Preview: Blacktown City v Sydney FC
Blacktown City v Sydney FC
Wednesday 21 September 2016
Sydney United Sports Centre, Edensor Park
Kick-off: 7:30pm local (7:30pm AEST)
Referee: Peter Green
Assistant Referee 1: Scott Edeling
Assistant Referee 2: Lance Greenshields
Fourth Official: Stephen Lucas
Tickets: Click here for ticketing details
TV Broadcast: 7.00pm (AEST) Live and exclusive on FOX SPORTS 4 (Channel 505)
Radio Broadcast: Alive 90.5 (90.5FM) and online
Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tags #BLCvSYD #FFACup
Blacktown City squad: 1.Nenad Vekic (gk), 3.Giorgio Speranza, 4.Roberto Speranza, 6.Matthew Lewis, 7.Travis Major, 8.Sasa Macura, 9.Joseph Gibbs, 10.Connor Evans, 11.Danny Seung-Joo Choi, 12.Jonothan Grozdanovski, 14.Mitchell Mallia, 15.Shayne D’Cunha, 16.Patrick Antelmi, 17.Lewis Beumie, 19.Zachary Cairncross, 21.Riku Sasaki, 40.Tristan Prendergast (gk)
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, 12.Aaron Calver, 13.Brandon O’Neill, 14.Alex Brosque, 17.David Carney, 18.Matt Simon, 20.Danny Vukovic (gk), 21.Filip Holosko, 23.Rhyan Grant, 24.Charles Lokoli Ngoy, 29.Bai Antoniou
Bluffer’s Guide
The Sky Blues are bracing for a tricky test in Sydney’s west with in-form Blacktown City aiming to upstage Hyundai A-League opposition and book a dream Westfield FFA Cup semi-final berth.
And the way City have lit up the Cup, don’t discount a Blacktown fairytale. They blasted their way through the two previous rounds, crushing fellow PS4 NPL NSW clubs Sydney United 58 and Bonnyrigg White Eagles, scoring nine goals in the process.
What's more, we’ve seen some new Westfield FFA Cup superstars unearthed.
No-one will ever forget Danny Choi’s incredible 70-metre goal against Sydney United, or Patrick Antelmi’s stunning hat-trick in the same match.
It’s no wonder the pair are being linked to Hyundai A-League deals. With the likes of Joey Gibbs, Mitch Mallia, Travis Major, Sasa Macura and Zach Cairncross also in the squad, the Demons are daring to dream.
And why not after winning the PS4 NPL NSW grand final 3-0 against Mark Rudan’s United just over a week ago.
Hoping to burst the bubble of Mark Crittenden’s side is Sydney FC.
Graham Arnold’s troops have improved over the long pre-season and now have the chance to make the semis of the Cup for the first time ever.
While they haven’t been at their dynamic best in the competition so far, the Sky Blues have done enough to dispose of Wollongong Wolves and two-time finalists Perth Glory in the West on the way to the last eight.
Theirs is quality right throughout the Sydney FC side. Marquee striker Bobo should be settled into his new surrounds by now, while the likes of Brosque, Holosko, Ninkovic and Carney possess a real goal threat.
The Sky Blues will start warm favourites, but if City get into their groove, this version of the Sydney Derby should be an absolute beauty.
