Sydney FC will be looking to continue their preseason progress when they face the National Premier League’s Sorrento FC on Wednesday night at NIB Stadium in an FFA Cup Round of 32 clash.
The Sky Blues were last in action against the Macarthur Rams, plundering five goals to the Rams’ one in an open, friendly encounter at Campbelltown Stadium. Meanwhile, Sorrento FC sit in fourth place on the PS4 NPL Western Australia competition ladder, most recently suffering a 2-0 defeat to Perth SC which ended a 10-game unbeaten run.
Key Battle – Sean Canham vs. Matthew Jurman
Jamie Harnwell’s men will be looking to sit deep and absorb a constant wave of Sydney FC pressure. However, in former Notts County striker Sean Canham they do posses some threat. At an intimidating 188 centimetres, the 30-year-old has scored on six occasions in the NPLWA to top the side’s goalscoring charts and will be looking to help his side claim its biggest ever scalp against Sydney.
The man likely to be tasked with masking Canham’s aerial threat is Matthew Jurman. The former Brisbane Roar man spent the first half of last season on the injury lists but regained his fitness to help Sydney storm home. At 190 centimetres he more than measures up to the physical threat of Canham and manager Graham Arnold will be stressing the need for complete concentration during set pieces.
Team News
Sydney FC will be without their major foreign stars including the recently re-signed Milos Dimitrejivic so a youthful side is anticipated. New defensive signings Riley Woodcock and Zac Anderson are expected to take some part in the match with the pacy Christopher Naumoff looking to get back-to-back goals after he scored in Sydney’s 5-1 win over Macarthur.
Sydney FC Expected XI (4-2-3-1): Janjetovic (GK); Woodcock, Jurman, Ryall, Gersbach; Antonis, Grant; Naumoff, Hoole, Stambolziev; Smeltz.
For Sorrento, it will be a defensive approach as they look to catch Sydney out on the counter-attack. Canham will play a pivotal role in bringing his side into the match and is likely to be paired with the brother of the coach, Todd Harnwell.
Sorrento Expected XI (4-5-1): Morgan (GK); Pearson, Platten, Hall, Kilkelly; Eades, Morgan, Bulloch, Salter, Harnwell; Canham.
Head-to-head
Nil, this is the first ever time these two clubs have met.
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Prediction
This match is a good opportunity for Sydney to start some of the younger players and see exactly where they are at in their preseason but the result is still paramount. While an upset is perhaps more likely than one would think, they will be too strong.
Sydney FC 3 Sorrento FC 0
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