Perth Glory FC returns to nib Stadium on Wednesday night for Westfield FFA Cup Semi –Final action against glamour team Melbourne City FC.
After two dramatic penalty shoot-out wins against Newcastle Jets and the Western Sydney Wanderers, coupled with an extra-time win over Lions FC, Glory is preparing for its second successive FFA Cup Final berth.
“It is do-or-die. There’s no second chances or wait till the following week, we have to put it all out and get through the game and get to that final” said Perth’s veteran goalkeeper Ante Covic.
“The FFA Cup is right here, right now. That’s the first piece of silverware available. We’ve got lofty heights to reach in the A-League, we believe in ourselves. But first things first, there’s a final up for grabs. And you want to go for silverware when it’s available.”
Melbourne City comes into the match with just one point through their first two A-League fixtures, but have been firing on all cylinders in attack with 15 goals in five matches across all competitions, including 12 goals in three cup matches.
According to Covic the danger-man for the visitors has been Socceroo Aaron Mooy, with six cup goals in three games. He needs just one more goal in this year’s Cup to set a record for most goals scored in a single-season of FFA Cup action.
“He’s been in red-hot form this season so far and has scored a few goals in the cup. So he’s definitely one we have to keep an eye on” Covic said of his former Western Sydney Wanderers teammate”.
The Perth defence has conceded five goals in two A-League matches, but the 40-year-old ‘keeper Covic believes in his defensive teammates.
“We know we can improve defensively. We have a good, solid defence and it’s just a matter of continuing to work at it and we’re staying positive on the defensive front. But obviously, I want to do more. I don’t like goals going in.”
If Covic and the rest of his teammates can keep Melbourne City off the scoreboard, it will go a long way to earning a 2nd consecutive FFA Cup Final for Glory, who might just well host this time around.
For more on the Glory bid to host the FFA Cup Final, click HERE
Tickets to the FFA Cup Semi Final match can be purchased HERE
#WestvsRest
MATCH DETAILS
Wednesday 21 October 2015
Perth Glory v Melbourne City FC
Nib Stadium, Perth
Kick-off: 6:30pm local (9:30pm AEDT)
Referee: Shaun Evans
Assistant Referee 1: George Lakrindis
Assistant Referee 2: Josh Mannella
Fourth Official: Matthew Southern
TV Broadcast: Live and exclusive on FOX SPORTS 505 from 9:00pm (AEDT)
Radio Broadcast: ABC Grandstand Digital, online & via the ABC Radio Mobile App
Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tag #PERvMCY
Perth Glory squad: 1.Ante COVIC (gk), 2.Alex Grant, 3.Marc WARREN, 5.Antony GOLEC, 6.Dino DJULBIC, 7.Gyorgy SANDOR, 10.Nebojsa MARINKOVIC, 12.Jerrad TYSON (gk), 13.Diogo FERREIRA, 14.Chris HAROLD, 15.Hagi GLIGOR, 16.Sidnei SCIOLA, 17.Diego CASTRO, 18.Mitch OXBORROW, 19.Josh RISDON, 20.Guyon FERNANDEZ, 21.Stefan VALENTINI, 23.Michael THWAITE
**Two to be omitted**
Unavailable: 8.Ruben ZADKOVICH (knee – indefinite), 11.Richard GARCIA (suspended)
Melbourne City FC squad: 1.Thomas SORENSEN (gk), 4.Connor CHAPMAN, 6.Erik PAARTALU, 8.Aaron MOOY, 15.David WILLIAMS, 16.Jason TRIFIRO, 17.Wade DEKKER, 18.Paulo RETRE, 19.Ben GARUCCIO, 20.Tando VELAPHI (gk), 21.Stefan MAUK, 22.Jack CLISBY, 23.Bruno FORNAROLI, 24.Patrick KISNORBO, 25.Jacob MELLING, 28.Steve KUZMANOVSKI, 34.Stefan ZINNI, 36.Matt MILLER
**Two to be omitted**
Unavailable: 3.Aaron HUGHES (calf – 1 week), 5.Ivan FRANJIC (quad – 3-5 weeks), 7.Corey GAMEIRO (suspended – 1 match – accumulation), 9.Harry NOVILLO (hamstring – 2-3 weeks), 10.Robert KOREN (calf – 2 weeks), 11.Michael ZULLO (calf – 3-4 weeks), 14.James BROWN (foot – TBC), 26.Marc MARINO (knee – 3 months)
