Sydney FC finalised preparations for their historic home match against Perth Glory at Parramatta Stadium with a high tempo hit-out at the Western Sydney venue this morning.
Sydney FC finalised preparations for their historic home match against Perth Glory at Parramatta Stadium with a high tempo hit-out at the Western Sydney venue this morning.
While the Sky Blues have played at Parramatta Stadium before, including a 2007 Asian Champions League victory over Indonesian club Persik Kediri, it will be the first Hyundai A-League match the club has hosted at the venue.
A number of Sky Blues players, such as captain Steve Corica, defender Simon Colosimo, goalkeeper Clint Bolton and midfielder Terry McFlynn have all played at the Stadium and are primed for the crucial round 26 clash.
“It-s been really positive this week,” McFlynn said after this morning-s session. “Second last game of the season, everything-s still to play for. I-m sure we-ll get a big crowd.”
“I-ve spoken to a few supporters that are all making the journey and they-re really looking forward to it. If we get the Cove at one end making loads of noise, I-m sure you-ll hear it from miles around Parramatta.
“Obviously it was a disappointing result for us last week, so much possession, being the dominant team but not to get the result. We put that behind us now and we-re looking forward to Sunday-s game.
“We showed last week that we dominated the game, the only thing that was missing was the goals. So we-ll approach it in the normal manner we have, the intensity-s been the same, the focus has been the same.”
It will be the first time the sides have meet outside Perth this season.
The Glory claimed a 2-0 home win back in late November at Subiaco Oval before the sides played out a 0-0 draw at Members Equity Stadium on 20 January 2010.
“For the boys who-ve been at the club now for a few years, we used to train at Parramatta Stadium,” McFlynn said.
“So for the majority of us it-s a familiar surrounding and for the new boys I know they-re really looking forward to playing Parramatta Stadium.
“The fans are very close to the action here and I-m sure with the Cove there, making loads of noise, getting right behind the boys, it is going to be special.”
Perth will be without captain Jacob Burns, goalkeeper Tando Velaphi and midfielders Mile Sterjovski, Adriano Pellegrino and Viktor Sikora, all who have been ruled out because of injury.
“The game on the weekend is an important for our league standings. It-s important for us to win.”
Sydney FC will again be without striker Mark Bridge and defender Sebastian Ryall through toe and knee injuries respectively.
Overall, the ledger stands at four wins a piece between the two sides with six draws from 14 meetings.
Sydney still boasts the best defence in the league, conceding just 20 goals to the Perth-s 30 while the Glory have found the back of the net 31 times to the Sky Blues 30.
Sydney FC squad: 1.Clint BOLTON (gk), 3.Stephan KELLER, 4.Simon COLOSIMO, 6.Karol KISEL, 7.Brendan GAN, 8.Stuart MUSIALIK, 9.John ALOISI, 10.Steve CORICA (c), 12.Shannon COLE, 14.Alex BROSQUE, 15.Terry MCFLYNN, 16.Chris PAYNE, 20.Ivan NECEVSKI (gk), 22.Sung-Hwan BYUN, 23. Rhyan GRANT, 26 Hayden FOXE
*one to be omitted*
In: Nil
Out: Mark BRIDGE (Toe – 3 weeks)
Unavailable: Kofi DANNING (knee – season), Matthew JURMAN (foot – season), Sebastian RYALL (knee – 2 weeks)
