How MetroStars 'rattled' Blacktown in FFA Cup

Jubilant MetroStars coach Michael Pirone believes a change in approach at half-time “rattled” Blacktown City and sparked their come-from-behind Westfield FFA Cup Round of 32 win on Wednesday night.

The South Australian club trailed 1-0 at the break in Sydney’s west but second half goals from Jonathan Negus and Rocky Callisto secured a famous win in the Westfield FFA Cup. 

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“It was a really tough game. I’ve been watching some vision the last few weeks of Blacktown and they’ve just been flying and I think they showed that in the first 45,” Pirone told Fox Sports.

“We rode our luck a bit and they missed a few chances.

“At half time we were actually pretty cool in the change room. We just asked them to change the way we wanted to play a little bit.

“We had to press a little bit higher, we allowed them too much space and as soon as we put them under pressure you could see they were getting rattled a little bit and put in a few rash challenges.

“When the [equalizing] goal went in we knew we had a good opportunity and we took it with both hands.”

MetroStars FC players celebrate their second goal against Blacktown City.

After winning the National NPL title in 2014 to qualify for this year’s FFA Cup, the Klemzig based MetroStars have struggled for results in South Australia.

But a long run in the FFA Cup would more than make up for that, with the prospect of facing a Hyundai A-League club in the last 16.

“No excuses, every club goes through injury crisis but we’ve had up to nine or 10 players  out at any one time this season,” Pirone explained.

“It’s tough, we’ve had to rotate the players and my bench had an average age of only 17 tonight.

“We don’t mind who we get next round. Our club is only 20 years old and what they’ve managed to achieve in that time is nothing short of amazing.”