Hellas out to turn tables
SOUTH Melbourne have included a significant number of players from their losing 2015 side in the squad for a FFA Cup quarter-final against Gold Coast City.
Coach Chris Taylor confirmed the Hellas had named nine players to head to Cbus Super Stadium for their Cup quarter-final tie against City tomorrow night in a rematch of the 2015 round-of-32 clash.
That match was won by City, who were then known as Palm Beach Sharks.
The Sharks triumphed 8-7 in a penalty shootout after the scores were locked 1-1 at the end of extra time.
Taylor, a former player with Sunshine George Cross in the old National Soccer League, was in charge of South Melbourne that night and knows what to expect.
“It was one of those games where they (Palm Beach) obviously got their game plan right and we were a little bit off on the night,” Taylor said.
Palm Beach went on to play Western Sydney Wanderers in a quarter-final, which they lost to the A-League club 2-0, also at Cbus Super Stadium.
Those returning for a second Cup tie on the Coast with
South Melbourne are leading goalscorer Milos Lugic, Nick Epifano, Leigh Minopoulos, Tim Mala, Nikola Roganovic, Michael Eagar, Andy Kecojevic, Luke Adams and Bradley Norton.
“We have a couple of niggles but we’ll know more after we train on Monday night,” Taylor said.
Eagar was the player who missed with South Melbourne’s eighth penalty in the shootout.
City, meanwhile, also have a number of players returning for the rematch. They are Eoghan Murphy, Martin Vazquez, Roman Hofmann and Nik Mirkovic.
“We had Jarrod Kyle and Justin McKay in our squad that year but they missed
because of injury and suspension,” City coach Grae Piddick said. “As well, Ethan Grimley was in the squad but didn’t get on to the ground. They’ll are right for this one.”
Taylor said the Hellas had done their homework on City and knew what to expect from the Coast club, who will be underdogs against one of the most powerful non A-League clubs in the land.
In the club’s heyday, South Melbourne won four national competition titles.
“We have done a lot of analysis on them and we know they are going to be tough opposition,” Taylor said.
“We have been keeping an eye on them and we’re well aware of their strengths and capabilities.”