Perth Glory FC goes into battle for its last match of the regular season against Sydney FC on Sunday with momentum on its side.
It’s been an amazing and dramatic turnaround for the team which at one stage, touched the bottom of the ladder after only Round 2 and found itself floating in ninth spot mid-way through the season. There’s no doubt the story that has unfolded since, winning 10 from its past eleven games, is an incredible feat.
While Glory will have to travel to Allianz Stadium for the final encounter this weekend, it won’t be too fazed about heading east after shaping as the form team of the competition heading into finals.
After Any Keogh etched his name in the record books last week for the most number of consecutive goals the team has a chance to set another club record this week, for the most number of consecutive wins (6).
But Coach Kenny Lowe isn’t interested in milestones, other than three points on the day, and more importantly securing a home final.
“We do what we continue to do. We have a goal in mind, we know where we want to go and we know what we need to do to get there” he said.
A win for Glory on Sunday coupled with a favourable result in the matches involving Melbourne City or Western Sydney Wanderers will give Glory fans an opportunity to pack nib Stadium and support the boys at home the following week for the club’s first final in four years.
“It would be nice to play at home of course. It’d be great for the players in the run-in from there on and for the fans it would be magic. They deserve it more than anyone else” Lowe said.
But Lowe warned Sydney was no walkover and while last year’s runners-up had missed out on this year’s finals campaign, the Sky Blues posed a lethal danger, especially after winning their Asian Champions League match this week and sat top of their ACL group.
“They’ll be looking to end the season strongly and finish on a high in front of their home fans” he said.
“They’re a highly organised team who are very well coached from a guy who’s got massive experience. It’ll be tough for us”.
And Lowe warned that now was not the time for his players to get complacent.
“If they want to get the old cigars out and the curly slippers they can do that, but they might not be playing the week after” he said with a smile.
The match kicks-off 3pm WST.
Sunday, 10 April 2016
- Sydney FC v Perth Glory
- Allianz Stadium, Sydney
- Kick-Off: 5:00 PM (Local) (5:00 PM AEST)
- Referee: Ben Williams
- Assistant Referee 1: Owen Goldrick
- Assistant Referee 2: Leigh Pigram
- Fourth Official: Matthew Cropper
TV Broadcast: Live coverage on FOX SPORTS 505 from 5:00pm (AEST) and Sky Sport 3 (New Zealand)
Radio Broadcast: 720 ABC Perth, ABC Local Radio WA, Grandstand Digital, Online & via the ABC Radio Mobile App – A-league Live
Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tag #SYDvPER
Sydney FC squad: 1.Vedran JANJETOVIC (gk), 2.Seb RYALL, 5.Matt JURMAN, 6. Robert STAMBOLZIEV, 7.Andrew HOOLE, 8.Milos DIMITRIJEVIC, 9.Shane SMELTZ, 10.Milos NINKOVIC, 13.Brandon O’NEILL, 17.David CARNEY, 18.Matt SIMON, 19.Jacques FATY, 20.Ivan NECEVSKI (gk), 21.Filip HOLOSKO, 22.Ali ABBAS, 23.Rhyan GRANT, 24.George BLACKWOOD, 27.Mickael TAVARES
**two to be omitted**
Ins: 2.Seb RYALL (return from injury – glute), 5.Matt JURMAN (return from injury – groin), 17.David CARNEY (return from illness), 18.Matt SIMON (promoted), 23.Rhyan GRANT (return from injury – quad), 24.George BLACKWOOD (promoted), 27.Mickael TAVARES (promoted)
Outs: 4.Zac ANDERSON, 11.Christopher NAUMOFF, 16.Riley WOODCOCK, 25.Aaron CALVER, 29.Alex MULLEN (not selected)
Unavailable: 14.Alex BROSQUE (hamstring – indefinite)
Perth Glory squad: 1.Ante COVIC (gk), 2.Alex GRANT, 3.Marc WARREN, 4.Shane LOWRY, 6.Dino DJULBIC, 7.Gyorgy SANDOR, 9.Andy KEOGH, 10.Nebojsa MARINKOVIC, 11.Richard GARCIA, 12.Jerrad TYSON (gk), 14.Chris HAROLD, 17.Diego CASTRO, 18.Mitch OXBORROW, 19.Josh RISDON, 21.Kosta PETRATOS, 23.Krisztian VADOCZ, 24.Jamal REINERS, 29.Aryn WILLIAMS
**two to be omitted**
Ins: 6.Dino DJULBIC (returns from suspension), 21.Kosta PETRATOS (promoted)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 8.Ruben ZADKOVICH (knee – indefinite)
