Hyundai A-League preview: Melbourne City v Mariners

City will hope to put behind them a disastrous week of results while the Mariners will aim to bounce back from their loss to Roar last time out. So much on the line for these two this Sunday at AAMI.

MATCH DETAILS

Sunday, 25 October 2015

Melbourne City FC v Central Coast Mariners

AAMI Park, Melbourne

Kick-Off: 5:00 PM (Local) (5:00 PM (AEDT))

Referee: Chris Beath

Assistant Referee 1: Brad Hobson

Assistant Referee 2: Wilson Brown

Fourth Official: Lucien Laverdure

TV Broadcast: Live coverage on FOX SPORTS 505 from 5.00pm (AEDT) and Sky Sport 2 (New Zealand)

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Radio Broadcast: 774 ABC Melbourne, 92.5 Central Coast,  & ABC Local Radio Vic, Grandstand Digital, Online & via the ABC Radio Mobile App – A-league Live. Coast FM (Gosford) SEN (Melbourne)

Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tag: #MCYvCCM

To purchase tickets visit www.aleague.com.au/tickets

Melbourne City

Melbourne City FC squad:  1.Thomas SORENSEN (GK), 4.Connor CHAPMAN, 6.Erik PAARTALU, 7.Corey GAMEIRO, 8.Aaron MOOY, 15.David WILLIAMS, 16.Jason TRIFIRO, 17.Wade DEKKER, 18.Paulo RETRE, 19.Ben GARUCCIO, 21.Stefan MAUK, 23.Bruno FORNAROLI, 24.Patrick KISNORBO (C), 25.Jacob MELLING, 28.Steve KUZMANOVSKI, 30.Hernan ESPINDOLA, 36.Matt MILLER

***Two players to be omitted and One Goal keeper to be Added***

Ins: 7.Corey GAMEIRO (returns from injury), 15.David WILLIAMS (returns from injury), 19.Ben GARUCCIO (returns from injury), 25.Jacob MELLING (returns from injury), 30.Hernan ESPINDOLA (promoted), 36.Matt MILLER (promoted)

Outs: 11.Michael ZULLO (calf – 2-3 weeks), 10.Robert KOREN (calf – 2 weeks), 20.Tando VELAPHI (concussion – TBC), 22.Jack CLISBY (quad – TBC)

Unavailable: 3.Aaron HUGHES (calf – 1 week), 5.Ivan FRANJIC (quad – 3-5 weeks),  9.Harry NOVILLO (hamstring – 2-3 weeks), 14.James BROWN (foot – TBC), 26.Marc MARINO (knee – 3 months)

Central Coast Mariners squad: 1.Paul IZZO (gk), 2.Storm ROUX, 3.Josh ROSE, 5.Harry ASCROFT, 6.Mitch AUSTIN, 7.Fabio FERREIRA, 8.Nick MONTGOMERY (C), 9.Roy O’DONOVAN, 10.Anthony CACERES, 11.Nick FITZGERALD, 14.Daniel HEFFERNAN, 16.Liam ROSE 18.Glen TRIFIRO, 19.Josh BINGHAM, 21.Michael NEILL, 22.Jake McGING, 23.Eddy BOSNAR, 30.Adam Pearce (GK)

**two to be omitted” 

Ins: 3.Josh ROSE (return from injury), 18. Glen TRIFIRO (promoted), 23. Eddy BOSNAR (return from injury), 30.Adam PEARCE (GK) (promoted),

Outs: 12.Liam REDDY (GK) (omitted), 26.Brian JAMBA (omitted)

Unavailable: 4.Jacob POSCOLIERO (hamstring – 1 week)

Central Coast Mariners

BLUFFER’S GUIDE

How Melbourne City will back-up after their mid-week trip to Perth in their third game in eight days is the big talking point ahead of their first home game of the campaign.

John van ‘t Schip’s side go into the clash on an impressive run of results at AAMI Park and have plenty of reinforcements at their disposal as they seek to kick-start their season.

Meanwhile the attack-minded Mariners will be hoping to catch their opposition on the hop and maintain the stranglehold they have on this fixture.

Central Coast’s defensive stocks will be boosted by the return of Josh Rose and Eddy Bosnar from injury but exactly where Rose will fit into the line-up remains to be seen.

Olyroo Paul Izzo is set to play in goals for Tony Walmsley’s side in place of Liam Reddy, while striker Dan Heffernan could also make his first start.

And get there early for a Melbourne Derby in the Westfield W-League as a curtain raiser. City’s star-studded line-up will make their maiden home appearance after last week’s 6-0 rout of Sydney FC on the road.

OPTA DATA

  • City are on their best ever home run in the A-League regular season – unbeaten in their last nine matches at the AAMI (W6 D3).
  • The Mariners have only lost once against Melbourne City in their 15 encounters (W10 D4), keeping a clean sheet in over half of these (53%).
  • The last three home games between these sides have seen 11 goals; the previous five games only saw six goals.

ROUTE TO GOAL

Melbourne City is set to field a new look frontline with Corey Gameiro and David Williams returning from injury and Robert Koren and Michael Zullo sidelined with calf strains.

Bruno Fornaroli showed his class in the derby with a delightful goal but City will need to start converting more of their chances. And watch out for Stefan Mauk – a real talent and one who could inspire City to a much-needed win. 

The Mariners came close to finding an equaliser against the Roar last weekend only to be hit on the counter with a sucker-punch.

Fabio Ferreira scored the winner last time these sides met and will be looking to add to his brace from the opening weekend.

WHO’S BEEN IN THE SPOTLIGHT THIS WEEK?

Liam Reddy: The Mariners goalkeeper has been stood down by the club for disciplinary reasons, with 20-year-old Paul Izzo to don the No.1 jersey in his place.

NEWS: A-League keeper stood down for ‘off-field issues’

FORM LINES

Melbourne City: DL

Central Coast Mariners: WL

PREDICTION

Melbourne City 3 – 2 Central Coast Mariners

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