Can Bentleigh become the first Member Federation side to reach an FFA Cup Final?
That’s the question on everyone’s mind as the NPL Victoria powerhouse prepares to take on Adelaide United on Friday night.
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It’s also a question many believe is possible after another stunning run to the FFA Cup last four from Bentleigh – the second time the Greens have done it in the competition’s history.
With a spot in the Final on the line, all eyes will be on the Cheltenham-based club as they prepare to write their name into FFA Cup folklore.
Can they do it? Read on as we discuss the first FFA Cup Semi-Final!
Second time lucky for Bentleigh?
It’s not the first time Bentleigh have reached the last four of the FFA Cup, having bowed out in the inaugural Semi-Finals to Perth Glory in 2014.
But this year, John Anastasiadis’ troops have proven they have what it takes to match and beat Hyundai A-League opposition.
A 1-0 win over Wellington Phoenix in the Round of 32 was one of the FFA Cup 2018's most memorable displays, and the Greens will need to muster a performance of similar determination and organisation to topple the Reds.
The Greens have had a couple of weeks since the end of their NPL Victoria commitments to focus on this match and freshen up after a gruelling season – a campaign that ended in a remarkable 4-3 defeat to Avondale in the Semi-Finals.
They’ll be hoping for better fortunes in this Semi-Final appearance and with Chris Lucas and Matt Thurtell in their side, Bentleigh are always a chance. Lucas has already notched an FFA Cup hat-trick this year while the attack-minded Greens have fired blanks in just three of their 34 matches across all competitions in 2018.
Rock-solid Adelaide on course for back to back Finals
Bentleigh will need all the attacking thrust they can produce to penetrate the Reds, who are yet to concede a goal in the FFA Cup this year.
Marco Kurz’s side haven’t played their best football but have improved with each outing and the likes of Ben Halloran and Ken Ilso are growing in fitness every match.
However, if the Reds are to make it two FFA Cup Finals in two years they'll have to do it without arguably the team's player of the tournament so far, Craig Goodwin.
Goodwin has marked his return to Adelaide with goals in each FFA Cup fixture so far, including a long range stunner against APIA Leichhardt in the Quarter-Finals.
“Goody [Goodwin] has come down with a pretty bad virus during the week, so we’ll be missing him," Adelaide goalkeeper Paul Izzo confirmed yesterday.
“We’ve got some depth in his position and I think it will be a massive opportunity for either a young boy or someone else to step up and do a job and stake their claim.”
With a chance to get redemption for last year’s Final defeat to Sydney FC, you can be sure Adelaide won’t be underestimating their lower-league opponents.
“We know that they’re a strong team. And we also know that it’s no coincidence that they’re in the Semi-Finals," Reds skipper Isaias said this week.
“We know that they play hard, they’ve a very good transition game and we’re ready to play this game.
“We have the experience to play against an NPL side and we know that it’s going to be difficult and that it’s not going to be an easy game. But we know that we’re a great team also and we should reach the Final.”
