Central Coast Mariners striker Sasho Petrovski will be looking to get off the mark for season four when the Mariners run out onto Bluetongue Stadium for the first time this season on Saturday night.
Central Coast Mariners striker Sasho Petrovski will be looking to get off the mark for season four when the Mariners run out onto Bluetongue Stadium for the first time this season on Saturday night.
The Mariners- leading marksman in 2007/08 has been in sound pre-season form for the yellow and navy and again looked dangerous in a lone strikers role at Newcastle-s EnergyAustralia Stadium in the Mariners- Hyundai A-League 2008/09 opener last Friday.
Having scored the Mariners- second goal in their 3-0 triumph over Sydney FC in Round 2 of the 2008 Pre-Season Cup one month ago, Petrovski is again looking to slot one past his former employers on Saturday.
Petrovski currently sits fourth in the Mariners- all-time top goal scorers chart for both Hyundai A-League fixtures and also all competitive matches, having found the back of the net eight times for the Mariners in the Hyundai A-League and ten times in all matches.
Should Petrovski get off the mark for season four on Saturday, he will not only move up one place in the Mariners- aforementioned goal scoring chart, but will also write his name into the history books with what would be another priceless derby strike.
“Everybody is looking forward to it, hopefully there is going to be a massive crowd and hopefully we get a good result out of it,” said Petrovski.
“Bluetongue Stadium and the pitch there is looking great at the moment, it-s one of the best settings in the Hyundai A-League and that will help us with the way we like to play.”
Petrovski is in line to face his former club, Sydney FC, on Saturday night.
Petrovski joined Sydney FC as a foundation squad member in 2005 and contributed to two seasons with the Mariners- southern rivals before swapping sky blue for yellow and navy.
Petrovski claimed Sydney FC-s Golden Boot prize in both 2005/06 and 2006/07 before emulating those feats by taking out the Mariners equivalent in 2007/08.
Of the 22 goals Petrovski has scored in the Hyundai A-League, which ranks the Qantas Socceroo equal second in the all time Hyundai A-League goal scoring charts, 14 were scored while with Sydney FC.
Petrovski has a penchant for scoring goals in matches between the Mariners and Sydney FC, having slotted a hat trick past the Mariners while playing for Sydney FC in 2005/06 before netting the match winner for the Mariners against Sydney in the opening round of season three.
“The team knows how much it means to me to play against my former club and I think they all want me to do well and it-s the support that I get on the day that makes the difference,” said Petrovski.
“Last week was a good result, I think if somebody offered us a draw before the game, we would have taken it, but because we snatched a goal late in the game and to then lose two points was hard to swallow.
“We-ve got a big job to do this week against Sydney FC, they-re going to have players back and it-s going to be tough to get a result against them.
“We-ve just got to work hard at training this week, sort out the little problems that went wrong against Newcastle and hopefully everything works out against Sydney.”
The Mariners- Hyundai A-League 2008/09 campaign continues at their Bluetongue Stadium home this Saturday, 23 August, when they host southern rivals Sydney FC. Kick off is at 7pm.
Tickets for this match are on sale now from all Ticketek outlets, from the Ticketek website – www.ticketek.com.au, or via phone on 132 849.
Mariners Memberships for the Hyundai A-League 2008/09 season are now on sale at www.ccmariners.com.au.
