Sydney FC are set for their third home game of the Hyundai A-League 2016/17 season as they face Perth Glory at Allianz Stadium following Westfield W-League proceedings in a family fun day double header.
The Sky Blues hold a favourable record over Perth, with the last encounter between the two sides at Allianz Stadium ending 4-0 in favour of Sydney FC.
In the overall head to head between the two sides, Sydney FC boast 16 wins from 33 matches, while Perth have eight, with nine occasions seeing the points shared.
Most recently the two sides met in the Westfield FFA Cup Round of 16, and it was again the Sky Blues who prevailed, 2-0 after extra time against the hosts in August.
Head Coach Graham Arnold praised the fitness and character of his squad in the lead up to the clash, and said he’s expecting those factors to guide the Sky Blues to their sixth consecutive win in the Hyundai A-League 2016/17 season.
Perth travel to Allianz Stadium following an entertaining draw against the Wanderers that ended 2-2, with both sides scoring within the first five minutes before second half goals to both sides sealed the stalemate.
The West Australians currently sit fourth on the table on eight points, but have the current second highest goalscorer in the league, Andy Keogh, leading the line of an impressive attacking trio.
Catch the both matches of the Sky Blues Westfield W-League and Hyundai A-League double header live on Fox Sports on Sunday (WWL kick off 2:30pm, HAL kick off 5pm) or follow @SydneyFC on Twitter for updates.
History:
Results between the two sides over the course of the 12 seasons have always been narrow however, there have been standout wins and high scoring stalemates for both sides.
A 3-3 draw in 2007, which saw the Sky Blues battle back from 3-1 down courtesy of late goals to Patrick and Alex Brosque preceded a large win for both sides.
The Glory claimed the next encounter 4-2 in December 2007, before the Sky Blues returned the favour with a 5-2 win in August 2008 with Alex Brosque and Steve Corica amongst the goalscorers.
In the past two seasons it’s the Sky Blues who just edge Perth, with three wins compared to Perth’s two and one draw between the sides.
Stats:
There have been four clean sheets kept in the last four encounters between the two sides, three if which were kept by Sydney FC.
Six of the last seven times Sydney FC have hosted Perth Glory the match has ended in a 2-1 win. Four times for Sydney FC and twice for Perth.
Perth have scored seven of their 11 goals so far this season in the opening 15 minutes of each half, three more than any other team in the competition.
Squads:
Head Coach Graham Arnold has again named an unchanged squad for Sunday’s clash, while Perth have notable absentees in Josh Risdon, who’s away with the Socceroos, and Adam Taggart who misses out with a calf complaint.
Sydney FC squad: 1.Vedran JANJETOVIC (gk), 4.Alex WILKINSON, 5.Matt JURMAN, 6.Joshua BRILLANTE, 7.Michael ZULLO, 8.Milos DIMITRIJEVIC, 9.Bobô, 10.Milos NINKOVIC, 11.Bernie IBINI, 13.Brandon O’NEILL, 14.Alex BROSQUE (c), 17.David CARNEY, 18.Matt SIMON, 19. George BLACKWOOD, 20.Danny VUKOVIC (gk), 21.Filip HOLOSKO, 22.Sebastian RYALL, 23.Rhyan GRANT
**two to be omitted**
Ins: 11.Bernie IBINI (promoted), 19. George BLACKWOOD (promoted)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: Nil
Perth Glory squad: 2.Alex GRANT, 3.Marc WARREN, 4.Shane LOWRY, 5.Rhys WILLIAMS, 6.Dino DJULBIC, 7.Joel CHIANESE, 8.Rostyn GRIFFITHS (c), 9.Andy KEOGH, 10.Nebojsa MARINKOVIC, 13.Nicholas FEELY (gk), 14.Chris HAROLD, 16.Joe MILLS, 17.Diego CASTRO, 18.Mitch OXBORROW, 20.Aryn WILLIAMS, 23.Kosta PETRATOS, 24.Milan SMILJANIC, 33.Liam REDDY (gk)
Ins: 3.Marc WARREN (promoted), 4.Shane LOWRY (promoted), 18.Mitch OXBORROW (promoted), 20.Aryn WILLIAMS (promoted)
Outs: 15.Brandon WILSON (quad – 1 week), 19.Josh RISDON (international duty – 1 week)
Unavailable: 22.Adam TAGGART (calf – 1 week)
Sydney face Perth Glory on Sunday 13 November at Allianz Stadium (kick off 5pm) in a Hyundai A-League, Westfield W-League double header. Sydney FC’s W-League squad contest the #SydneyDerby at 2:30pm in what’s set to be a family fun day Sunday. Catch both matches live on Fox Sports or follow @SydneyFC on Twitter for updates.
Sydney FC Memberships are now on sale for the Hyundai A-League season 2016/17. Click here to become part of the Sky Blue Family.
