What a ripper this should be at Allianz as Perth look to maintain the rage against the stuttering Sky Blues in a clash which has major ramifications for the top six.
Saturday, 13 February 2016
Sydney FC v Perth Glory
Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Kick-Off: 5:15 PM (Local) (5:15 PM (AEDT))
Referee: Ben Williams
Assistant Referee 1: Allyson Flynn
Assistant Referee 2: Greg Taylor
Fourth Official: Strebre Delovski
TV Broadcast: Live coverage on FOX SPORTS 505 from 7.00pm (AEDT) and Sky Sport 3 (New Zealand)
Radio Broadcast: 702 ABC Sydney, 720 ABC Perth, ABC Local Radio NSW, ABC Local Radio WA, Grandstand Digital, Online & via the ABC Radio Mobile App – A-league Live
Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tag #SYDvPER
To purchase tickets visit www.aleague.com.au/tickets
Sydney FC squad: 1.Vedran JANJETOVIC (gk), 2.Seb RYALL, 5.Matt JURMAN, 6.Robert STAMBOLZIEV, 8.Milos DIMITRIJEVIC, 9.Shane SMELTZ, 10.Milos NINKOVIC, 11.Christopher NAUMOFF, 13.Brandon O’NEILL, 14.Alex BROSQUE, 17.David CARNEY, 18.Matt SIMON, 19.Jacques FATY, 20.Ivan NECEVSKI (gk), 21.Filip HOLOSKO, 22.Ali ABBAS, 23.Rhyan GRANT, 27.Mickael TAVARES
**two to be omitted**
Ins: 6.Robert STAMBOLZIEV (promoted), 14.Alex BROSQUE (return from injury),
Outs: None
Unavailable: None
Perth Glory squad : 1.Ante COVIC, 2.Alex GRANT, 3.Marc WARREN, 4.Shane LOWRY, 7.Gyorgy SANDOR, 9.Andy KEOGH, 10.Nebojsa MARINKOVIC, 11.Richard GARCIA, 12.Jerrad TYSON (gk), 13.Diogo FERREIRA, 14.Chris HAROLD, 17.Diego CASTRO, 19.Josh RISDON, 21.Kosta PETRATOS, 23.Krisztian VADOCZ, 28.Joe KNOWLES, 29.Aryn WILLIAMS, 31.Ross MILLARD
**two to be omitted**
Ins: 11.Richard GARCIA (returns from injury), 29.Aryn WILLIAMS (returns from injury)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 6.Dino DJULBIC (2-3 weeks), 8.Ruben ZADKOVICH (knee – indefinite)
BLUFFER’S GUIDE
The Melbourne Derby might be the standout fixture in Round 19 but this clash is arguably the most important of the weekend.
Glory’s current hot streak has seen them win three in a row, including a valuable 1-0 victory in the “Distance Derby” last time out.
Another win here and Kenny Lowe’s side would be a minimum of three points outside the top six.
What a huge carrot for Glory.
It’s a scenario you would have scarcely believed possible given their slow start to the campaign, but they are oozing confidence right now and go into every game expecting to win.
The Sky Blues are winless in their last three but showed great resilience to fight back from behind twice in the 2-2 draw with Adelaide last weekend.
This is a fixture Sydney FC has dominated recently, losing just one in the last six between the two clubs.
And if they still harbour designs on challenging for the Premiership, then nothing but three points will suffice.
Arnold is expected to use both Alex Brosque and David Carney from the start in a huge boost to their inconsistent attack.
It would mean Matt Simon and Chris Naumoff would probably drop back to the bench…or even out of the squad altogether.Tough choice there.
For Glory, skipper Richie Garcia is available again and should be involved in some part.
OPTA DATA
- Sydney FC has won four of their last six matches against Perth in the Hyundai A-League (D1, L1) and are undefeated in their last three matches.
- Perth Glory has won their last two matches away from home in the Hyundai A-League, a win against Sydney would set a new club record for the WA club.
- The Sky Blues are the only Hyundai A-League side to have conceded fewer than 20 goals this season (19).
- No player in the Hyundai A-League has won possession with more tackles than Perth Glory’s Joshua Risdon this season (51).
ROUTE TO GOAL
Much of the focus has centred around Sydney’s defensive shape lately but they showed against Adelaide they are a threat going forward when they get things right.
And the return of Brosque immediately gives them a more potent look.
His movement, experience and turn of speed has been sorely missed over the last few weeks. And in the two games he’s started as a no.9, he’s scored both times.
Marquee man Holosko was the star against the Reds, scoring his sixth goal of the campaign as well as setting up Simon’s opener.
With Carney set to start on the left it sets up a tasty battle with Glory’s Socceroo defender Josh Risdon.
Spaniard Diego Castro will again be a pivotal figure for the visitors and the one the Sky Blues are sure to target.
It will be riveting to see how the former La Liga man manages to find space for himself and time on the ball against the Sky Blues’ stifling tactics.
If he can, he’ll look to release the speed of Harold, who is finally adding goals to his game, while Keogh is starting to look comfortable again in the Hyundai A-League as he gets fitter.
With set-piece specialist Marinkovic also in good nick, Glory will fancy themselves to unlock a Sydney back four which has conceded five goals in their last two games.
The last time these two sides met it was a dull 0-0 draw in heatwave conditions. Expect a far more exciting encounter this time around. Should be a beauty!
WHO’S BEEN IN THE SPOTLIGHT THIS WEEK?
Chris Harold. The young Glory attacker is in the best form of his career, especially in front of goal where he has scored four times in the last four games. Can he keep that going against the Hyundai A-League’s stingiest defence?
