In the marquee match of the first round of the AFL, FC MacArthur conquered Perth Glory with an emphatic 6-1 victory, not only laying a solid foundation for the start of the new season, but also demonstrating a strong upward momentum.
Former marksman Tse Ming was a revelation in the season opener, and I'm confident he'll continue to be a killer in today's matchup. MacArthur's side of the ball is a tidal wave of offense, as evidenced by the four goals they have scored, and they always seem to find the best rhythm in their attack.
The addition of new signing Marija Golis has been an eye-opener. The right-footed winger has been a force to be reckoned with on the left side, and is keen to create a threat deep into the middle of the pitch, making it difficult for the opposing defenses to defend. He not only scored twice, but also made key assists to create good opportunities for his teammates, his performance is certainly worth watching.
Also of note was Jaizuru on the right side of the forward line. He scored a goal and contributed an assist in the game. And Jacky Herman was equally sharp with his passing skills up front, able to tear through the opponents' defense with ease.
There is a lot of pressure on the Newcastle Sprayers' defense against MacArthur. They will have to make sure that they are on high alert on both flanks and the midfielders will also need to do a good job of defending at the back.
On the offensive end, my former hosts are facing a shortage of manpower, especially with the loss of last season's top scorer Stendy Lupus. They have brought in Brazilian striker Velezul Santos and I'm expecting great things from him.
The Jets have been extremely aggressive in attacking from set pieces, with precise passing from Gossuth and Vermaing crucial. If they are able to send quality passes into the box, Susincha and McNada are expected to create a threat.
Nonetheless, with Newcastle Sprayers losing 0-1 at home to Melbourne City, I think they will struggle to turn things around in today's match. Expect FC MacArthur to come out on top again and end this round of matches with a big win.
