Preview: Perth Glory v Sydney FC

Perth Glory v Sydney FC

Tuesday 30 August 2016

Dorrien Gardens, West Perth (WA)

Kick-off: 6:30pm local (8:30pm AEST)

Referee: Adam Fielding

Assistant Referee 1: Josh Mannella

Assistant Referee 2: Matthew Southern

Fourth Official: Tom Dowle

Tickets: Click here for ticketing details

Online Broadcast: Streamed online at www.foxsports.com.au/football/ffa-cup/ffacupondemand and Apple TV via FOX SPORTS Now

Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tags #PERvSYD #FFACup

Perth Glory squad: 2.Alex Grant, 3.Marc Warren, 5.Rhys Williams, 6.Dino Djulbic, 8.Rostyn Griffiths, 9.Andy Keogh, 10.Nebojsa Marinkovic, 11.Richard Garcia, 13.Nick Feely (gk), 14.Chris Harold, 15.Brandon Wilson, 16.Joseph Mills, 18.Mitch Oxborrow, 19.Josh Risdon, 20.Aryn Williams, 21.Jamal Reiners, 22.Adam Taggart, 23.Kosta Petratos, 28.Joseph Knowles, 33.Liam Reddy (gk), 99.Milan Smiljanic

Sydney FC squad: 1.Vedran Janjetovic (gk), 2.Sebastian Ryall, 4.Alex Wilkinson, 5.Matthew Jurman, 6.Josh Brillante, 7.Michael Zullo, 8.Milos Dimitrijevic, 9.Bobo, 10.Milos Ninkovic, 11.Bernie Ibini, 12.Aaron Calver, 13.Brandon O’Neill, 17.David Carney, 18.Matt Simon, 19.George Blackwood, 20.Danny Vukovic (gk), 21.Filip Holosko, 23.Rhyan Grant, 24.Charles Lokoli Ngoy, 25.George Timotheou, 28.Nicola Kuleski, 29.Bai Antoniou

Bluffer’s Guide

This will be a doozy. The Sky Blues have recruited superbly well and look to have a frightening front five. Glory, for their part, have monstered opposition in pre-season and are desperate to make it third time lucky after two failed FFA Cup final appearances.

And they’ve done it without Diego Castro, who’s only just reported back for pre-season (new midfield recruit Milan Smiljanic has only recently joined the squad too).

Glory came back to draw 2-2 against Iraq in a behind-closed-doors friendly last week, with Kosta Petratos and Richard Garcia grabbing the goals. 

However, they may be without Josh Risdon, a late call up to the Socceroos who are in town for a vital World Cup qualifier in Perth this week. 

Sydney meanwhile are basking in the glory of signing Brazilian goal-machine “Bobo”, though Graham Arnold put on a brave face when asked about a trip to Perth. 

Sydney have also recently played Brisbane Roar, albeit in a pre-season friendly, with a late strike from Michael Zullo giving them a 2-1 win following a week long training camp on the Gold Coast.

Two strong squads with genuine title ambitions – something will have to give at Dorrien Gardens on Tuesday night.