FFA Cup semi: Graham Arnold challenges Canberra Olympic to attack

Sydney coach Graham Arnold has challenged his Canberra Olympic counterpart not to “park the bus” in their FFA Cup semi.

Sydney FC players celebrate their win over Central Coast Mariners at Allianz Stadium last weekend. Picture: Mark Evans

It would take a brave man to take on Sydney FC at their own game, but Sky Blues coach Graham Arnold has challenged his Canberra Olympic counterpart not to “park the bus” in tonight’s FFA Cup semi-final at Viking Park in Canberra.

Olympic coach Frank Cachia suggested recently that his team wouldn’t be afraid to go at the A-League heavyweights as both teams look to be the first into the cup final on November 29.

The National Premier League club is rated a $23 chance to beat the A-League leaders who have started the season in spectacular style with successive 4-0 wins against Western Sydney and Central Coast.

Whether Cachia is true to his word and doesn’t put 11 men behind the ball remains to be seen but Arnold believes it is “the perfect attitude” if the Canberra side decides to try to take his team on.

“They have nothing to lose, so it is the perfect attitude,” Arnold said yesterday. “If they park the bus and sit back, we will have 60 to 70 per cent possession and will create 20 goalscoring chances.

“They have no doubt watched us and if they give us chances we will score.

“One way to combat that is to have a go. They have made the semi-finals and achieved a huge goal. He (Cachia) has done a fantastic job.

“This is their one-night-only performance and they’ve got players who want to present their best performance. We have to be ready for their energy.”

Cachia understands it will take a near miracle to beat Sydney but pointed out his part-timers had already beaten the odds to get this far as they attempt to become the first second-tier side to make an FFA Cup final.

Like Sydney, Olympic are yet to concede a goal in the tournament, though they have not had to play an A-League side.

Cachia cited their 10-man stoppage-time quarter-final win over Green Gully as proof his team could get results under pressure.

“We’ve been underdogs for the last two games and if you just looked at the betting market you wouldn’t even bother turning up,” Cachia said. Arnold said he would make several changes to the side that beat the Mariners.

Captain Alex Brosque will start his first match of the season after coming off the bench in the opening two A-League games. He scored in each game.

Leftback Michael Zullo (illness) and defender Alex Wilkinson (ankle) won’t play but should be right for the game away to Wellington Phoenix on Sunday.

Either David Carney or Riley Woodcock will replace Zullo while Seb Ryall comes into the centre of defence for Wilkinson.

“I’ve been around long enough to know there are plenty of banana skins in this sport, so we will field the strongest side available,” Arnold said.