Olympic FC field young side in NPL in preparation for FFA Cup
Olympic FC coach Ben Cahn was happy to sacrifice his side’s weekend NPL match to ensure he could a field a full-strength team against Adelaide United in Wednesday night’s FFA Cup.
Olympic FC coach Ben Cahn was happy to sacrifice his side’s weekend NPL Queensland match to ensure he could a field a full-strength team against Adelaide United in Wednesday night’s FFA Cup clash at Perry Park.
Cahn selected a host of youngsters in Olympic’s 4-1 away loss to the Brisbane Strikers on Saturday night.
“Whilst it always hurts not to win, we now go into the Adelaide game with everybody fit, fresh, and rested,” said Cahn, whose fourth-placed team are certain to contest the NPL Queensland finals.
“It was a great opportunity for us – having already qualified for finals – to give a chance to some younger players.
“We were able to rest most of the team that will start against Adelaide. We felt a few of them would benefit from the freshen up … so given the objectives, I’m really happy with the outcome.”
Cahn declared key defender Matt Mundy would be fit for the round-of-32 Cup battle after the former Brisbane Roar A-League championship-winner played the final half an hour against the Strikers.
For the Strikers, Andy Pengelly continued his fine form with a brace of goals, taking his season tally in all competitions to 48.
Pengelly last week trialled with A-League club Central Coast Mariners, and while unsuccessful in securing a deal, was asked by Mariners coach Alen Stajcic to join an NPL NSW club next year and train with the Central Coast squad.
“I’m not sure what I will do but I enjoyed the experience of training every day,” said Pengelly, who gets another chance to shine on the national stage on Wednesday week when the Strikers host NPL NSW club Manly United in a FFA Cup round of 32 battle.
Originally published as Olympic FC field young side in NPL in preparation for FFA Cup