Preview: Melbourne Knights v Cockburn City
Melbourne Knights v Cockburn City
Wednesday 10 August 2016
Knights Stadium, Sunshine (VIC)
Kick-off: 7:30pm local (7:30pm AEST)
Referee: Jack Morgan
Assistant Referee 1: George Lakrindis
Assistant Referee 2: Stephen Toth
Fourth Official: Lachlan Keevers
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 #KNIvCBN #FFACup
Melbourne Knights squad: 1.Michael O’Farrell (gk), 2.Luke Jurcic, 3.Ivan Grgic, 4.Ben Surey, 5.Milan Batur, 6.Damien Miskulin, 7.Christopher Talajic, 8.James McGarry, 9.Jacob Colosimo, 10.Marijan Cvitkovic, 11.Nikola Jurkovic, 12.Anthony Dezic, 13.Anthony Katiforis, 14.Caleb Mikulic, 15.Julius Davies, 16.Jason Hicks,17.Robert Zadworny, 18.Josh Brekalo, 19.Nicholas Glavan, 20.Fraser Chalmers (gk), 21.Stipo Andrijasevic, 22.Daniel D’Sousa, 23.Timmy Purcell, 24.Marcelo De La Plaza, 30.Harry Cakarun (gk)
Cockburn City squad: 1.Luke Radonich (gk), 2.Nathan De Abreu, 3.Joshua Kuser, 4.Euen Grant, 5.Brandon De Abreu, 6.Reuben Tristao, 7.Ali Gholami, 8.Cameron Edwards, 9.Angel Andres, 10.David Araya, 11.Harry O’Brien, 12.Kenel Mouithys, 13.Blake Adams, 14.Liam Murray, 16.Daniel Dols, 17.Jesse Lazzaro, 18.Aden Da Luz, 23.Ryan Barker (gk), Daniel Santich, Andrew Emsavana
Bluffer's Guide
This all NPL clash is tinged with an NSL history.
Cockburn are coached by former Glory player Scott Miller, who was involved in a couple of legendary NSL battles with Melbourne Knights.
No doubt he'll be telling his players how difficult it is on a cold winter's night at Somers St.
Cockburn (formerly known as Spearwood Dalmatinac) may not have a huge profile nationally, but it's a club with some top-drawer players and excellent youth development.
Key players are captain Euen Grant, who played for Airdrie in a Cup clash against Kilmarnock in 2010. He is a solid centre half.
Angel Andres, originally from Malaga and a 2015 All Flags State League Division One Golden Boot, has been very good up front this year, as has Liam Murray.
Former Glory midfielder Cameron Edwards - Ali Edwards' son - has been a key contributor in the middle of the park, while Harry O'Brien (former Glory youth) is a creative option.
Goalkeeper Luke Radonich was on Victory and Glory's books and has represented the Joeys. And he's receiving the best tuition: the club's goalkeeper coach is former Socceroos and Glory keeper Jason Petkovic.
On a night when Perth Glory face Roar in Brisbane, City will hope to seal a WA double in the FFA Cup.
But standing in their way is Andrew Marth's Knights.
This is a young, attacking squad, coached by a Knights legend who, like the club, is pleased to be back on the national stage at a venue where the club have invested their resources to make it one of the best.
The Knights defence is relatively youthful but with former defender Marth - who's been coaching for 20 or so years - they'll be well organised.
Marth has visited WA to scout City and Knights played Melbourne City in a friendly in late July. So, they'll be ready in what is the biggest night of the season.
And in captain Stipo Andrijasevic, Knights have a player on the A-League radar, we’re told. Watch out for him. Nick Glavan, a former Victory youth player, is another teen to keep an eye on.
