FFA Cup preview: Heidelberg v Melbourne City

​Victoria again takes centre stage as hosts PS4 NPL outfit Heidelberg -  now with added Kostas Katsouranis - aiming to slay the big boys from the Hyundai A-League. Get set for a ripper night.

Westfield FFA Cup 2015 Quarter Finals – Match Day 2 Fixture

MATCH DETAILS 

Heidelberg United v Melbourne City FC

Tuesday, 29 September 2015

Olympic Village, Heidelberg West (VIC)

Kick-off: 8:00pm local (8:00pm AEST)

Referee: Strebre Delovski

Assistant Referee 1: Brad Hobson

Assistant Referee 2: James Tesoriero

Fourth Official: Luke Brennan

AAR 1: Lucien Laverdure

AAR 2: Jonathan Barreiro

Tickets: Click here for ticketing details

TV Broadcast: Live and exclusive on FOX SPORTS 505 from 7:30pm (AEST)

Radio Broadcast: 3XY (1422AM)

Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tag #HFCvMCY

Heidelberg United squad: 1.Jason KOUTSODONTIS (gk), 3.Leslie DOUMBALIS, 4.John LAZARIDIS, 5.Daniel VASILEVSKI, 7.Reuben WAY, 9.Kostas KANAKARIS, 10.Jack PETRIE, 11.Mark McGOUGH, 12.Ken ATHIU, 13.Luke BYLES, 14.Andreas GOVAS, 15.Milos ILIC, 16.Angel TARAVILLO, 17.Steven PACE, 18.Andrija ROKSANDIC, 19.Dean JANCEVSKI, 20.Nejc KOLMAN, 21.Kostas KATSOURANIS, 22.Kaine SHEPPARD, 23.Griffin McMASTER (gk), 24.Andrew CARTANOS, 27.Jovan DURKIC, 33.Anthony PRESLJAK

Melbourne City FC squad: 1.Thomas SORENSEN (gk), 2.Mahmut Ali EYIGUN, 3.Aaron HUGHES, 4.Connor CHAPMAN, 6.Erik PAARTALU, 8.Aaron MOOY, 10.Robert KOREN, 11.Michael ZULLO, 13.Jordan HALL, 15.Stefan ZINNI, 17.Wade DEKKER, 18.Paulo RETRE, 19.Matthew MILLAR, 20.Tando VELAPHI (gk), 21.Stefan MAUK, 22.Jack CLISBY, 23.Bruno FORNAROLI, 24.Patrick KISNORBO, 27.Callum RICHARDSON, 28.Steve KUZMANOVSKI, 30.Hernan ESPINDOLA

BLUFFER’S GUIDE

Olympic Village will be a sea of colour on Tuesday night as home side Heidelberg United and their boisterous fans aim to upstage Hyundai A-League big guns City and book a dream FFA Cup semi-final berth.

Add lashings of Greek fervour whipped up by the headline-making short-term signing of Greek international Kostas Katsouranis for United, and this is one of the most intriguing FFA Cup clashes in the tournament’s short history.

Kostas Katsouranis will suit up for Heidelberg United against Melbourne City in the Westfield FFA Cup. Image: Stace Ioannidis – Heidelberg United FC

And there’s nothing to suggest a Cup upset won’t be on the cards. No, really!

Heidelberg’s journey has been already been a superb story, knocking off Broadmeadow Magic and Sydney United 58 on the way to the last eight.

Along the way they’ve unearthed some gems. Who will forget Jack Petrie’s stunning strike on night one, or “King” Kenny Athiu’s winner against United in the last 16.

Heidelberg will aim to use the emotion of the night to ramp up the pressure on City and the longer they can at least stay on level terms, the more they will believe.

And in 116 capped Greek international the highly respected Katsouranis in United's side, he'll be front and centre of any such upset. 

Looking to douse any fanciful fairytale ideas are Melbourne City.

City has steadily improved over the long pre-season and will view this as not only a chance to make the semis but also as an important final dress rehearsal for the start of the Hyundai A-League.

Melbourne City midfielder Aaron Mooy opened the scoring from the penalty spot against the Phoenix.

After narrowly avoiding an embarrassing loss to Edgeworth Eagles in the last 32, City crushed Wellington Phoenix 5-1 in the Round of 16 in arguably the most impressive performance of the competition so far.

They have quality right throughout their side with Mooy, Koren and Fornaroli to provide plenty of headaches for the home side. 

WHAT THEY SAY

George Katsakis (Heidelberg United coach)

 “When you start to put things into perspective, he [Katsouranis] played for Benfica, all over the world, to come to the Olympic Village for Heidelberg – it’s amazing.”

Aaron Mooy (Melbourne City playmaker) 

“It’s a different level [to the Socceroos], but it’s still a game that means something. Everyone wants to win the FFA Cup, we have to win and it’s very important to me and the team."

NEED TO KNOW

HEIDELBERG UNITED

League: PS4 NPL Victoria

Current ladder position: third in PS4 NPL Victoria

Latest result: Defeated Sydney United 2-1 in the FFA Cup Round of 16

Who to watch out for: Kostas Katsouranis

Official site: www.hufc.com.au

MELBOURNE CITY

League: Hyundai A-League

Current ladder position: Last season, fifth in the Hyundai A-League

Latest result: Lost 3-1 to Adelaide United in a friendly

Who to watch out for: Aaron Mooy

Official site: www.melbournecityfc.com

Semi Final Draw

The Westfield FFA Cup Semi Final draw will be conducted on the FOX SPORTS coverage on Tuesday night at the conclusion of regulation time of the two matches.