In the space of an hour, David Williams, Aaron Mooy and Harry Novillo were forced out of the club's debut A-League semi-final, lost 3-0 to Melbourne Victory.
Despite its loss, City was able to fashion chances, outshooting Victory 18-14 without hitting the net.
But for City players and coaches alike, it's been a season of missed chances and one where lady luck has turned her nose up.
The torturous campaign has seen City field 29 players, using every trick in the book to keep the team afloat.
Guest players, injury replacement players, short-term contracts and scouting for recruits across the globe sustained City through an injury ravaged season.
Almost a dozen were given a chance at the full-back positions alone.
It got it into an A-League semi-final but no further.
After its semi-final defeat, Van't Schip said injuries denied it a fair crack.
"We were having that problem all year and it didn't help us," he said.
"(Injuries) getting rid of three players, with the quality of Aaron, and Harry who was playing really good ... it was difficult to replace.
"We had enough chances to win the game."
Mooy's knee injury will require further assessment, with Novillo hurting his hamstring and Williams suffering an ankle injury.
Even before the injuries, City looked an unlikely winner.
Statistically, it was over after half an hour when Victory took a 2-0 lead.
Victory has never lost in 70 A-League matches from that scoreline, and with City's weary legs after its elimination final in Wellington just five days previous, it was a tough ask.
It is now up to Van't Schip to assess how to improve his side further before 2015/2016.
No team improved its finishing position more than City during the year, coming from 10th last season to a final four finish this campaign.
Van 't Schip said he would work with a base of 14 or 15 players, carefully plotting his recruitment.
"We have to now start looking at the squad, we will talk this week about how we want to change things," he said.
"That's now the next step.
"We haven't told anybody yet, behind the scenes we're working on those things.
"There is improvement clearly, but we want to make more steps ... we'll bounce back next year."
