Sydney FC star Ibini hoping to make major impact in grand final

Bernie Ibini isn't content to just be a part of the Sydney FC team - he wants to become known as a player who regularly influences the outcome of big games like Sunday's grand final.

Bernie Ibini hopes to step up to the plate on Sunday against Melbourne Victory (Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

Many 22-year-olds would be content to follow rather than try to lead, but Ibini isn't afraid of trying to be 'the one'.

He scored the first goal and provided an assist for the second when Sydney wiped Adelaide United 4-1 to qualify for the decider against Melbourne Victory and has declared he is out to make another big impact in the biggest game of the year.

Ibini, then just 20, was a starter in the Central Coast Mariners team that beat Western Sydney Wanderers 2-0 in the 2012-2013 grand final.

Graham Arnold coached him then and is coaching him again now. Ibini is clearly Arnold's type of player - someone who will work hard and follow the basic structure of the game plan but also be prepared to accept responsibility for trying to make things happen.

Asked if it was his desire to become known as a big-game player who scores when it really matters, Ibini replied: "Yeah, of course.

"I guess when you're young you don't have to have so many responsibilities, but as you grow up you want to take stuff upon yourself sometimes, to be someone who wins a game or changes a game, so, yeah, it's very exciting for myself and I'm looking forward to it on Sunday."

What about the prospect of becoming known as a grand final specialist, with two wins in two grand finals within three seasons if Sydney wins? That would be a pretty good reputation to have, wouldn't it?

"Yeah, definitely, but we've still got a long way to go," Ibini said. "Still got 90 minutes, or 120, but, like I said, I'm looking forward to it."

Sydney's imported striker, Marc Janko, won the competition's Golden Boot award with 16 goals, but as can happen with strikers he has since experienced a drought and hasn't scored since round 21.

In the meantime, others, including Ibini, have increased their goalscoring output. Of the 15 goals Sydney has scored since round 21, Alex Brosque has come up with six, Ibini four, Shane Smeltz two, Jacques Faty and Robert Stambolziev one apiece and there was one own goal.

Sydney continued its amazing unbeaten away run during that time and by winning its last eight away games it equalled the record for consecutive away wins held by Victory, which set the mark in the 2006-2007 season.

Win the grand final and Sydney will hold the record on its own.

Asked if he was aware Sydney had equalled that record, Ibini replied: "I actually didn't know that. You guys probably know more stats than us, so I had no idea about that. It would be nice to get the record on our own, because that would mean we won."

Ibini said he couldn't be sure why Sydney had done so incredibly well on the road this season. The team has played 14 away games, winning 10 and drawing four.

"It's been very good," he said. "I can't really say why. Maybe teams open up more when we play away, because they've got to take the game to us. I'm not sure, really, but it's a good record to have, obviously. It has helped us throughout the season."

Ibini said he would treat this week as a normal week and wouldn't get flustered.

"I remember the feeling of being involved in a grand final and the lead-up to the game and everything like that, from when I was at the Mariners," he said. "It's a very special week and I'm looking forward to it.

"It will be a normal week for us. We've obviously been good on the road, so we'll take it the same. I'm sure there will be a lot more media around, but for us it will be a normal week."