A Liberty A-League Grand Final rematch headlines an action-packed Wednesday night of A-Leagues football as champions Melbourne Victory welcome premiers Sydney FC to City Vista Recreation Reserve on February 16.
In the Isuzu UTE A-League, Western Sydney Wanderers and Melbourne Victory go head to head at CommBank Stadium after Wellington Phoenix host Brisbane Roar at Leichhardt Oval.
Read on for individual match previews of all three A-Leagues fixtures on Wednesday:
- Wellington Phoenix v Brisbane Roar
Isuzu UTE A-League, Leichhardt Oval. Kick-off: 5.25pm AEDT - Western Sydney Wanderers v Melbourne Victory
Isuzu UTE A-League, CommBank Stadium. Kick-off: 7.55pm AEDT - Melbourne Victory v Sydney FC
Liberty A-League, City Vista Recreation Reserve. Kick-off: 8.05pm AEDT
Sky Blues ALW challenge excites Victory
George Clark, AAP
Melbourne Victory striker Maja Markovski faces the hardest task in the Liberty A-League on Wednesday night — scoring against Sydney FC.
Unbeaten Liberty A-League leaders Sky Blues travel to Melbourne for a rematch of last year’s Grand Final, having scored 29 goals in 10 games.
Sydney goalkeeper Jada Whyman holds the record for A-League Women consecutive clean sheets with nine – having not conceded a goal since the opening day of the season.
But Markovski says the champions, who put five past Western Sydney Wanderers over the weekend, are not overawed by facing Ante Juric’s side.
“We’re really up for the challenge,” the 20-year-old said on Tuesday.
“I think we have to remain patient and take our chances. We just need to keep our heads, be confident and it’ll come.
“I definitely see it (their clean sheets) as a challenge and I know we’ve got the ability up front and around me so the girls will be excited for that.
“They’re really disciplined in the back and their midfield has been quality. Their front three is super dangerous too.
“Whatever team, we are up for the challenge; it doesn’t really faze us.”
After a mid-season blip in which they lost to Brisbane Roar after suffering a 5-1 hammering in the derby against Melbourne City, Victory have turned their fortunes around.
Jeff Hopkins’ side have won four on the bounce with Markovski’s ability to lead the line key to their recent form.
“It’s good to be a part of the success of the team,” she said. “We’ve hit some great form and I’m grateful to be a part of it.
“He (Hopkins) sees me working hard and he gave me that first opportunity and now I think he’s starting to believe (in) me.
“I’m definitely getting stronger and more physical.
“I think each week we’ve built really well and improved on areas where there were question marks.”
Rudan buoyed by belief at Wanderers
George Clark, AAP
Wanderers head coach Mark Rudan says he’s been shocked at the scale of the task he inherited but has been impressed by the will of his team to turn things around.
A fortnight after replacing Carl Robinson, Rudan has one win from three Isuzu UTE A-League games with the Wanderers languishing in 11th spot in the ladder.
His side returns to action against Victory on Wednesday and while results haven’t gone their way, Rudan says he can see progress in their performances.
“I’ve never walked into a job halfway through a season when you have to assess so many things,” he said.
“I’ve got my own checklist and I’ve observed a lot and it’s (a) huge (job) but the most important thing is that I feel the club wants to be led.
“They’re all buying in. People around you know and can sense when something is happening and they will only follow you if they believe in it.
“I’ve been taken aback by everyone at the club by their attitude. There’s a long way to go and it’s small steps right now.”
Rudan believes the scoreboard will eventually begin to work in the Wanderers’ favour with three of their four goals conceded in his tenure coming from set-pieces.
Part of that, he says, is giving players defined roles and a tactical blueprint to work from.
“I think the players are really enjoying the content of our sessions,” he said. “Players were not really aware of their roles and responsibilities.
“I think we need to improve on set-pieces and the mentality of the group.
“There’s no dropping of the heads but it’s the reaction that I’m looking for, the mental fortitude and the strength in mentality even if we do make mistakes.
“I entered into a club with a lot of people down on confidence and belief and that’s not what I see the Wanderers as being about.”
Rudan will check on Jack Rodwell and Tomer Hemed (both thigh) who missed Friday’s loss to Melbourne City and trained on Tuesday.
“They’ve both been going OK,” he said.
“With so many games coming thick and fast I’ll decide on gameday, have a chat with the medical staff and players themselves and then we’ll make a decision.”
Wandering Phoenix head for next ALM home
Ed Jackson, AAP
Isuzu UTE A-League ramblers Wellington will play their fourth straight ‘home’ game at a different venue on Wednesday when they welcome Brisbane to Leichhardt Oval.
Spending a second season based in New South Wales due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Phoenix have played home fixtures at Campbelltown Stadium, Wollongong’s WIN Stadium and Netstrata Jubilee Stadium already this month.
Wednesday’s game is the first of two this week at Leichhardt Oval with Sydney the visitors on Saturday.
Despite their itinerant nature, the Phoenix have climbed to seventh in the standings and back in the finals hunt thanks to a four-game unbeaten run.
“Venues don’t matter at the moment,” Phoenix head coach Ufuk Talay said.
“We’re just trying to get venues that are closer to where we’re staying and do less travelling in New South Wales at the moment.
“The venue is a venue. As long as the pitch is nice and it’s playable, I think the boys will be happy.”
A three-game winning run was halted by teenager Bernardo’s dramatic injury-time equaliser for Adelaide United in a 1-1 draw against the Reds last weekend.
Talay said bouncing back from the disappointment of that late equaliser is a challenge for his group as they take on a Brisbane team which put in a confident display to beat Macarthur FC 3-1 last Sunday.
“We all know and I think the group knows we dropped two points in that game, that we should have won,” he said.
“It’s obviously another learning curve for these young players.
“Against Brisbane, it’s not going to be an easy game, they’ll be on a high after the good result against Macarthur … we’re not going to underestimate them.”
Talay has made just one change to his starting XI in the past three games, with English defender Sam Wootton replacing youngster Finn Surman at the back for the past two fixtures.
English striker Gary Hooper came off the bench against Adelaide to mark his return from a hamstring injury but Talay suggested the veteran was unlikely to unseat current first-choice strike pairing Jaushua Sotirio and David Ball.
Brisbane head to Sydney having not lost to Wellington in their past four matches against the Phoenix and chasing a first win on the road this season.
