Heidelberg United coach George Katsakis hopes to catch Hyundai A-League outfit Perth Glory “underdone” when they line up in the Westfield FFA Cup Round of 32.
CONFIRMED: FFA Cup Round of 32 draw
Katsakis’ side host two-time FFA Cup finalists Glory and will fancy their chances of pulling off a Cup shock.
The Victorian club is currently joint top of the PS4 NPL1 and have a strong, hungry squad with a sprinkling of Hyundai A-League experience.
OPPORTUNITY AGAINST GLORY IN PRE-SEASON?
“Absolutely. If you’re going to get an A-League team this is the time you want to get them,” Katsakis told www.theffacup.com.au
They’ll probably be a little bit underdone.
“We need to do some relevant homework and make sure we’re drilled for it.”
BIG NIGHT IN HEIDELBERG’S HISTORY
A former powerhouse of the NSL, Heidelberg also have a strong history in the Westfield FFA Cup, making the quarter finals of the competition in 2015.
While they lost 5-0 to Melbourne City on that night – thanks to a hat-trick to Aaron Mooy and Bruno Fornaroli’s brace – it was a memorable evening for the club back on the national stage.
A crowd of 11,372 crammed into Olympic Village for the City clash and Katsakis is hoping for a similar turnout, admitting a win over Glory would rank as one of the biggest in the club’s history.
“It would match some of the best results ever for the club,” Katsakis admitted.
“With the induction of the A-League and now the NPL, brining two big clubs together is going to be a major benefactor. For us to knock them off would be something for the club to be very proud of.
“This is a replica of the Melbourne City game at home. We were able to draw a crowd of 11,500 and that’s what we’re looking forward to,” he added.
“The pressure will be on us to get a result. Knowing we’re up against an A-League club but nevertheless we are battlers, we’ll give it a challenge and I’m sure equal pressure will be on them as well.”
AND A FINAL MESSAGE FOR KENNY LOWE
As well as facing the likes of Diego Castro, Andy Keogh and Adam Taggart, Katsakis will also get to match his wits against the charismatic Glory boss Kenny Lowe.
“He can look forward to a tough opponent and we’ll give it our best shot.
“We won’t change up our game plan. We go out to win every game, nothing is going to change.
“We’ll give it our best and we’ll go out there to get a result.”
