It is the final stretch of our February Football Frenzy, and it coincides with the penultimate round in the Liberty A-League, where the race for the Premiers’ Plate and top four is excruciatingly tight. Read on for your game-by-game guide in our Neds Weekend Preview.
Two key Liberty A-League fixtures are set to shape the top four in a pivotal weekend of A-Leagues action.
Fourth-placed Victory travel to Coopers Stadium to take on Adelaide United (third) on Saturday, February 26 before Sydney FC host Perth Glory at UTAS Stadium on Sunday afternoon, with Perth needing three points to stay in finals contention whilst the Sky Blues continue to gun for the premiers plate.
It’s a special occasion in Adelaide on Saturday with the club’s Pride Game double-header set to promote inclusivity in football; the Reds will play host to Central Coast Mariners after the battle between third and fourth in the Liberty A-League.
This weekend’s fixtures will play out as so:
LIBERTY A-LEAGUE: CANBERRA UNITED v NEWCASTLE JETS
Friday, February 25 – Viking Park
At long last, Canberra United are a team in form this season. It took 10 games for United to notch their first win, and that came in style in a 5-0 triumph over Western Sydney. A 2-2 draw against top-four outfit Victory was next, which leads Vicki Linton’s team into their clash with Jets riding a wave of confidence.
Newcastle’s slender finals hopes were quashed in midweek – but the Jets won’t want to switch off against Canberra, who can jump above them into sixth spot with a win on Friday night.
Prediction: Canberra to win with the Jets top four hopes now dashed.
Canberra United v Newcastle Jets
Friday, February 25
Viking Park
Kick-off: 5.25pm AEDT
TV: P+
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ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE: NEWCASTLE JETS v MACARTHUF FC
Saturday, February 26 – McDonald Jones Stadium
There’s a clear gap opening up between the contenders and pretenders on the A-League Men’s table – but three wins from five have seen the Jets attempt to bridge that gap and join the finals hunt.
Angus Thurgate’s inspiring form helped Newcastle to a 1-0 win over Western Sydney in midweek; another three-point display against Macarthur FC on Saturday could bring the Jets to within a point of the top six depending on other results.
But defeating the Bulls will be no simple task. Ulises Dávila has hit his stride at his new club and is primed to excel at McDonald Jones Stadium after scoring the all-important goal in his side’s recent 1-0 win over Perth.
Prediction: High scoring, entertaining, and 2-2.
Newcastle Jets v Macarthur FC
Saturday, February 26
McDonald Jones Stadium
Kick-off: 5.05pm AEDT
TV: P+
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ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE: SYDNEY FC v MELBOURNE CITY
Saturday, February 26 – Netstrata Jubilee Stadium
It’s a grand final rematch to savour at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, with Melbourne City looking to leap back to the top of the table with a three-point display.
Sydney FC need to find a way to make their attack click, scoring just two goals from 57 shots across their last three A-League Men’s fixtures. City, meanwhile, have had no such attacking issue, scoring 15 goals in their last five games. The champions have clicked up front in a dangerous sign to the rest of the league.
Prediction: Melbourne City to flex and win 3-1.
Sydney FC v Melbourne City
Saturday, February 26
Netstrata Jubilee Stadium
Kick-off: 7.45pm AEDT
TV: P+, Network 10
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LIBERTY A-LEAGUE: ADELAIDE UNITED v MELBOURNE VICTORY
Saturday, February 26 – Coopers Stadium
The stakes are raised at Coopers Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
It’s Adelaide (third) against Victory (fourth) in a blockbuster game with serious top-four implications in the home side’s ‘Pride Game’ event encouraging inclusivity in football.
Adelaide can confirm a spot in the finals with a win over Victory – a feat the club has never achieved in the A-League Women’s. The loser of this game will remain within touching distance of Perth Glory in fifth – a similar story for both teams if points are shared.
Prediction: What an incredible match-up. Buoyed, at home, Adelaide will edge it 2-1.
Adelaide United v Melbourne Victory
Saturday, February 26
Coopers Stadium
Kick-off: 4.50pm AEDT
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ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE: ADELAIDE UNITED v CENTRAL COAST MARINERS
Saturday, February 26 – Coopers Stadium
It’s a special occasion in the A-Leagues on Saturday, with Adelaide’s ‘Pride Game’ the first of its kind in the league, aiming to celebrate inclusivity in both the men’s and women’s competitions.
The Reds welcome Central Coast to Coopers Stadium in the second game of a double-header on Saturday after the conclusion of Adelaide v Melbourne Victory in the A-League Women’s. Adelaide winger Craig Goodwin could create history with a goal to equalling the club’s all-time men’s scoring record held by Reds legend Bruce Djite, whilst Stefan Mauk prepares to farewell his home crowd before his departure to Japanese side Fagiano Okayama.
The Mariners return to action four days after the VAR controversy which saw Melbourne City clinch a 3-2 over Nick Montgomery’s side in contentious circumstances.
Prediction: Like the Liberty A-League beforehand, the occasion will spur Adelaide home 3-2.
Adelaide United v Central Coast Mariners
Saturday, February 26
Coopers Stadium
Kick-off: 7.45pm AEDT
TV: P+, Network 10
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LIBERTY A-LEAGUE: PERTH GLORY v SYDNEY FC
Sunday, February 27 – UTAS Stadium
Perth can keep their fairytale run to the finals alive with a win over the wobbling Sydney FC on Sunday.
Five teams can’t squeeze into four in the finals conversation, meaning Glory will have to oust a postseason contender to steal a spot in the top four. Victory’s shock draw to Canberra in midweek left the door ajar for Perth to attack, with just two points separating fourth from fifth with two games to play.
Sydney FC are reeling after drawing with Victory and losing to Melbourne City – the team who could begin the weekend on top of the table should they beat Brisbane Roar on Thursday night.
The Sky Blues had the premiership in their grasp for the majority of the season but can feel it slipping away right at the death. Defeating Perth is a must if Ante Juric’s side hope to stay in the hunt for the premiers plate.
Prediction: Another game with incredible stakes. Sydney have a reprieve, and we’re tipping a 1-0 win.
Perth Glory v Sydney FC
Sunday, February 27
UTAS Stadium
Kick-off: 4.05pm AEDT
TV: P+
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ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE: PERTH GLORY v WESTERN UNITED
Sunday, February 27 – UTAS Stadium
Western United notched an A-League Men’s record after their 1-0 win over Sydney FC, with seven 1-0 victories the most any side have managed in a single season in the competition’s history, and with star Perth recruit Daniel Sturridge injured once again, John Aloisi’s side will be confident in their ability to keep another clean sheet when these two sides meet in Launceston on Saturday.
Western and Melbourne City continue to exchange ownership of top spot on the table, and depending on City’s result against Sydney FC on Saturday afternoon a win over Perth may be needed for Western to reclaim their place at the top of the pile.
Prediction: No side has ever won as many games 1-0 as Western United. Will they do it again on the weekend? We’re going 2-1 to Western.
Perth Glory v Western United
Sunday, February 27
UTAS Stadium
Kick-off: 6.45pm AEDT
TV: P+
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LIBERTY A-LEAGUE: WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS v WELLINGTON PHOENIX
Sunday February 27 – CommBank Stadium
Wellington Phoenix will hope to find enough points from their final two games to jump off the foot of the A-League Women’s table by the season’s end, and by doing so Gemma Lewis’ side could hand Western Sydney the wooden spoon.
The Wanderers are just three points clear of this season’s expansion side with two games to play in a season where the ‘Nix were tipped to struggle to collect a point, let alone four by this stage of the campaign. But Wellington have impressed lately, nabbing a club-first win over Canberra United on February 11 – and now have the low-scoring Wanderers in their sights.
Prediction: With only pride to play for, we’re looking at a 2-2 draw.
Western Sydney Wanderers v Wellington Phoenix
Sunday February 27
CommBank Stadium
Kick-off: 4.05pm AEDT
TV: P+, Network 10
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ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE: WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS v WELLINGTON PHOENIX
Sunday February 27 – CommBank Stadium
Six games into his tenure as Western Sydney boss, Mark Rudan has overseen just two wins and four defeats as pressure mounts on the new man in charge to turn things around.
Wellington Phoenix – the club Rudan coached through the 2018/19 campaign – would love nothing more than to travel to CommBank Stadium and prolong the Wanderers’ misery.
Ufuk Talay’s Wellington begin the weekend locked on 18 points with three teams inside the top six. As Western Sydney have struggled the Phoenix have surged, going unbeaten in six A-League Men’s fixtures to climb off the foot of the table and into finals contention.
Prediction: Wellington are on a roll, but this is a great opportunity for Western Sydney to prove their worth. 2-1 win.
Western Sydney Wanderers v Wellington Phoenix
Sunday, February 27
CommBank Stadium
Kick-off: 6.45pm AEDT
TV: P+
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ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE: MELBOURNE VICTORY v BRISBANE ROAR
Boyhood Victory fan Nishan Velupillay broke his side’s five-game winless run with a stoppage time goal in a 1-0 win over the Mariners last time out; buoyed by the shift in momentum, Tony Popovic’s side will hope a strong stretch of form is to follow.
Brisbane Roar are all at sea, beginning the weekend at the foot of the table after suffering a 2-0 defeat at the hands of former cellar dwellers Perth Glory. The Roar now have the equal-worst goal difference (-7) of any team in the A-League Men’s, having scored the second-least amount of goals (11) through 12 games.
These two sides were meant to meet on Friday night, but severe weather in Queensland prevented the fixture from going ahead. Victory will instead play host in the reverse fixture on Monday night, with Friday’s postponed Roar home game to be scheduled at a later date.
Prediction: Victory are back in the winners’ list – just – and will make it back-to-back on the weekend.
Melbourne Victory v Brisbane Roar
Monday, February 28
AAMI Park
Kick-off: 7.25pm AEDT
TV: P+
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