FULL-TIME: Urawa 0 Sydney 0
Sydney put in an impressive performance but it's clear they need a proven goalscorer to capitalise on the great work being done everywhere else on the field. The defence looked strong and confident and played it out of trouble and into attack with ease. They were rarely flustered. The midfield dominated for the entire game and created chances...but there was just no-one who could deliver the finish they so badly needed. Urawa were a worthy opponent, but Sydney bettered them. They just couldn't score.

To read the full post-match report click here.

Full-time stats:
Possession: Sydney 60%, Urawa 40%
Total shots: 10 each
Corners: Sydney 5, Urawa 3
Offsides: Sydney 2, Urawa 0
Fouls: Sydney 20, Urawa 24
Yellow cards: Sydney 1, Urawa 2

93 And that's it - final whistle. Sydney came so close but just couldn't find the vital goal they needed. Urawa go through, Sydney don't.

93 Washington tries a shot in space and it beats Bolton but just goes past the far post. So close. Sydney desperately trying to get the ball back upfield. The ref is checking his watch.

90 We're in extra time. Milligan tries one from a long way out and the keeper fumbles it but grabs it on the second attempt before Sydney's attack can get on it.

88 A long ball finds Rudan's head and he knocks it down but there's no-one in the centre to use it. Carney was out wide and running to get back into position but doesn't make it in time.

87 Urawa are in no hurry and happy to settle for the point they need to qualify. Sydney are still trying to get the game won though but they only have three at the back. Reds win another free kick as Milligan makes a bad tackle. Hyphen defuses the danger, beating Washington again.

85 Five minutes left and our server is going into meltdown. Carney floats a free kick into the box, Rudan challenges but the ref blows yet again for another Reds free kick.

83 The Corner is parried by the keeper but the ref blows for a free kick. Rudan has moved into a striker's role. Reds make their their second substitution.

83 Corica's attempted chip free kick deflects off a red head, corner.

81 Sydney have had 61% of the possession but just can't find a way of getting the ball over the line. Corica puts a great ball up to Brosque who is bundled off the ball and Sydney have a freekick on the edge of the box in front of goal.

80 Carney tries to force his way through into the box, but the linesman waves for a foul/offside/god knows what.

79 Reds on attack via an overlap again but with men to spare in attack, the cross in is awful and goes out harmlessly for a goal kick. Sydney are running out of time here though.

76 Robson floats in a good ball for Washington in the box but he goes to ground and appeals for a penalty instead of trying to score. Ref ignores him.

75 Pressure from Sydney wins a throw in up the field. Reds look stronger, Sydney look more skillful, except where it counts. Reds now on the counter but a theatrical fall fails to win a freekick on the edge of the box so Sydney counter, but give away a freekick back in the reds half.

74 Culina's looking nervous on the sidelines. Carney leads another attack and fights all the way to the byline, but doesn't get another corner. Looked like he should have.

72 Reds on the attack but Sydney's defence holds firm. Reds have stepped up a gear again, with the backing of the fans.

71 Carney has moved into a more central position with Casey to the left of Zdrilic. Reds free kick in their own half.

69 Sydney defence cope well with a Reds counter, muscling them off the ball, taking control and playing it out well. Now pressuring the Urawa defence again. Brosque makes an ugly challenge then kicks the ball away. Ref keeps his cards in his pocket though. Talay is off and Casey is brought on. Culina wants that goal.

67 Sydney pressure eventually finds the ball come to Carney in time and space and he shoots and it just sails inches wide of the goal. Great chance and a good shot that goes agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock.

65 Carney crosses into the six yard box, headed out, finds Zdrilic, Washington hesitates with his high clearance giving Zdrilic time, but his shot is poor again and goes high.

64 Good interplay between Corica and Carney in front of the box comes to nothing. Ball is played from defence up to the Reds box and they win a free kick in a threatening position. Comes in, deflected out to Rudan but his cross rebounds out for a Sydney throw.

62 Reds have boosted defence with a substitution - they're happy with a draw. Carney is robbed of the ball through a lack of concentration.

61 Great play by Sydney - Zadko feeds it to Corica who gives it to Brosque, passes it back to Milligan who shoots but it's high. Very very nice play there.

60 Reds about to make a change. Sydney dominating possession in midfield again

59 Wahey - Talay unleashes another hopeful thunderbolt from distance that bends in the air but in the end goes outside the post. That would have woken up Tsuzuki...

58 Zadko sells a beautiful dummy to the Reds, putting the ball one side and running the other, dashes up the wing...and then puts in a disappointing cross which goes over the bar. Nice move until then though.

57 Zadko chips a nice pass to Corica who centres it but Carney controls with his arm and free kick for the reds.

55 Another Reds attack sees an ambitious ball towards the byline but it's got just too on it and it goes out. Lucky - the forward was in space there.

54 Zdrilic gets in behind the defence but it's cleared only to Brosque who tries a shot but it's high, wide and ugly. Culina looks anxious and a little angry.

53 A Sydney attack is cleared and Reds are on the counter quickly but Sydney get back well. Hyphen holds up the attack and Sydney are able to clear.

50 Milligan is tripped and the freekick's taken quickly. Sydney camped on the edge of the box. Zadko puts in a good cross and Carney just manages to get his head to it but can't direct it at all - goal kick.

49 Hyphen goes to ground after tussling with Washington, claiming a foul but Washington pursues the ball and shows surprising speed to catch it before the byline, Sydney wide open and the cross finds Ono but the shot is poor again, thankfully.

48 25 metres out, freekick for the reds. They clear the wall but it's an easy take for Bolton.

47 Reds look hungry for a goal. They are pushing hard. Washington is on the ground after colliding off the ball with Fyfe.

46 Reds immediately come at Sydney but a weak chip is easily claimed by Bolton.

46 And they're back on the pitch and Sydney will be restarting.

HALF-TIME: Sydney have looked confident and capable but Urawa have had their chances as well. Both will regret the lack of finishing when the opportunities were there for them, but for the moment the tied scoreline is a fair reflection of the game. Sydney may have just had the edge, but their lack of finishing (or more specifically, Zdrilic's lack of finishing) has cost them the lead. Unfortunately, Urawa only need a draw - Sydney MUST win to progress to the quarter-finals. They still look more than capable of taking this game though.

46 And that's half-time.

45 Sydney try to play it calmly out of defence but Rudan overcooks his pass to midfield and gives away possession and a throw in needlessly. Sydney reclaim possession though and Brosque runs down the wing, balls comes into the box but it's cleared and Reds counter. Sydney run back but Rudan and Fyfe clear up and end the scare.

43 Chest high corner finds a reds forward in space who lets loose but Bolton holds it well. He tries to throw it out but Washington deliberately blocks it with his hand and is booked. He could have got a red for that.

41 Reds win their second corner with a deflection off Zadko's chest. Fast ball comes in at head height and Bolton flaps at it but gets his fist on it just enough to clear. Reds still on attack and a second shot is saved wonderfully by Bolton. It squeezes under him still and just trickles past the post. That was close.

40 Corner comes in and it's cleared but only as far as midfield, Reds try again but the shot is poor. Goal kick.

39 Reds on the counter, Sydney trying to get back in time and Fyfe gets back in time to buy his side time. Reds have their first corner.

37 Bolton claims a hopeful cross into the box.

36 Reds get their first yellow for a rough challenge on Zdrilic.

35 Zadko on the right, passes it Milligan, 1-2 with Carney then a pass to Brosque who floats in a fine ball, Zdrilic with time and space...and he fluffs it. Mistimes his header and it's easily claimed by the keeper. That should have been a goal.

35 Vrosque gives away another freekick. The Reds are going to ground easily tonight and the ref is falling for it.

33 Fyfe puts an important tackle on the left to end a Reds attack and Sydney cling onto midfield possession again.

32 Urawa's break is snuffed out again by Sydney. The midfield is dominating the Reds so far. But Talay's pass is telegraphed and intercepted. Reds pass onto the left wing but Reds push too far and it crosses the byline, killing a potentially dangerous attack.

30 Free kick comes in but ref blows for Zdrilic's challenge in the air but replays show it's hard to see what he did wrong.

29 The pace has slowed quite a bit now. Sydney are holding the ball in midfield, looking for a chink in the Reds' armour. Zdrilic wins a free kick, 40 yards out.

27 Brosque shows some nice skills and control at the left corner flag but still can't get the cross in. He's brought down but the ref ignores his pleas. Reds counter but their final ball is poor again and rolls harmlessly wide for a goalkick.

26 Ono turns it over and Sydney push forward. Carney gives it to Milligan who knocks a clever ball into the box but Zdrilic can't do anything with it.

25 Sydney freekick near the halfway line. Corica takes it but the defence claims it and counters. Sydney's midfield spring into action and bog them down. Reds still possession though.

23 Zdrilic challenges the keeper unfairly in the air says the ref as the fourth corner is cleared off the line by Tsuxuki. Tempers fraying between players.

23 Sydney's third corner is nodded behind by the Reds. Corner #4.

22 Zadko puts in a great cross to Carney's feet but Tsuzuki makes a great brave diving save to claim the ball. Fabulous ball in though.

21 Brosque plays Zdrilic in the box whose closed down by the defence and eventually bundled off the ball and cleared.

21 Freekick from outside the box finds poor defending from Sydney but it comes through the red players and rebounds off a Sydney defender's chest and Bolton dives on it.

20 Rudan booked for an ugly challenge on Ponte.

19 Fantastic move - ball comes in wide to Carney who taps it behind him to Brosque who unleashes it but it's wide.

18 Sydney looking weak on both fullback sides and Reds are capitalising. Sydney's centrebacks are holding up though. Reds finding their rhythm and pushing forward now.

17 Ooooh - real chance for the Reds. Ball played from right to centre out to the left then crossed in and a flying kick from the Reds striker just goes over the bar. That would have been a stunning goal. Bolton very relieved.

16 Corica's corner is taken easily by the keeper - no challenge in the air from Sydney.

15 Another attack by Sydney - Zdrilic plays a great ball to Carney but the defence gets a toe to it - corner.

15 Corica makes a great run from the centre circle to the byline and plays it back to Carney who gives away a free kick for tugging a defender's shirt.

14 Hyphen makes an important challenge in the box to end another Reds attack. Sydney back on attack in midfield again. Home fans upset with Urawa's performance so far. Loud jeers.

13 A fabulous pass into space gives a Red attack real danger with Hyphen caught in front of the ball but the move comes to nothing.

11 Sydney holding the ball well in midfield, passing well until Milligan takes a shot but it's deflected well side by Corica.

10 Reds have a man off the field getting attention as the corner comes in. Good deep cross from Carney but no-one is there and a tumble in the box gives Reds a free kick.

9 Milligan sends a long ball into the left corner for Carney who puts a very nice ball into the box. Zdrilic is boxed out by the defence who put it out for a corner.

9 Ball comes up to Brosque on the right wing who does some Ronaldo style stepovers then shoots but the shot is weak and rolls straight into the keeper's hands.

8 Carney beaten for speed and strength by the reds, but Zadko ends the attack with a hefty challenge. Free kick is well defended.

7 Reds holding the ball in the middle. Sydney harassing every one on the ball and finally claim it in their own box.

5 Sydney throw in deep into Reds half. Reds retake possession but give it away again. Jeers from home fans as Sydney maintain possession patiently until Zadko tries to lob a ball into the box but overhits it. Goalkick reds.

4 Deep cross bends over the byline. Goal kick Sydney

4 Zadko gives the ball away and Washington powers forward but Milligan saves Sydney. Throw in for Reds level with box.

3 Free kick is weak and wide. Goal kick Sydney

3 Hyphen climbs over a Reds forward as the free kick comes long. Free kick 35 yards out.

2 Brosque bundles a defender off the ball - free kick near the Urawa box.

0 We're off. Free kick to Sydney in the centre, long ball down to to Brosque, passes it Corica but he's robbed down at the corner flag.

Sydney win the toss and give Urawa the kick-off. The home fans are in fine voice.

Huge home support - they're waving white and red balloons to make a heart with a 12 in it. It's very impressive, if a little odd.

And they're coming onto the field, Sydney are in their white away strip, Urawa in their Aldi's Man United kit.

And more than the three Cove supporters on our 442Tube video have turned up, thank god. It's not a bad away support for Sydney and the banners are being unfurled...but The Cove are outrageously outnumbered by the home fans, as expected.

No surprises in the Sydney XI (except possibly Zadko's return at full-back) nor the Urawa team. Both are fielding their best available players as you might expect in a big game like this.

SYDNEY LINE-UP: Bolton, Fyfe, Rudan (c), Hyphen, Zadko, Talay, Milligan, Carney, Brosque, Corica, Zdrilic

URAWA LINE-UP: Tsuzuki, Tsuboi, Horinouchi, De Brito, Yamada, Abe, Suzuki, Ono, Ponte, Washington, Soma

Whoah - it's loud at Saitama - Sydney players have come onto the pitch to warm up and the jeers are deafening already...and it's still 30 minutes to kick-off. The atmosphere is going to be electric here tonight. It's a huge game for both sides.

Urawa Red Diamonds vs Sydney FC
Saitama Stadium, Saitama, Japan.