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Sydney's Ninkovic laments lack of goals

3 minute read

He's been short of goals this season heading into Sunday's A-League grand final, but Sydney FC playmaker Milos Ninkovic has shown he can impact on a big game.

MILOS NINKOVIC of Sydney FC celebrates scoring the opening goal during the AFC Champions League match between Suwon Samsung Bluewings and Sydney FC at Suwon World Cup Stadium in Suwon, South Korea.
MILOS NINKOVIC of Sydney FC celebrates scoring the opening goal during the AFC Champions League match between Suwon Samsung Bluewings and Sydney FC at Suwon World Cup Stadium in Suwon, South Korea. Picture: Han Myung-Gu/Getty Images

Sydney FC playmaker Milos Ninkovic has lamented the lowest goal output of his time in Australia, but history suggests he could have the final say in Sunday's A-League season decider.

Heading into the grand final against Premiers Plate winners Perth Glory at Optus Stadium, Ninkovic has scored just three league goals this season, all of them against Melbourne Victory.

The most recent came in last week's 6-1 semi-final smashing of Victory in Sydney.

While pleased with his fine general form this season, the 34-year-old Serbian international isn't happy with his goal tally, the smallest in his four years with Sydney.

"I think I had good chances this season to score more goals but sometimes in football it's hard," Ninkovic told AAP.

"If you look at two years ago, when I scored ten goals almost every shot was a goal.

"This season is a little bit different and that's football.

"Sometimes you are lucky, sometimes you are a little bit unlucky, but the most important thing is to win the trophy."

Two years ago it was Ninkovic who secured Sydney a trophy and grand final win with the decisive penalty in the shootout against Victory.

He stressed Sydney needed to be better with the ball against a Perth side unlikely to let them play as Victory did last week.

"We need to work (on) how to keep the ball against Perth because we played against them three times and to be honest it's not easy to keep the ball against them," Ninkovic said.

"Sometimes they press sometimes they are compact, but we beat them twice this season and I think we will find a way to play them."

Ninkovic noted that even in last week's stunning performance Sydney weren't always good at keeping possession.

"The first half we didn't play well with the ball and the second half was much better," he said.

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