Preview: Newcastle Jets v Melbourne Victory
Newcastle Jets v Melbourne Victory
Wednesday 3 August 2016
Magic Park, Broadmeadow (NSW)
Kick-off: 7:30pm local (7:30pm AEST)
Referee: Alan Milliner
Assistant Referee 1: Leigh Pigram
Assistant Referee 2: James Cleal
Fourth Official: Trent Nash
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 #NEWvMVC #FFACup
Newcastle Jets squad: 1.Ben Kennedy (gk), 2.Daniel Mullen, 3.Jason Hoffman, 4.Nigel Boogaard, 5.Ben Kantarovski, 6.Steven Ugarković, 7.Andrew Hoole, 8.Mateo Poljak, 10.Wayne Brown, 11.Labinot Haliti,12.Andy Brennan, 13.Ivan Vujica, 14.Mitch Cooper, 15.Andrew Nabbout, 16.Nicholas Cowburn, 17.Radovan Pavicevic, 19.Morten Nordstrand, 20.Jack Duncan (gk), 21.Daniel Alessi, 22.Lachlan Jackson, 23.Devante Clut
Melbourne Victory squad: 2.Jason Geria, 3.Scott Galloway, 4.Nicholas Ansell, 5.Daniel Georgievski, 6.Leigh Broxham, 8.Besart Berisha, 11.Mitch Austin, 13.Oliver Bozanic, 14.Fahid Ben Khalfallah, 15.Alan Baro, 16.Rashid Mahazi, 17.James Donachie, 19.George Howard, 20.Lawrence Thomas (gk), 21.Carl Valeri, 22.Stefan Nigro, 23.Jai Ingham, 25.Sebastian Pasquali, 30.Lucas Spinella (gk)
Bluffer’s Guide
It will be the third straight year the Jets have hosted their opening tie in Broadmedow, having been beaten by Perth Glory in their two previous matches at this stage of the Cup.
Will it be third time lucky under new Chinese owners the Ledman Group?
If so, it won’t be easy with Victory playing – and beating, impressively - Juventus and Atletico Madrid in preparation for this game (surely no other club can boast such global royalty in the lead up to the Cup?).
Jets coach Scott Miller has undergone a rebuild of sorts following last season’s disappointing eighth place finish, with Devante Clut, Wayne Brown, Andrew Nabbout and Andrew Hoole all added to the attacking third with the club desperately seeking goals.
Jack Duncan will hope to inherit the keeper gloves following the departure of Mark Birighitti.
With a large number of names leaving the Big V, Victory have been relatively quiet in the transfer market with only Spanish defender Alan Baro, former Mariners flyer Mitch Austin and Socceroo Asian Cup hero James Troisi inking deals (Troisi signed up on Monday).
However Victory’s wins over Juventus in the ICC and Atletico Madrid on Sunday in a friendly has unearthed a couple of stars of the future in Sebastian Pasquali and Josh Hope.
Lawrence Thomas picked up where he left off last season, making two great saves in the penalty shoot-out against the Serie A Champions, while winger Jai Ingham will be full of confidence after adding another big goal to his resume against the Italian football powerhouse.
Having failed to defend their Hyundai A-League title last term Victory will be eager to not fall over at the first hurdle in their Cup defence, while Jets fans will be desperately hoping to break their Cup duck.
