It may not be the Bledisloe Cup but another important Trans-Tasman rivalry is slowly building as Perth Glory FC prepares to host fifth placed Wellington Phoenix in round seven of the Hyundai A-League at nib Stadium tomorrow night.
Glory will be looking to continue its best start to an A-League season, aiming for its sixth win, vying for its fourth A-League win on the trot and more importantly holdin on to top spot on the table.
It’s a run that has left Glory coach Kenny Lowe praising his talented squad.
“The lads deserve all the accolades they’re getting at the moment. I’ve just sat in the chair on the sidelines doing nothing” he said.
Accused of being one dimensional in attack at the start of the season, Glory has proven it has an abundance of goal scorers through defenders Dino Djulbic and Scott Jamieson, coupled with the talented exploits of dead ball specialist Nebojsa Marinkovic.
The 28-year old Serbian currently leads the Hyundai A-League in goal scoring opportunities (18).
Tomorrow night he may be joined in midfield by a fit and firing Ruben Zadkovich.
Lowe was quick to confirm the former Newcastle Jets captain was putting his hand up for starting selection, along with classy winger Sidnei Sciola who returned to training this week.
While Perth Glory already disposed of Wellington in the opening round (2-1), Lowe warned, Ernie Merrick’s side loomed as a major threat.
“It’s going to be a very, very, very difficult game. They’ve got a very dangerous front six. They play very good football, they’re very organised and they’ve got a spring in their step” he said.
“I can’t see it being a quiet, shy, closed game. I think it’ll be like the other 3 [home games] we’ve had. I think it’ll be open, I think there will be goals. Hopefully one more for us than them.”
One man who poses a threat to the Glory back line is Michael McGlinchey who has booted three goals so far this season.
McGlinchey’s face is all too familiar among Glory fans. He’s bagged more goals (3) against Perth than any other side in the Hyundai A-League.
Kick-off is at 6.45pm on Friday, November 21.
Gates open at 5.15pm.
Tickets to the game are still available; click here to get yours now!
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Hyundai A-League Fact 1
Perth has started the season with 5 wins from their first six games. It took 14 games to reach 5 wins last season.
Hyundai A-League
Fact 2
Wellington has only kept one clean sheet from its last 10 games against the Glory away from home.
Hyundai A-League
Fact 3
The Nix have only only one of their last seven games on the road in the A-League.
Hyundai A-League
Fact 4
The most common score line between Glory and Phoenix is 1-1.
MATCH DETAILS
Friday, 21 November 2014
Perth Glory v Wellington Phoenix
nib Stadium, Perth
Kick-Off: 6:45 PM (Local) (9:45 PM AEDT)
Referee: Lucien Laverdure
Assistant Referee 1: Mathew Cheeseman
Assistant Referee 2: Josh Mannella
Fourth Official: David Bruce
Perth Glory FC squad: 1.Danny VUKOVIC (GK), 3.Brandon O’NEILL, 5.Rostyn GRIFFITHS, 6.Dino DJULBIC, 7.Youssouf HERSI, 8.Ruben ZADKOVICH, 9.Andy KEOGH, 10.Nebosja MARINKOVIC, 11.Richard GARCIA, 12.Jamie MACLAREN, 13.Diogo Alves FERREIRA, 14.Chris HAROLD, 17.Mitch NICHOLS, 19.Joshua RISDON, 20.Daniel DE SILVA, 21.Scott JAMIESON, 23.Michael THWAITE (c) 30.Jordan THURTELL (GK)
***two to be omitted***
Ins: 17.Mitch NICHOLS (returns from international duty), 15.Jamie MACLAREN (returns from international duty)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 16.Sidnei SCIOLA (calf – 1 week)
Wellington Phoenix squad: 1.Glen MOSS (GK), 2.Manny MUSCAT, 4.Roly BONEVACIA, 5.Michael BOXALL, 6.Josh BRINDELL-SOUTH, 7.Kenny CUNNINGHAM, 8.Alex RODRIGUEZ, 9.Nathan BURNS, 10.Michael McGLINCHEY, 11.Jeremy BROCKIE, 12.Tyler BOYD, 13.Albert RIERA, 17.Vince LIA, 18.Ben SIGMUND, 19.Tom DOYLE, 20.Lewis ITALIANO (GK), 21.Roy KRISHNA, 22.Andrew DURANTE (c)
***two to be omitted***
Ins: 5.Michael BOXALL (returns from international duty), 10.Michael McGLINCHEY (returns from international duty), 11.Jeremy BROCKIE (returns from international duty), 12.Tyler BOYD (returns from international duty), 19.Tom DOYLE (returns from injury)
Outs: 14.Alex RUFER (omitted), 23.Matthew RIDENTON (omitted), 31.Andrew BLAKE (omitted)
Unavailable: 16.Louis FENTON (dislocated collar bone – 6-8 weeks)
TV Broadcast: Live and exclusive coverage on FOX SPORTS 505 (FOX SPORTS 4HD & 4) from 4.30pm (AEDT) and Sky Sport 2 (New Zealand)
Radio Broadcast: ABC Grandstand Online/ABC Radio Mobile phone app. 720 ABC Perth and Local Radio WA to join at 7:30pm AWST
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