Superheroes will collide this weekend, for an epic encounter set between the Central Coast Mariners and Perth Glory on #SuperheroSunday at Central Coast Stadium. Both sides will enter the clash hungry for a win, with each team coming off defeats in their previous fixtures.
Despite the exciting prospect of having a kick on the Central Coast Stadium pitch at full time and the chance to don your superhero attire, let’s take a look at the match up between Perth Glory and Central Coast Mariners. To find out more about #SuperheroSunday & having a kick on the pitch at full time click here.
#SuperheroSunday will be the Mariners third game under interim Head Coach Tony Walmsley and despite last Thursday’s 2-1 loss to Adelaide, there were plenty of bright signs as they niggled the Reds with a high defensive line and dominated the opening stages.
Perth are backing up from a 2-1 loss to Wellington Phoenix and have looked shaky in 2015 after a high flying start to the season. Glory’s only win of the calendar year came on January 2 and they have slipped from first to fourth on the table, with three losses and five draws in their last eight fixtures.
The yellow and navy at Central Coast stadium have been somewhat of a kryptonite for Perth Glory who will be up against the best part of history come #SuperheroSunday.
Despite Perth’s 1-0 win at Central Coast Stadium last November, the Glory have otherwise been conquered at Central Coast Stadium with 12 losses and two draws in their 14 Hyundai A-League encounters at Gosford’s idyllic bayside arena.
History counts for little in football and the purple whites will arrive on the Central Coast as red hot favourites who are chasing a top two finish in what is a tightly contested top five.
While they have only kept three clean sheets for the season as opposed to the Mariners six; the Glory defence has also only conceded nine goals on the road in 2014/15 – fewer than any other side in the competition.
Fabio Ferriera has been a superhero addition to the Mariners, making like The Flash and using his speed and silkiness down the right side to continually find space and trouble defenders. Add that to a handy three goals in five matches and Perth will have good reason to keep their eyes on the dangerous midfielder.
Anthony Caceres will also be one to watch for the Mariners, his ability to apply forward pressure paid dividends last Thursday, when he forced an Adelaide turnover and scorched the ball into the back of the net.
A subplot to #SuperheroSunday is the neck and neck race between Perth Glory’s Danny Vukovic and Mariners’ skipper John Hutchinson who both sit on the all time Hyundai A-League appearances record and will walk out together this weekend for the 223rd time in the competition.
The last time the two sides met in December the Mariners went down 4-1 in Perth, Matt Simon’s 49th minute goal was the only consolation for the Central Coast on a dismal night in the west.
However four months is a long time in football and since then, Tony Walmsley has injected a new lease of life and belief into his playing squad and the Mariners will enter the clash brimming with confidence in securing their fifth win of the season and keep their slim finals chance in tact.
Sunday March 22, 2015
Match: Central Coast Mariners vs. Perth Glory – Hyundai A-League 2014/15 Round 22
Venue: Central Coast Stadium, Gosford
Kick-off: 3:00pm
Television: Live on FOX SPORTS 505
Tickets: Click here to purchase tickets
Radio: Live on 96.3 Coast FM & ABC Grandstand
Twitter: Join the match conversation using #CCMvPER #CCMFC
Dress code: STRICTLY SUPERHERO
