Sports
Sydney FC legend Alex Brosque says “They can’t be losing this one” as nephew Nicholas Duarte prepares for emotional showdown
As pressure mounts on coach Ufuk Talay, Alex Brosque admits Saturday’s clash between Sydney FC and Central Coast Mariners could test his loyalty — torn between his old club and his nephew’s rising star moment.
Sydney’s football scene is heating up as Sydney FC gears up to face the Central Coast Mariners this Saturday at Leichhardt Oval. What’s making this match even more captivating is the emotional dilemma of Alex Brosque — the club’s all-time leading goalscorer and Hall of Famer — who finds himself caught between two passions: his loyalty to the Sky Blues and his pride in his nephew, Nicholas Duarte, the young Mariners forward who could be Sydney’s biggest threat on the pitch.
Brosque, a legend of the A-League and one of the most respected voices in Australian football, didn’t hold back when sharing his thoughts on Sydney FC’s performance. After a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Adelaide United in their season opener, Brosque made it clear — this weekend’s game is a “must-win.”
“From a fan perspective, everyone was hoping that this year would bring a change in results because the club expects to win, the fans expect them to win, and last week was quite disappointing for a season opener,” Brosque told reporters.
“Sydney can’t be losing this game” – Brosque’s blunt verdict
The Sky Blues, led by coach Ufuk Talay (Wikipedia), failed to inspire confidence last Friday at Coopers Stadium, leaving fans frustrated. The lack of energy, Brosque noted, was unacceptable for a team of Sydney’s caliber.
“It was a little bit lifeless, the performance. Yes, it’s a team that’s still moulding and gelling together, but so are so many other squads this season. You need to be ready to go in round one,” said Brosque, who scored 83 goals for Sydney across his career.
The pressure now sits squarely on Talay’s shoulders. After a mediocre 2024–25 campaign, patience among supporters is wearing thin.
“The head coach of Sydney is always going to face pressure,” Brosque added. “He can win a competition, and two games into a new season, not have won, and he’ll be under pressure – it comes with that role.”
For Brosque, failure to win against the Mariners would be more than a tactical setback — it would be a psychological blow for both team and fans.
A family divided: Brosque vs. Duarte
While his allegiance to Sydney FC (Wikipedia) remains unquestioned, Brosque admits Saturday’s fixture will come with “mixed feelings.” His 21-year-old nephew, Nicholas Duarte, recently became the Mariners’ hero by scoring a stoppage-time winner in their 3-2 victory against Newcastle Jets (Wikipedia).
“It’ll be mixed feelings for me, no doubt. I’m wanting Sydney to win the match, but I’m hoping that Nico does well,” Brosque told Network 10 and Paramount Plus.
Duarte’s match-winning goal last weekend turned heads across the A-League. The young striker is now on the cusp of his first-ever clash against his uncle’s beloved club.
“Last weekend was an incredible moment for him, and I hope he has many more,” Brosque said. “Every time he gets the ball on Saturday night, I’ll be excited and hoping he does well — but I’m also hoping Sydney gets the win.”
That emotional tug-of-war adds a deeply human element to what is already shaping up to be one of the most compelling fixtures of the early season.
The Mariners’ momentum
Meanwhile, the Central Coast Mariners (Wikipedia) come into the game riding high after their thrilling victory over the Jets. Coached by Mark Jackson (Wikipedia), the Mariners’ youthful energy and attacking playstyle have been praised as a refreshing contrast to Sydney’s more controlled approach.
Their ability to score late and push through defensive pressure highlights a resilience that Sydney FC seemed to lack in their opener. Brosque acknowledges that challenge — but insists the Sky Blues must rise above it.
“The Mariners are a good young team and had a huge win last weekend, and they’ll be riding off that, but Sydney can’t be losing this game,” Brosque warned.
What’s at stake for Ufuk Talay
Ufuk Talay, who took over the club in 2023, has already faced scrutiny over Sydney’s inconsistency and tactical unpredictability. Despite flashes of promise, the Sky Blues haven’t maintained the dominance fans associate with their championship-winning past.
A loss on Saturday would leave Sydney winless in two matches, potentially sparking calls for change just weeks into the new season.
“Last season didn’t go well, for whatever reason. This time round, there are no excuses – there can’t be,” Brosque stated firmly.
His words echo the sentiments of thousands of Sydney supporters who crave the club’s former glory under legends like Steve Corica (Wikipedia) and Graham Arnold (Wikipedia).
The emotional undercurrent of sport
What makes this narrative so powerful isn’t just the on-field stakes — it’s the off-field emotions. For Brosque, football has always been about family and passion. Seeing his nephew on the other side of the pitch is a proud yet conflicted moment.
Saturday night could bring tears, cheers, or both — and Brosque knows it.
“It’s a special situation,” he smiled. “Nico’s starting to make his name, and Sydney’s trying to find their rhythm. Whatever happens, it’ll be a night to remember.”
As Sydney FC fights for redemption and the Mariners push to prove their consistency, this family duel adds an unforgettable layer to A-League’s rich storytelling.
Alex Brosque says Sydney FC “can’t be losing” as nephew Nicholas Duarte prepares for emotional A-League faceoff
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Sports
Caleb Williams Impresses, but the Bears’ Late-Game Decisions Raise Eyebrows
One impossible touchdown changed everything — but Chicago’s season may have been decided by what happened next
For one breathtaking moment, football stopped making sense.
With seconds left in a divisional-round playoff game, Caleb Williams launched a prayer — a 50-plus-yard, off-balance, back-foot moon shot — and somehow, impossibly, it found Cole Kmet in the end zone. It was the kind of touchdown that instantly joins NFL folklore, the sort of play fans remember for decades.
Suddenly, the Chicago Bears were one extra point away from tying the Los Angeles Rams — a scenario no one could have imagined just moments earlier.
And that’s when the question arrived, loud and unavoidable:
Why not go for two?
The dream-big argument
If Chicago converts the two-point try, the Rams are done. Season over. The Bears move one game away from the Super Bowl, potentially facing either a second-year quarterback or an injury replacement in the AFC. No matchup in the NFL is easy, but this was a window — and those windows don’t stay open long.
Ask Aaron Rodgers or Dan Marino how rare Super Bowl chances truly are. Between them, 38 seasons, one Super Bowl appearance each. Even greatness doesn’t guarantee multiple shots.
Momentum, belief, shock value — everything screamed end it now. One play. One decision. Push all the chips to the middle.
But football decisions aren’t made in the clouds. They’re made in film rooms.
Why Chicago didn’t gamble
Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson didn’t flinch. Replays showed him calm, unmoved, almost indifferent to the miracle unfolding. He knew the touchdown created options — but also responsibility.
Because miracles don’t stack.
Just minutes earlier, Chicago had first-and-goal at the Rams’ 5-yard line. Three ineffective runs by De’Andre Swift and a failed fourth-down pass told Johnson everything he needed to know about his short-yardage confidence.
After the game, Johnson explained it plainly.
“Our goal-to-go situations hadn’t gone very cleanly,” he said. “Our inside-the-5 plan hadn’t worked out like we hoped. I just felt better about taking our chances in overtime.”
There was also time left — 13 seconds and two Rams timeouts. One explosive play, maybe a penalty, and Los Angeles could still have stolen it with a field goal even after a failed conversion.
So Chicago chose survival over glory.
How it unraveled anyway
The Bears lived to fight in overtime — and then watched their season collapse anyway. A brutal interception. A defensive breakdown. Game over.
And just like that, Williams-to-Kmet joined a heartbreaking fraternity: iconic plays that didn’t change the ending. Think Kurt Warner to Larry Fitzgerald in Super Bowl XLIII. Think Julio Jones and that impossible toe-tap in Super Bowl LI.
Legendary moments — frozen in time — attached to losses.
So… was it the wrong call?
Emotionally? Maybe.
Strategically? Probably not.
Coaches don’t get paid to chase vibes. They get paid to trust evidence. And Chicago’s evidence said a single, all-or-nothing snap wasn’t the best bet.
That doesn’t make it satisfying. It just makes it honest.
What this moment really means for Chicago
The Bears don’t leave this game empty-handed. They leave with something rarer than a win: belief.
You can’t build a franchise on miracle throws — but you can build a culture on refusing to quit. This team fought until the very last second, and that matters more than fans often admit.
Williams will be just 24 entering the 2026 season. Think about what he might look like at 27, 28, 29. There are no guarantees — Rodgers and Marino taught us that — but this is as good a foundation as any team could ask for.
Years from now, if Chicago is lucky, Williams-to-Kmet won’t be remembered as a cruel “what if.”
It will be remembered as the beginning.
Sports
A Strong Night for Caleb Williams Ends With Doubts About the Bears’ Late Decisions
One impossible touchdown changed everything — but Chicago’s season may have been decided by what happened next
For one breathtaking moment, football stopped making sense.
With seconds left in a divisional-round playoff game, Caleb Williams launched a prayer — a 50-plus-yard, off-balance, back-foot moon shot — and somehow, impossibly, it found Cole Kmet in the end zone. It was the kind of touchdown that instantly joins NFL folklore, the sort of play fans remember for decades.
Suddenly, the Chicago Bears were one extra point away from tying the Los Angeles Rams — a scenario no one could have imagined just moments earlier.
And that’s when the question arrived, loud and unavoidable:
Why not go for two?
The dream-big argument
If Chicago converts the two-point try, the Rams are done. Season over. The Bears move one game away from the Super Bowl, potentially facing either a second-year quarterback or an injury replacement in the AFC. No matchup in the NFL is easy, but this was a window — and those windows don’t stay open long.
Ask Aaron Rodgers or Dan Marino how rare Super Bowl chances truly are. Between them, 38 seasons, one Super Bowl appearance each. Even greatness doesn’t guarantee multiple shots.
Momentum, belief, shock value — everything screamed end it now. One play. One decision. Push all the chips to the middle.
But football decisions aren’t made in the clouds. They’re made in film rooms.
Why Chicago didn’t gamble
Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson didn’t flinch. Replays showed him calm, unmoved, almost indifferent to the miracle unfolding. He knew the touchdown created options — but also responsibility.
Because miracles don’t stack.
Just minutes earlier, Chicago had first-and-goal at the Rams’ 5-yard line. Three ineffective runs by De’Andre Swift and a failed fourth-down pass told Johnson everything he needed to know about his short-yardage confidence.
After the game, Johnson explained it plainly.
“Our goal-to-go situations hadn’t gone very cleanly,” he said. “Our inside-the-5 plan hadn’t worked out like we hoped. I just felt better about taking our chances in overtime.”
There was also time left — 13 seconds and two Rams timeouts. One explosive play, maybe a penalty, and Los Angeles could still have stolen it with a field goal even after a failed conversion.
So Chicago chose survival over glory.
How it unraveled anyway
The Bears lived to fight in overtime — and then watched their season collapse anyway. A brutal interception. A defensive breakdown. Game over.
And just like that, Williams-to-Kmet joined a heartbreaking fraternity: iconic plays that didn’t change the ending. Think Kurt Warner to Larry Fitzgerald in Super Bowl XLIII. Think Julio Jones and that impossible toe-tap in Super Bowl LI.
Legendary moments — frozen in time — attached to losses.
So… was it the wrong call?
Emotionally? Maybe.
Strategically? Probably not.
Coaches don’t get paid to chase vibes. They get paid to trust evidence. And Chicago’s evidence said a single, all-or-nothing snap wasn’t the best bet.
That doesn’t make it satisfying. It just makes it honest.
What this moment really means for Chicago
The Bears don’t leave this game empty-handed. They leave with something rarer than a win: belief.
You can’t build a franchise on miracle throws — but you can build a culture on refusing to quit. This team fought until the very last second, and that matters more than fans often admit.
Williams will be just 24 entering the 2026 season. Think about what he might look like at 27, 28, 29. There are no guarantees — Rodgers and Marino taught us that — but this is as good a foundation as any team could ask for.
Years from now, if Chicago is lucky, Williams-to-Kmet won’t be remembered as a cruel “what if.”
It will be remembered as the beginning.
Sports
Caleb Williams Did His Part But Did the Bears Overthink the Finish
One impossible touchdown changed everything — but Chicago’s season may have been decided by what happened next
For one breathtaking moment, football stopped making sense.
With seconds left in a divisional-round playoff game, Caleb Williams launched a prayer — a 50-plus-yard, off-balance, back-foot moon shot — and somehow, impossibly, it found Cole Kmet in the end zone. It was the kind of touchdown that instantly joins NFL folklore, the sort of play fans remember for decades.
Suddenly, the Chicago Bears were one extra point away from tying the Los Angeles Rams — a scenario no one could have imagined just moments earlier.
And that’s when the question arrived, loud and unavoidable:
Why not go for two?
The dream-big argument
If Chicago converts the two-point try, the Rams are done. Season over. The Bears move one game away from the Super Bowl, potentially facing either a second-year quarterback or an injury replacement in the AFC. No matchup in the NFL is easy, but this was a window — and those windows don’t stay open long.
Ask Aaron Rodgers or Dan Marino how rare Super Bowl chances truly are. Between them, 38 seasons, one Super Bowl appearance each. Even greatness doesn’t guarantee multiple shots.
Momentum, belief, shock value — everything screamed end it now. One play. One decision. Push all the chips to the middle.
But football decisions aren’t made in the clouds. They’re made in film rooms.
Why Chicago didn’t gamble
Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson didn’t flinch. Replays showed him calm, unmoved, almost indifferent to the miracle unfolding. He knew the touchdown created options — but also responsibility.
Because miracles don’t stack.
Just minutes earlier, Chicago had first-and-goal at the Rams’ 5-yard line. Three ineffective runs by De’Andre Swift and a failed fourth-down pass told Johnson everything he needed to know about his short-yardage confidence.
After the game, Johnson explained it plainly.
“Our goal-to-go situations hadn’t gone very cleanly,” he said. “Our inside-the-5 plan hadn’t worked out like we hoped. I just felt better about taking our chances in overtime.”
There was also time left — 13 seconds and two Rams timeouts. One explosive play, maybe a penalty, and Los Angeles could still have stolen it with a field goal even after a failed conversion.
So Chicago chose survival over glory.
How it unraveled anyway
The Bears lived to fight in overtime — and then watched their season collapse anyway. A brutal interception. A defensive breakdown. Game over.
And just like that, Williams-to-Kmet joined a heartbreaking fraternity: iconic plays that didn’t change the ending. Think Kurt Warner to Larry Fitzgerald in Super Bowl XLIII. Think Julio Jones and that impossible toe-tap in Super Bowl LI.
Legendary moments — frozen in time — attached to losses.
So… was it the wrong call?
Emotionally? Maybe.
Strategically? Probably not.
Coaches don’t get paid to chase vibes. They get paid to trust evidence. And Chicago’s evidence said a single, all-or-nothing snap wasn’t the best bet.
That doesn’t make it satisfying. It just makes it honest.
What this moment really means for Chicago
The Bears don’t leave this game empty-handed. They leave with something rarer than a win: belief.
You can’t build a franchise on miracle throws — but you can build a culture on refusing to quit. This team fought until the very last second, and that matters more than fans often admit.
Williams will be just 24 entering the 2026 season. Think about what he might look like at 27, 28, 29. There are no guarantees — Rodgers and Marino taught us that — but this is as good a foundation as any team could ask for.
Years from now, if Chicago is lucky, Williams-to-Kmet won’t be remembered as a cruel “what if.”
It will be remembered as the beginning.
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