Preview: Canberra Olympic v Green Gully
MATCH DETAILS
Canberra Olympic v Green Gully
Tuesday 27 September 2016
Deakin Stadium, Deakin
Kick-off: 7:30pm local (7:30pm AEST)
Referee: Luke Withell
Assistant Referee 1: Owen Goldrick
Assistant Referee 2: Greg Taylor
Fourth Official: Adam Powers
Tickets: Click here for ticketing details
Online Broadcast: Streamed online at www.foxsports.com.au/football/ffa-cup/ffacupondemand, on the FOX SPORTS mobile app for iPhone & Android, and on Apple TV & Telstra TV via the FOX SPORTS NOW app
Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tags #COLvGRG #FFACup
Canberra Olympic squad: 1.Angelo Konstantinou (gk), 2.Tim Bobolas, 3.Josh Calabria,4.Daniel Colbertaldo, 5.Phil Yarnold, 6.Jeremy Habtemarium, 7.Patrick Ross-Magee, 8.Bernard Rene, 9.Philippe Bernabo-Madrid, 10.Robbie Cattanach, 11.Michael Reeve, 12.Adam Rogic,13.Ben Basser-Silk, 14.Callum Smith, 15.Tom McLachlan, 16.Adam Neou, 17.Nicholas Bobolas,18.Jordan Tsekenis, 19.Joel Valtonen, 20.Jack Pettit (gk), 21.George Kazolis (gk), 23.Oliver Wiederkher, 24.Daniel Giovinazzo, 99.Victor Yanes
Green Gully squad: 1.Sebastien Mattei (gk), 2.Matthew Reid, 3.Yohai Iwasaki, 4.Daniel Jones, 5.Rodrigo Vargas, 6.Callum Richardson, 7.Tomas Murphy, 8.George Lambadaridis, 9.Anthony Ragusa, 11.Evan Christodoulou, 12.Nicholas Krousoratis, 14.Aaron Ward, 15.Jay Davies, 16.Kliment Taseski, 18.Oner Kucuk, 19.Luke Walker, 21.Charlie McCormick, 23.Mehmet Balci (gk), 38.Liam Boland, Rani Dowisha (gk)
Bluffer’s Guide
This is the biggest night of their respective histories. Which PS4 NPL club will write another fabulous chapter in their Cup fairytale?
Canberra Olympic have shocked plenty to reach the last eight, the first time a Capital Football club has reached this stage of the competition. With the club celebrating their 60th anniversary in 2016, Frank Cachia’s side are making it one to remember with their fearless run through the competition.
Playing in the chilly conditions in the nation’s capital has suited them so far and they’ll hope Deakin Reserve will be their ace up the sleeve as they seek an unlikely spot in the last four.
While a rock-solid defence has been Olympic’s bedrock to their Cup run, the likes of Jordan Tsekenis, Adam Rogic (Socceroo and Celtic star Tom’s brother), Robbie Cattanach and Philippe Bernabo-Madrid mean they also have goals in them.
Just last week Olympic lost 3-2 to the Brisbane Strikers in the PS4 NPL national finals after conceding very late. That disappointment aside, they are match fit, battle-hardened and always confident when playing at home.
In saying all that, Gully are likely to start slight favourites in this one.
Arthur Papas’ outfit have been the giant-slayers of the Cup this season and will be hugely difficult to beat. Who will ever forget Liam Boland’s long-range stunner to sink Central Coast Mariners in the round of 32?
They also knocked off PS4 NPL Victoria rivals Melbourne Knights in the last 16 – with Boland grabbing a double.
In goalkeeper Rani Dowisha, defender Roddy Vargas, Nick Krousoratis, George Lambadaridis and Boland they have talent and experience to call on when the big moment is needed.
And you can’t forget the impact of Cup specialist Papas, who has proved himself a master tactician in this competition.
Who'll hold their nerve and produce the goods on what is undoubtedly the biggest 90 minutes of these clubs’ histories. This should be a ripper.
