The Mariners are looking forward to hosting the first Hyundai A-League match to be played at North Sydney Oval when they welcome Wellington tomorrow night.
The Central Coast Mariners are looking forward to hosting the first Hyundai A-League match to be played at North Sydney Oval when they welcome Wellington Phoenix tomorrow night.
The Round 6 fixture was rescheduled in light of the All Whites participation in World Cup qualifiers and forms part of an exciting run of fixtures over summer for the Hyundai A-League. Both sides will no doubt be looking to rebound from weekend defeats when they walk out on the iconic venue.
The occasion will be especially significant for Mariners coach Phil Moss who use to call the ground home when he played for Northern Spirit in the NSL.
“Yes some strange emotions, I-ve got some great memories playing at North Sydney Oval,” said Moss.
“They were some fantastic days. We had some great crowds and a fantastic atmosphere.
“I never thought I-d see the day that I-d be back here as head coach in the A-League, which obviously wasn-t around then.”
Moss is adamant transfer speculation surrounding his squad has not been a distraction for the Champions in the build-up to the clash.
Kiwi international Michael McGlinchey has been linked with a move to former mentor Graham Arnold-s new club Vegalta Sendai in the J-League. The Mariners have said they will not stand in the midfielder’s way if he wanted a transfer and it-s believed personal terms are the only sticking point.
Meanwhile Bernie Ibini, who is back in Australia on compassionate grounds following the death of his father, may move back to his former club. Ibini has been training with the Mariners and may be granted a release from his Chinese club Shanghai SIPG, which he joined at the start of the year.
Central Coast will go into this summer spectacle having won their last three home games against Wellington. Daniel McBreen has notched a goal and the Mariners have kept a cleansheet on each occasion. The Champions will no doubt seek to play an entertaining brand of football for the North Sydney crowd as they seek to move on from their Round 10 drubbing from the Reds.
The Phoenix will be desperate to turn their results around as they continue to search for their first win of the season. Wellington have struggled against the Champions in recent times, managing just three goals in the last eight outings between the sides. However they will take heart from their performance against league leaders Roar last weekend.
Hyundai A-League 2013/14 Round 6 deferred match – Ins and Outs
Thursday 19 December 2013
Central Coast v Wellington Phoenix
North Sydney Oval, Sydney
Kick-off: 7.30pm local (7:30pm AEDT)
Referee: Kris Griffiths-Jones
Assistant Referee 1: Allyson Flynn
Assistant Referee 2: Greg Taylor
Fourth Official: Stephen Lucas
TV broadcast: 7.00pm (AEDT) Live and EXCLUSIVE coverage on FOX Sports 1HD and 7.30pm (AEDT) on Sky Sport 2 (New Zealand).
Radio Broadcast: Full coverage on 92.5 COAST FM, RADIO SPORT NZ, GRANDSTAND DIGITAL, ONLINE and SMARTPHONE APP.
Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tag #CCMvWEL
To purchase tickets visit www.aleague.com.au/tickets
Central Coast Squad: 1. Justin PASFIELD (Gk), 2. Daniel MCBREEN, 3. Joshua ROSE, 4. Marcel SEIP, 7. John HUTCHINSON, 8. Nick MONTGOMERY, 9. Mitchell DUKE, 10. Marcos FLORES, 11. Nick FITZGERALD, 12. Liam REDDY (GK), 13. Hayden MORTON, 14. Michael MCGLINCHEY, 15. Storm ROUX, 16. Trent SAINSBURY, 17. Anthony CACERES, 19. Matt SIMON, 21. Mile STERJOVSKI *one to be omitted*
Ins: 11. Nick FITZGERALD (promoted)
Outs: 6. Brent GRIFFITHS (suspended – 1 week)
Unavailable: 5. Zachary ANDERSON (back – 1 week), 6. Brent GRIFFITHS (suspended – 1 week), 18. Michael NEILL (suspended – 1 week), 22. Tom Slater (back – 2 weeks), 23. Adam Kwasnik (knee – indefinite)
Wellington Phoenix Squad: 1. Glen MOSS (GK), 2. Manny MUSCAT, 5. Michael BOXALL, 7. Leo BERTOS, 8. Paul IFILL, 9. Kenny CUNNINGHAM, 10. Stein HUYSEGEMS, 11. Jeremy BROCKIE, 12. Tyler BOYD, 13. Albert RIERA, 15. Jason HICKS, 16. Louis FENTON, 17. Vince LIA, 18. Ben SIGMUND, 20. Lewis ITALIANO (GK), 21. Carlos HERNANDEZ, 22. Andrew DURANTE (capt), 23. Matthew RIDENTON. (two to be omitted).
Ins: 7. Leo BERTOS (promoted), 12. Tyler BOYD (promoted).
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: Nil
