Brisbane Strikers coach Chay Hews is cautiously optimistic about his side’s impending Westfield FFA Cup away tie against Adelaide City.
Strikers were drawn against their former National Soccer League rivals in yesterday’s Round of 16 Draw resulting in their second straight away game in the national knockout competition.
While disappointed not to have scored a home tie, Hews said he was excited by the prospect of taking on a club he played against many times in the NSL.
“I’d like to have had a home game, but at the end of the day Adelaide City is a good team and it will be a really good challenge for us,” Hews said.
“I think it’s a great experience for the boys to travel away again and play against a team that’s got quite a big history.”
Hews, speaking moments after the draw as he monitored an electronic discussion set up among his players, said they were already excited by the match-up.
“There’s a group message going now and the boys are buzzing”, he said.
“I think they’ll look forward to it. It’ll be a good trip. I think the boys really enjoyed the last one and this is a step up again.”
Adelaide City became the first National Premier Leagues side to defeat a Hyundai A-League team in the Westfield FFA Cup when they accounted for Western Sydney Wanderers 1-0 in the Round of 32.
Strikers last played against Adelaide City in the 2002/2003 season of the NSL, losing that match 1-0 at Hindmarsh Stadium.
Hews said he needed no reminding of the difficulties City offer, and recalled his experiences playing against the club in the former national league.
“Those games were always really tough – it was quite a vocal crowd and they’ve always produced good players”, Hews said. “It’ll be a tough game.”
However, Hews added he was optimistic the Strikers could prevail in the cup.
“Anything is possible in a one-off game”, he said. “It’s a good chance for us and we’ve just got to prepare as well as we can for it. If we do that and perform on the day, then we’re a chance."
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