A-League – Match Preview – Perth Glory vs Sydney FC

A-League – Match Preview – Perth Glory vs Sydney FC

0
SHARE

It’s a case of second-top vs second-bottom, as Sydney travel to Western Australia to tackle Perth Glory.

Around the 65-minute mark of the Big Blue last weekend, the Sky Blues would have been feeling confident. In the process of suffocating the Victory, they had the majority of possession time and time again and came closest to taking the lead. But their inability to convert their dominance into goals proved telling, as a Kosta Barbarouses goal on the counter, followed by a Besart Berisha strike in stoppage time, consigned Sydney to their first loss of the year.

Despite the result, they will travel to Perth full of confidence, and with good reason too. Perth have dropped their last two league games, as well as the FFA Cup final loss to Melbourne. Back in front of their home fans for the first time since their win over Adelaide (to date, their only league win this season), they will be looking to accomplish a feat no other team has managed so far this season: defeat Sydney outside of Allianz Stadium.

Key Battle – Josh Risdon vs Alex Gersbach

Two of the best young Australian full-backs in the league go head-to-head, with both in great form. Risdon missed the loss to Brisbane, but only because Ange Postecoglou picked him for the Socceroos squad. After a consistent, strong last four years at Perth, Risdon deservedly made his debut against Bangladesh and showed his attacking mentality, getting forward as often as possible. His return is a welcome boost for Perth and although Aryn Williams enjoyed a solid game standing in for him defensively against the Roar, they missed his constant forays forward.

He will line up on the same side as Gersbach, who was the best player on the pitch when Sydney tackled Victory last week. Despite being on the losing side, the 18-year-old was brilliant, with his bursts forward from left-back always worrying the Victory. If he has the opportunity, he will happily take the game to Risdon, and vice-versa. Both full-backs are such a key part of their team’s attacks, which means it is imperative the respective wide midfielders (most likely Richie Garcia and Milos Ninkovic) offer cover whenever possible.

Team News

Hungarian ace Gyorgy Sandor returned to training after a missing the past three games through injury, however it is unlikely he will start. Elsewhere, the defence will be happy to welcome back Risdon from international duty, although there are still question marks over the fitness of Dino Djulbic.

Perth Glory Expected XI (4-3-3): Covic (GK); Risdon, Golec, Thwaite, Warren; Ferreira, Gligor, Ferreira; Garcia, Sidnei, Sandor.

The Sky Blues will likely retain the same side that lost its first game of the season to Melbourne. Despite calls from fans for Matt Simon to start in place of Shane Smletz, expect the ex-Mariners striker to remain an impact sub.

Sydney FC Expected XI (4-4-2): Janjetovic (GK); Grant, Jurman, Faty, Gersbach; Holosko, Tavares, Dimitrijevic, Ninkovic; Smeltz, Brosque.

Head-to-Head

Sydney are comfortably ahead in the head-to-head column, boasting a 50% win record from 30 meetings between the two sides. They also hold a strong record at nib Stadium, winning seven and drawing five from 16 encounters.

Previous meeting

The last clash between the teams came in the shadows of the darkest day in Perth’s history. Hours after the FFA announced they would be disqualified from the finals race for breaching the salary cap, a despondent Glory outfit were well and truly beaten by a rampant Sydney side. An Alex Brosque brace, either side of a Bernie Ibini wonder goal, saw the Sky Blues home as easy winners.

Prediction

Sydney have been one of the best teams in the league all year. Last week’s loss will sting, and it could be Glory on the receiving end of the backlash. After dominating last week and still walking away empty-handed, Graham Arnold will be emphasising to his troops back-to-back losses is not an option.

Perth are coming off some dispiriting performances and fans are hoping, neigh, in need of some sort of reaction. After three sub-par performances in a row, Perth are due a good result; whether it comes this week is another question entirely. Given Sydney’s strong start to the season, and Perth’s poor one, it would be a brave man who bets against the visitors.

Perth Glory 0 Sydney FC 2

What are your thoughts? Let us know by dropping a comment below via our Facebook comment box. Make sure you follow us on Twitter @Outside90 and like us on Facebook.