India U-23 team's Australian opponents analysed

India U-23 side have flown to Australia to complete their preparations for the upcoming SAAF Cup which is slated to start from September 4 in Bangladesh. Under the tutelage of head coach Stephen Constantine the team has already notched a win over APIA Leichhardt and will take on Sydney FC and Rydalmere FC on August 28 and 31 respectively.

Let us have a look at their individual team profiles:

APIA Leichhardt

APIA Leichhardt Tigers Football Club is a semi-professional football club which plies its trade in the National Premier Leagues NSW (New South Wales) division; the second tier of the Australian domestic league structure below A-League. Under coach Billy McColl The Tigers beat A-League side Melbourne Victory 3-2 at Leichhardt Oval in what was arguably the biggest upset in the history of the FFA Cup. 

They also won the 2018 Waratah Cup, beating Hakoah Sydney City East FC 3-0 in final, the knockout competition organised by Football NSW. 

Japanese forward Tasuku Sekiya is the marquee player of the club. He scored two goals in his side's win against Melbourne Victory. He also works as a dish-washer at the Opera House and is believed to have asked for a day off to line up alongside his teammates for the big match.

The Marronazzuris are currently second-placed in the league behind with 45 points from 22 matches. 

Sydney FC

Sydney FC is the strongest side that the Indian contingent will face in their trip down under. They participate in A-League, the top division league under Football Federation Australia. They boast of an impressive trophy cabinet which sports three A-League Championships, three Premierships, one FFA Cup and won the Oceanian Champions League prior to Australia moving into the Asian Football Confederation. 

Since their inception they have signed high-profile players like Alessandro Del Piero,  Dwight Yorke, Juninho Paulista to name a few.  Current Australia head coach Graham Arnold was in charge of the team till the World Cup. Graham ended his reign with a 3-2 defeat against Melbourne Victory in the semi-final of the A-League finals series of 2017/18.

They have recently announced the signing of prolific forward Siem de Jong from Ajax. 

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Rydalmere Lions FC

Rydalmere looks to be the weakest of the three opponents. They ply their trade in the New South Wales National Premier League 2 (NSW NPL2) competition, the second tier of football in New South Wales and the third tier in Australia when including the national competition, the A-League. 

They were promoted to NPL 2 this season after they became champions of NSW NPL 3. 

They have had a mixed outing this season as they are currently placed eighth in the league table with 35 points from 25 matches.