Central Coast Mariners will travel to Brisbane tomorrow for the Club’s Westfield FFA Cup Round of 16 encounter with Olympic FC at the Queensland Sports and Athletic Centre.
The Mariners booked their place in the last 16 of the competition following a 1-0 win over South Coast Wolves last month, while 2013 NPL QLD Champions Olympic FC sealed their second home match of the tournament after a 3-1 victory against Melbourne Knights in July.
Let’s take a closer look at our opponents on Tuesday!
Olympic FC – The Club
Established as Pan Rhodian FC in 1967 and commencing play at Kangaroo Point’s Raymond Park, the Club adopted its Olympic moniker the following year after joining the Queensland Soccer Federation. Olympic rapidly climbed Brisbane’s football system to win promotion to the top tier in 1979, by which time the Club had moved to Dutton Park.
After St George folded in 1982, Olympic made a final switch to its current home at Goodwin Park and celebrated by winning the 1983 Premier League Grand Final in a 3-2 victory over the then-Brisbane Lions – a first piece of major silverware. The 1990s and early 2000s spelled a 17-year low spent in Brisbane’s second division until promotion to the Brisbane Premier League was finally achieved in 2007.
Two seasons in the Queensland State League preceded Olympic FC’s crowning moment in 2013 as the inaugural NPL Queensland regular season title was claimed by eight points and the Grand Final dramatically won on penalties against rivals Brisbane City at Goodwin Park.
Olympic FC finished the 2014 NPL QLD regular season in third spot and played Palm Beach Sharks in their second straight Grand Final last Friday. They lost the Grand Final 3-2.
Olympic FC – The Coach
Jim Bellas, 49, took over as Head Coach of Olympic FC in 2009 after spending time as an Assistant Coach to Bobby Hamilton two years earlier – when the side won promotion to the Brisbane Premier League.
The former Olympic FC player who trialled in Greece during his playing career helped the Club seal the double in the inaugural season of the NPL Queensland, claiming the league by eight points and Grand Final against Brisbane City.
Olympic FC – The Players to Watch
18. Jacob McLean – Midfielder
The yellow and navy will have to keep a close eye on young midfielder Jake McLean on Tuesday evening. McLean scored his Club’s first ever goal in the Westfield FFA Cup early on in their clash against Melbourne Knights, before netting a second on the 25-minute mark.
6. Matt Mundy – Defender
Defender Matt Mundy spent four seasons from 2009 to 2012 in Australia’s top flight with Brisbane Roar. The 27-year-old made 29 appearances for the three-time Hyundai A-League Champions. Mundy joined Olympic FC from Rochedale Rovers in 2013.
9. Tim Smits – Forward
Tim Smits, 28, also plied his trade with Brisbane Roar for Hyundai A-League season four and five. Smits linked with Jim Bellas’ side last year and has made 24 competitive appearances and found the net on 27 occasions.
Westfield FFA Cup Squad: 1. Brandon Cuminao (Gk), 2. Joseph Field, 3. James Cuminao, 4. Matthew Byrne, 5. Kazuya Ito, 6. Matthew Mundy, 7. Daniel Crack, 8. Dylan Wenzell Halls, 9. Tim Smits, 10. Daniel Byrne, 11. Reuben Way, 12. Sanjeev Henny, 13. Darren Gray, 14. Terry Hughes, 15. Mark Fisk, 16. Mustafa Jafari, 17. Luke Howell, 18. Jacob McLean, 19. Nicholas Efstathis, 20. Shannon Lancini (Gk), 23. Matthew Lugo (Gk), 24. Ryan Meskell (Gk)
Westfield FFA Cup 2014 – Olympic FC vs. Central Coast Mariners
Tuesday 16 September, 2014
Queensland Sports and Athletics Centre in Nathan, Queensland
Kick-off: 7:30pm
Twitter: Join the match conversation using #OLYvCCM
