The clash
Two teams desperate for three points will go head to head on Friday night as City take on Perth Glory in Round 8 A-League action.
The hosts were off-colour last week, going down to Brisbane Roar in a clash where three mistakes ultimately cost Warren Joyce’s side. In the balance of play, City showed enough to suggest it could have been another result on another night as they look to bounce back this week.
The Glory on the other hand are coming off a 2-0 home loss to Melbourne Victory and have lost three of their past four matches, conceding nine goals in the past month.
Kenny Lowe’s side will head to AAMI Park with confidence, knowing their record against City in the past 12 months has been one of the best in the league but will be missing some of their biggest stars.
24 goals in the past five encounters between the sides suggests there will be plenty of action in this one but with so much on the line, it may be tighter than history suggests.
Team News
City have added firepower to their squad this week with the inclusions of Ross McCormack and Tim Cahill. See our full Team News.
Last time they met
Elimination Final 2017 was the last time the sides went head to head and it was a dark night for City as their 2016/17 campaign came to an end.
After an enthralling 5-4 encounter the week before at nib Stadium, City returned home in week one of the finals to take on the Perth and the 2-0 loss was far from the result the hosts wanted.
Goals from Diego Castro and Joel Chianese secured the result for the Glory as they were eliminated the week after by eventual Champions Sydney FC.
What was said
City forward Nick Fitzgerald
“Last year [against Perth] was disappointing for us but it’s a long time to rectify that from last year,” he said.
“For us, we’re concentrating on this year and last week we were disappointed with the way we conceded goals but you couldn’t question our fight, we tried hard to get back in the game and I think we could have gone on to win it as well.
“We know we can be a lot better, we’re playing some decent football so we need to do that with results.”
Perth Glory Head Coach Kenny Lowe
“We’re looking to see who’s going to step up and be a Castro, be a Taggart, [who are both out of the squad]” Lowe said.
“You never know, the young 16-year-old might come up and bang a brace in and keep them all out of the team for the rest of the season.”
Where and when
City take on Perth this Friday night at AAMI Park, kick-off 7.50 pm. Get your tickets for the match below.
