#ALeagueFinals Western Sydney v Central Coast
Hyundai A-League Semi Final
Pirtek Stadium, Parramatta
6:30pm, Saturday 26th April, 2014
#ALeagueFinals
The grand final rematch, but strictly in name only.
The ACL performances are probably a true reflection of where each club currently stands. The Wanderers are starting to hit top form, and will be bound full of confidence after the 5-0 win midweek. Without taking anything away from the Mariners, their fans have endured some dour matches over the last few weeks, but cannot complain with yet another semi final appearance, especially with the changes that have affected the club both on and off the field. The squad return to Australia some time Friday, for a Saturday kick off; something the club has voiced strong dissatisfaction from.
Yes it’s very harsh on the Central Coast team, but their focus must be fully on the 90 minutes on Saturday night now, after the FFA refused to make any fixture amendments. The mental strength of the Mariners is strength of the club and they will need any advantage they can up against a well drilled Popovic outfit.
Western Sydney should come out firing in front of the phenomenal support they receive, some supporters are quick to knock the RBB, but they are truly the 12th man, especially when playing at ‘Wanderland’. The crowd will play a large part in the match, and a large contingent will travel down from the Central Coast. Away tickets were quickly snapped up by those who sing for Yellow and the atmosphere will be electric come Saturday night. The Mariners won’t give up their ‘Champions’ title without a fight, and I expect the match to be one of the most hotly contested of the season.
Shinji Ono should lead the Wanderers charge, setting an attacking agenda from the first whistle. Although still unsure of how the team will line up we have seen this season the Wanderers don’t have a ‘Best XI’, they have a large squad full of talent and hunger. After the squad fell at the final hurdle last season this will burn deep, and should provide adequate motivation for the squad. The Wanderers may have lost their ‘glamour’ tag to Adelaide this season, but they have managed to grind out results consistently without playing their best football.
Most would say last season was better to watch from an attractive football point of view, but the team have mastered the art of getting results at the right time of the season. One only has to remember being 2-1 in the Kewell farewell match, the team dug deep and found the result that catapulted them to second place, and a week off.
On the flip side of the coin Phil Moss has his team playing winning football, without the pizzazz. The Mariners were very impressive against Brisbane, and people are very quick to write the team off. The Mariners have won four of their last five matches, and only missed second spot on goal difference. The renovation job Moss has completed on the Central Coast would even have Scotty Cam envious. A well disciplined defence mixed with potent attacking options give the Mariners every opportunity to progress to yet another A-League grand final.
The Season so far…
Round One – Central Coast 1 (Duke) drew with Western Sydney 1 (Juric)
Round Eleven – Western Sydney 2 (Juric, Hersi) defeated Central Coast 0
Round Twenty Five – Central Coast 2 (Rose, Ibini) defeated Western Sydney 0
Last time they met in a final
2012/13 Grand Final – Central Coast 2 (Zwaanswijk, McBreen) defeated Western Sydney 0
Head to Head
Played: 7 Central Coast: 3 Drawn: 2 Western Sydney: 2
Western Sydney Wanderers squad: 1.Ante COVIC (GK), 2.Shannon COLE, 3.Adam D’APUZZO, 4.Nikolai TOPOR-STANLEY, 6.Jerome POLENZ, 7.Labinot HALITI, 8.Mateo POLJAK, 9.Tomi JURIC, 10.Aaron MOOY, 11.Brendon SANTALAB, 13.Matthew SPIRANOVIC, 14.Kwabena APPIAH, 17.Youssouf HERSI, 18.Iacopo LA ROCCA, 19.Mark BRIDGE, 20.Jerrad TYSON (GK), 21.Shinji ONO, 22. Dean HEFFERNAN **Two to be omitted**
Ins: 17.Youssouf HERSI, 22. Dean HEFFERNAN (both promoted)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 12.Tahj MINNIECON (hip – indefinite), 34.Golgol MEBRAHTU (knee – indefinite)
Central Coast Mariners Squad: 1. Justin PASFIELD (Gk), 3. Josh ROSE, 5. Zac ANDERSON, 6. Brent GRIFFITHS, 7. John HUTCHINSON (C), 8. Nick MONTGOMERY, 9. Mitchell DUKE, 11. Nick FITZGERALD, 12. Liam REDDY (Gk), Storm ROUX, 17. Anthony CACERES, 19. Matt SIMON, 20. Bernie IBINI, 21. Mile STERJOVSKI, 25. Eddy BOSNAR, 26. KIM Seung-yong, 27. Isaka CERNAK, 28. Glen TRIFIRO, 29. Matt SIM *three to be omitted*
Ins: 6. Brent GRIFFITHS, 27. Isaka CERNAK, 29. Matt SIM (all promoted)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 4. Marcel SEIP (knee – 1 week),10. Marcos FLORES (knee – season), 14. Michael MCGLINCHEY (on loan – Vegalta Sendai), 18. Michael NEILL (knee – season), 23. Adam KWASNIK (knee – season)
Eyes on…
Tony Popovic, no he’s not playing but he is going to have a say in what happens on Saturday night. His tactical substitutions changed the game against the Heart and he is managing his teams schedule to perfection. The Wanderers are 90 minutes away from back to back ACL campaigns and their current campaign has reached the knockout stages. Popovic may not say much, but when he does people listen. Popovic will make at least one game turning decision.
Tommy Juric scored in the first two encounters against the Mariners; no one found the scoresheet in the third match. When you watch Juric play you get the impression his natural talent will explode and he will turn the match in five lethal minutes. Finals time may just be that time.
The return of Bernie Ibini has been a vital part of the form revival for the Mariners. Three goals in five matches is pretty good going, but when you consider all three goals were the game deciding goals that stat becomes even more impressive. Ibini provides the spark that runs the Mariners machine and he has the ability to motivate his teammates around him.
Prediction – On paper the match appears a mismatch, the Wanderers have a far superior squad to the Mariners, and the travel schedule for Central Coast has been horrendous this week. Anyone would be a fool to count the Mariners out this week, but I’m prepared to wear the ‘fool’ tag if proven wrong. Western Sydney will be far too strong. I have ran out of superlatives this season for the Mariners, but sadly for their fans the Mariners express stops at this station this Saturday. Western Sydney 3-0
FTSAUS Facts
5 – The maximum number of Mariners that could be in the starting XI of both last season’s grand final, and this Saturday’s semi final. Dino Kresinger is the only player from the Wanderers XI not in the squad.
25 – Both clubs used 25 players throughout the A-League season, Sydney used 30.
50 – Shinji Ono will make his 50th A-League appearance (and possibly final) if he plays on Saturday night.
