The Clash
Melbourne City FC will be looking to keep their cup run alive when they host Western Sydney Wanderers in the FFA Cup Quarter Finals at AAMI Park.
Warren Joyce’s men will face their third consecutive Hyundai A-League team having drawn both Brisbane Roar and Newcastle Jets in the two rounds prior.
In the lead up to their Quarter Final clash against the Wanderers, City defeated Newcastle 1-0 at AAMI Park.
For the second consecutive round of the competition Bruno Fornaroli proved to be the difference, scoring a brilliant curling effort from the edge of the box in the 54th minute.
Having defeated the Jets, City now face Western Sydney in another blockbuster mid-week fixture at AAMI Park.
City will be the first A-League opponent that the Wanderers face having defeated both Hellenic AC and Bonnyrigg White Eagles – two matches that proved to be a challenge for the A-League side.
Markus Babbel’s side first travelled to Darwin Football Stadium where they edged out Hellenic AC 4-3, thanks to an injury-time strike from Roly Bonevacia, before Brendan Hamill’s 74th minute strike secured a 2-1 win over Bonnyrigg.
With two A-League sides set to do battle for a place in the last four, Wednesday night’s clash is set to be a thriller.
Last time they met
The last time the two teams met was back in March of this year when City defeated Western Sydney 3-0 at AAMI Park in Round 24 of the 2017-18 Hyundai A-League season.
Bruno Fornaroli gave City a 1-0 lead at the break, before Michael Jakobsen and Stefan Mauk secured the three points in the second-half.
What was said
Melbourne City defender Ritchie De Laet
Yeah, I’m ready. I’m just about over the jet lag now so, I’ll get a good session in me today and whatever the gaffa? Decides to do tomorrow then, but yeah I’m ready.
Western Sydney Wanderers Head Coach Markus Babbel
“We are looking forward to a big game, a cup game — we try to reach the next stage (of the cup),” Babbel said. “If we play like we did on Friday against the Central Coast then it will be very difficult to beat (City). If we play our style like we can, then we have a good chance.”
Where and when
City will host Western Sydney Wanderers in the FFA Cup Quarter Finals on Wednesday, 19 September at AAMI Park, kick-off 7:30pm (AEDT).
