Wanderers continue their successful season as they host a Hyundai A-League semi-final for the second-successive year.
NRMA Insurance Western Sydney Wanderers continue their successful season as they host a Hyundai A-League semi-final for the second-successive year.
Memories of the Red and Black-s magical 2-0 victory over Brisbane Roar in last season-s penultimate match remain one of the highlights of the Club-s two-year history and fans will be highly anticipating a similar performance this Saturday when Grand Final foes Central Coast Mariners visit Pirtek Stadium.
Coming off a 5-0 win against Guizhou Renhe in the AFC Champions League, the biggest win for any Australian club in the ACL, as well as a thrilling comeback against Melbourne Heart, confidence could not be higher for the Wanderers who enter this match in their best form of the season.
Head Coach Tony Popovic will have a full strength side to choose from for this do-or-die battle while the Mariners will have to contend with a midweek trip to Japan for their own Champions League fixture.
This season has seen one win, one loss and one draw between the two clubs though the Wanderers hold the advantage at Pirtek Stadium, winning the only fixture played there this campaign.
Tomi Juric scored two goals in those three matches while at the other end of the park Ante Covic leads the league in clean sheets being between the sticks with nine of the Wanderers ten shut outs in 2013/14 season.
This match is a continuation of a highly competitive rivalry borne between these two sides.
Beginning when they faced each other in the Wanderers first ever match, the rivalry took hold when the Red and Black won the battle to claim the Premiers Plate and grew even more when the Mariners denied the first year club a perfect season by taking out the Grand Final.
While history is never an indication of the upcoming result the rivalry and passion will ensure that this semi-final is not to be missed and with a full house expected the atmosphere will be electric, helping to push the team to their second grand final in a row.
Kick-off between Western Sydney Wanderers and Central Coast Mariners is at 6:30pm at Pirtek Stadium with live coverage on Fox Sports 3 and an hour delayed on SBS2 or you can be there in person with tickets still available in the Premier’s Lounge.
Image Credit: George Suresh
