A return to the FFA Cup semi-finals for the second time in club history is on the cards when the Mariners face Hume City F.C. on Tuesday night, and forward Tommy Oar believes the time is right if everyone plays their role.
Oar scored in the Mariners second pre-season game during the tour of Tasmania against South Hobart at Lightwood Park and says the experience was invaluable for the entire group.
“The trip was really good, obviously it was a chance for us to bond and get to know each other better,” he said.
“We’ve got a lot of new players this season so from that point of view it was very constructive, but also from a game point of view it’s great to get some match fitness under your belt.”
“I probably could’ve had a few more goals than one but it’s always pleasing to score a goal regardless.”
With attentions now firmly on Tuesday’s clash with Hume City at ABD Stadium, Oar knows the team can book their spot in the final four with a strong team performance.
“We know it will be a difficult game, they’ve reached this stage of the competition for a reason,” he said.
“We’ve analysed them and know what to expect coming in to this game but for us the focus is always on ourselves and we know that if we play to our capabilities that we can get a good result, so for us it’s just about performing on the day.”
Hume saw off Tigers FC in the Round of 32, before a convincing display against Adelaide Olympic saw them progress to the final eight and a date with the Mariners.
Match Details
Hume City FC (VIC) v Central Coast Mariners
ABD Stadium, Broadmeadows, VIC
Kick-Off: 7:30pm (local) (7:30pm (AEST))
Referee: Kurt Ams
Assistant Referee 1: Kearney Robinson
Assistant Referee 2: Andrew Meimarakis
Fourth Official: Lachlan Keevers
Find out how to watch the game here!
Hume City FC squad: 1.Michael WEIER (gk), 2.Mohammed ABBAS, 3.Ali KALKAN, 4.Paul WILSON, 5.Daniel DIXON, 6.Harry MONOGHAN, 8.James BROWN, 9.George HOWARD, 10.Steven HEWITT, 11.Theodore MARKELIS, 12.Mark OCHIENG, 13.Matthew LAZARIDES, 14.Mitch COOPER, 15.Hayden TENNANT, 16.Thomas HARRIS, 18.Benjamin BOWLER, 19.Marko DELIC, 20.James KAPURANOVSKI (gk), 24.Umut BOZDUGAN, 27.Koray CEKIC, 28.Ethan FINT, 29.Birhan ELIBOL
Central Coast Mariners squad: 1.Mark BIRIGHITTI (gk), 2.Ian Zygmunt GORDON, 3.Jack CLISBY, 4.Eunsun KIM, 6.Giancarlo GALLIFUOCO, 7.Milan DURIC, 8.Michael MCGLINCHEY, 9.Jordan MURRAY, 10.Thomas OAR, 11.Daniel DE SILVA, 12.Adam PEARCE (gk), 14.Manyiel Riel MAJOK, 15.Kye ROWLES, 16.Dylan FOX, 17.Samuel SILVERA, 19.Matthew SIMON, 21.Ruon TONGYIK, 22.Jacob MELLING, 23.Mario SHABOW, 24.Aidan MUNFORD (gk), 26.Joshua NISBET, 27.Lewis MILLER, 31.Matthew HATCH, 32.Gianni STENSNESS
