The Westfield FFA Cup Final 2016 is almost here! See the five things we are looking forward to ahead of one of the biggest matches in the Club’s history.
A trophy on the line
It’s a match unlike no other in our history. It’s a match where after 90 or 120 minutes, we have the chance to lift a trophy and etch our names into history.
Wednesday is going to be a massive occasion for not only the players on the field but the Club as a whole, especially for the fans in the stands. Win, lose or draw, the occasion will be massive regardless of the result but we think we have the slight edge coming into the contest.
Top of the table clash
It’s the first time the Westfield FFA Cup Final will be between the teams that sit first and second on the A-League ladder which only makes Wednesday’s battle even more mouth-watering.
Sydney are unbeaten this season and flying at the top of the latter but have showed chinks in their armour in the past fortnight with underwhelming results against Brisbane and Adelaide. Is Sydney’s start to the season getting stale? Maybe not, but this may be an opportune time for us to take their first scalp of the season.
Three point preparation
City on the other hand go into the contest unbeaten in their last three matches, collecting seven points from a possible nine and bridging the gap to four points at the top of the table.
Goals to Nick Fitzgerald and Bruno Fornaroli secured the result for John van’t Schip’s side on Sunday against Wellington, with City holding on for the result after dominating most of the proceedings at AAMI Park.
Both sides can talk about preparation as much as they like but when the opening whistle blows at AAMI Park on Wednesday, it all goes out the window as the battle commences.
The last time we met at AAMI…
Sydney’s last visit to AAMI Park saw a 3-0 drubbing at the hands of Bruno Fornaroli.
The hat-trick – his second for the Club – also made him the first player in the A-League to reach 20 goals in the regular season, marking one of the best performances in his history-making season with the Club.
Sydney have shored up their defence during the off-season, only conceding three goals so far this season, but Alex Wilkinson and Matt Jurman have not come up against the might of Bruno Fornaroli and we think our captain will love the challenge against the best rear guard in the league.
Home ground advantage
Although many have made much about Sydney’s extra day of recovery, we think the advantage of playing at home – especially after not travelling from an away match on Sunday – will far outweigh this recovery period.
Our record at AAMI Park is impressive to say the least. Over the past two and a bit seasons, we’ve won 19 games out of a possible 31, only losing six matches in that period.
Along with this, a record crowd is expected for Wednesday night’s contest and many of them will be City fans. If you haven’t got your tickets for the match, now’s the time to get them. Click here to secure your place at the match and don’t miss out on history this Wednesday night!
