Sydney FC closed out their disappointing season with a 2-1 friendly loss to Shanghai Shenhua on Saturday night.
In a game watched by incoming Czech coach Vitezslav Lavicka, Sydney matched their Asian Champions League-bound opponents before being sunk by a late winner.
Shanghai’s Argentinean import Hernan Barcos opened the scoring for Shanghai with a scrappy finish from a 32nd minute corner at Hongkou Stadium.
But winger Alex Brosque levelled with a well-constructed goal in the 58th minute.
Just minutes after going on as a substitute for captain Steve Corica, rising star Kofi Danning made a break down the right and picked out Brosque with a near-post cross that was skilfully volleyed into the back of the net.
Sydney, led by interim coach Tony Popovic, looked set to hold on for a deserved draw but a quality finish from Shanghai’s Chen Lei stole the win for the home side with just two minutes remaining.
Striker John Aloisi almost got his name on the score sheet but had two goals disallowed in the loss.
The result closed a dramatic season in which Sydney failed to reach the A-League finals for the first time, leading to the sacking of coach John Kosmina.
Lavicka will arrive in Australia next month before officially joining Sydney in April.
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