A crazy couple of days for Sydney FC have ended with a second string side bearing no resemblance to their A-League grand final winning team losing 4-0 at home to Japan's Kawasaki Frontale.
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The Sky Blues, who had no chance of making the knockout stage of the Asian Champions League, didn't field any of the side that started Sunday's domestic season decider against Perth Glory at Optus Stadium
"I asked if they wanted to be on the bench, a couple of them, the answer was no," Sydney coach Steve Corica said with a smile after Tuesday night's game at Sydney's Jubilee Oval.
'It's been a crazy couple of days, its been a great couple of days as well, with winning the grand final and trying to back up for this game.
'We expected it to be difficult tonight. We had limited preparation for this game, we only got back (from Perth) last night.
'It was a good experience for the younger boys. I'm sure they'll take something out of the game and they played against a very good team."
Sydney's run-on team for Tuesday's final round group game included Iranian international Reza Ghoochannejhad, who scored the clinching penalty on Sunday and Anthony Caceres, who also came off the bench in Perth.
A youthful side, that included two debutants, was overwhelmed by a team including Brazilian international Leandro Damiao.
Before the game, the starting members of Sunday's team took turns to hold aloft the trophy before a crowd of 3813, Sydney's lowest-ever Champions League home attendance.
Adding to the bizarre atmosphere, the sponsor's name on the trophy needed to have some tape stuck over it, as it was a rival of one of the competition's backers.
Sydney finished bottom of their group with three points, all from draws and it was their heaviest ever Champions League defeat.
Kawasaki scored three times in the first half hour and had 23 attempts to Sydney's five.
The visitors squandered numerous chances and former Central Coast Mariners goalkeeper Thomas Heward-Belle, pulled off some good saves on his Sydney debut.
Ghoochannejhad came closest to scoring for Sydney with a 52nd minute chip which hit the bar, with Luke Ivanovic blazing a follow-up shot over.
Two quality finishes from Yasuto Wakizaka in the ninth and 20th minutes put the visitors in control and they added a third through Ao Tanaka, whose shot deflected off Sydney debutant Patrick Scibilio.
Damiao got the fourth just before the hour, dispossessing Cam Devlin and charging forward before unleashing an unstoppable shot from the edge of the area.
Sydney have never beaten a Japanese team in ten games in the competition.
Australian Associated Press
