Antonis set for FC Utrecht

Talent ... could Antonis be the fourth Aussie at FC Utrecht? Source: Dean Lewins / AAP

Having played a major role in pushing Sydney FC to the brink of the finals, Young Socceroos captain Terry Antonis is poised for a move to Dutch side FC Utrecht at the end of the season.

• 1. WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS (54 points, Goal Diff +17)
  v Newcastle (A)
  Need a win or a draw in Newcastle to secure the premier's plate in their debut season.
   
• 2. CENTRAL COAST MARINERS (51, +25)
  v Melbourne Heart (H)
  If the Wanderers lose, the Mariners can pinch the premier's plate on goal difference with a win against the Heart.
   
• 3. MELBOURNE VICTORY (41, +2)
  v Wellington Phoenix (A)
  Will finish third or fourth and have nothing to really play for in New Zealand ahead of their home elimination final.
   
• 4. ADELAIDE UNITED (40, +1)
  v Perth Glory (A)
  To finish third or fourth and host a home knockout final, regardless of the result of their Perth trip.
   
• 5. BRISBANE ROAR (32, +2)
  v Sydney FC (H)
  Hold their own destiny. Beat Sydney, and their title defence continues into the finals; lose, and they need both Perth and Newcastle to lose. If they draw and only one of Newcastle or Perth win, they could still sneak in.
  
• 6. SYDNEY FC (32, -8)
  v Brisbane Roar (A)
  Like Brisbane, masters of their own fate: beat the Roar and they make the finals. Lose or draw, and they rely on others, like the Roar, above.
   
• 7. PERTH GLORY (31, -2)
  v Adelaide United (H)
  Beat Adelaide at home and they're in the finals. Draw, and they're probably in - if Sydney are beaten. Lose, and they're out.
   
• 8. NEWCASTLE JETS (31, -12)
  v Western Sydney (H)
  Must defeat Western Sydney and hope Sydney and Brisbane draw, and Perth lose, to steal a finals spot. If they draw, but Perth win and Sydney get thumped by four or more goals, they can also sneak in! 

Still only 20, Antonis will get the chance to earn a place alongside fellow Australians Tommy Oar, Michael Zullo and Adam Sarota after the club was believed to have agreed to a trial once Sydney's season is over.

It comes as Sydney head to Brisbane on Thursday knowing that only a win will guarantee them a place in the top six, after holding the all-conquering Wanderers to a 1-1 draw at Parramatta Stadium on Saturday night.

Sydney led from the 33th minute to the 68th thanks to Antonis's goal but had to play the last 40 minutes with 10 men after Brett Emerton's sending off and conceded an equaliser to Shannon Cole's free kick.

Antonis was again to the fore at Parramatta, and it has emerged that he recently signed with Dutch super-agent Rob Jansen, who has extensive links with Australian players, already having been behind the Utrecht trio's move from Brisbane and the twin switches from Holland to the A-League of Patrick Zwaanswijk and Pascal Bosschaart.

Though Antonis recently signed a new two-year deal with Sydney, it includes get-out clauses in relation to potential foreign moves.

Sydney FC CEO Tony Pignata said the club would never stand in the way of its young players if they had the chance of moving to one of Europe's top leagues.

"We haven't been approached yet but if Terry's management has set something up and it's with a club of that calibre then we'd support him," Pignata said.

"That's the reality of the A-League, and Terry's form has been excellent in recent weeks so I'm not surprised there would be interest in him. (Coach) Frank (Farina) has done a lot of work with him and you can see it in his performances."

Antonis put in what was generally perceived as his finest Sydney FC performance in the 1-1 draw with Melbourne Victory nine days ago, and has forced his way into the first team after initially struggling to earn a spot under Farina.

His newly energised style will become even more important against Brisbane in light of the suspension that Emerton earned after being dismissed for a late tackle on Cole.

Farina must also monitor the fitness of Lucas Neill after the Socceroos captain succumbed to another soft tissue injury, this time a hamstring concern after missing two games with a calf tear.

"His hamstring tightened up - it didn't get worse in the first half but it was there and I just thought I should get him off," Farina said.

"It won't be two weeks (out), it might not be a week, he might play (against Brisbane on Thursday).

"It could be nothing, but it just wasn't worth risking with a short turnaround. I think it'll be 50-50."

 

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