off with a 4-4-2 formation.

Kick-off is now fast approaching. Parra is wet but the crowd looks quite healthy despite the rain.

Sudarsono gets his start at the expense of Persik dangerman Danilo Fernando who is suspended for this match after picking two yellow cards in the competition.

No real surprises in either line-up, but Persik start with Sudarsono who made such an impact off the bench in the last game, scoring the winner just minutes after taking to the field.

Persik line-up: Sandi, Zainuri, Indarto, Prasetiya, Hadi, Iba, Harianto, Kurniawan, Fagundez, Gonzalez, Sudarsono

Sydney line-up: Bolton, Middleby, Rudan, Hyphen, Fyfe, Talay, Corica, McFlynn, Milligan, Zdrilic, Brosque.

Sydney take Asian Champions League football into the heart of the Western Suburbs tonight (that's that bit of Sydney beyond the bridges, for those of you in Double Bay).

Aussie Stadium was pre-booked for some Mardi Gras sideshow so the venue tonight is Parramatta Stadium, playing host to Indonesian underdogs, Persik Kediri.

Sydney will be looking to avenge their shock 2-1 defeat a fortnight ago, but an already diminished squad is weakened further by suspensions to Dave Carney and Ruben Zadkovich.

Rudan, Middleby, Milligan and McFlynn are also nursing injuries and could be doubtful to make the start or at least struggle to last the full 90.

Conditions aren't ideal - the weather is cool and showery, and the pitch will be heavy after days of incessant rain in Sydney.

Nothing less than a win will do though if Sydney want to ensure qualification from the group stages to the quarter-finals. Teamsheets will follow as soon as we have them.