Perth Glory visits the harbour City on Sunday, when they take on Sydney FC at Allianz Stadium, in the final game of the 2013-14 Hyundai A-League season (3pm WA Time).
Perth Glory visits the harbour City on Sunday, when they take on Sydney FC at Allianz Stadium, in the final game of the 2013-14 Hyundai A-League season (3pm WA Time).
Fresh from back-to-back home wins, interim Coach Kenny Lowe-s side heads east full of confidence, and will want to bid farewell to the career of NSW-born, Jacob Burns, in style.
The midfielder is in line to play his 116th and final game for the club, and a win will also end the season on a high and avoid the dreaded wooden spoon.
Lowe, who is hoping to continue his role at the club next season, has been delighted with his players- attitude over the last month of football.
“I-m really pleased for the players, we-ve had a tough time, looking in, but inside we have been OK, and we-re now getting our just rewards on the pitch,” he said.
“Many don-t know but William (Gallas) has been playing with a slight tear in his hamstring, but he said to me trust me, I-ll be alright. He-s worked hard to get on the pitch, but it shows his determination and the spirit we have in the dressing room.”
Teenage midfielder, Danny De Silva, will be pushing for a starting role, on the back of the rumour of his pending move to Italian Serie A club, AS Roma.
He looked lively coming off the bench in the 3-1 win against the Mariners last week, and was involved with the third goal.
Sidnei has also been in sparkling form after injury in recent weeks, and his game has improved, not only going forward but in the middle of the park.
Another to find form is Chris Harold, who has been outstanding leading the line in the past month, and he will be looking to end his season with another goal.
Sydney need all three points to make the finals, so the Glory backline, led superbly by Gallas and Michael Thwaite, will need to be on their toes to stop Italian superstar Alessandro Del Piero at bay, while Terry Antonis and Ali Abbas have both given the Sky Blues a lift in the recent weeks.
The Glory will be looking to win for only the second time on the road this season, the win away from the nib Stadium came in round 13, when Chris Harold scored the only goal in the 1-0 win away to the Newcastle Jets.
Since then they have only collected one point on their travels, which came in a 1-1 draw against Wellington Phoenix in round 23.
They may be eight points adrift of the finals, but Lowe-s boys will be looking for the win to ensure a positive ending to for their loyal supporters.
In team news for the trip, Josh Risdon is out of the squad with a hamstring strain; Matthew Davies has been added to the 18-man squad and will come in, to fill the void, while Cameron Edwards and Jamie Maclaren have also been added to the travelling party.
The last time the two teams met, Sydney fans were calling for Coach Frank Farina-s head, but they came away with a 2-1 win. Ranko Despotovic and Terry Antonis gave the home side a two goal advantage, and although Rostyn Griffiths pulled one back, and Sydney had defender Aaron Calver sent off in the dying minutes, the Glory couldn-t force a draw.
The last away win for the Glory against Sydney FC was back in round 16 2008-09. Goals from Adriano Pellegrino, Wayne Srhoj and two own goals from Anthony Golec and Robbie Middleby, gave the visitors a 4-1 win.
Sydney was teetering on the edge before they signed Socceroo, Sasa Ognenovski. The big defender has added leadership and discipline to a defence that has struggled for most of the season. The fitness of Del Piero has also been a problem for the Sky Blues, but with him back to full fitness they will be looking to push for that finals spot.
The Italian is relishing his battle with retiring Glory skipper Burns, and with the Glory desperately hoping to avoid the wooden spoon, Del Piero said he was expecting them to put up a fight, and he has taken precautions. “I’ve prepared double shin pads, two in the front and two in the back,” he joked.
“I really enjoy playing against him (Burns), it will be an honour to play against him on Sunday, it has been a great career for him.”
