Two sides going in opposite directions on the Hyundai A-League ladder meet in the opening match of Round 20 as Wellington Phoenix take on Western United FC.
Phoenix continue to prove they are going to be tough to beat come finals time with a superb 1-0 win over Melbourne City in Auckland last weekend.
They are just three points off second spot on the ladder and will view another home match as the perfect chance to push their claims for a top-two finish.
Mark Rudan’s United lost 1-0 against Brisbane Roar last time out and they remain without a goal in February.
With just one win from their last seven matches, United have dropped to four points outside the top six and needing to arrest their form slump quickly if they want to play finals in their inaugural season.
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Friday, 21 February 2020
Kick-off: 7.15pm local, 5.15pm AEDT
Venue: Sky Stadium
Broadcast: FOX Sports 505
Stream: MyFootball Live App, Kayo Sports
HOW TO WATCH: Every Hyundai A-League match in Round 20
BEST XI: Hyundai A-League Team of the Week – Round 19
Ways to watch
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How to follow the action
Match centre: Live updates, videos and statistics
Follow @ALeague on Twitter and join the conversation using #WELvWUN #ALeague
Team news
Wellington Phoenix squad: 1.Stefan MARINOVIC (gk), 2.Liam McGING, 3.Luke DEVERE, 4.Te Atawhai HUDSON-WIHONGI, 5.Matti STEINMANN, 6.Tim PAYNE, 7.Reno PISCOPO, 8.Cameron DEVLIN, 9. David BALL, 10.Ulises DAVILA, 11.Jaushua SOTIRIO, 12. Brandan Wilson, 13.Liberato CACACE, 14.Alex RUFER, 20.Oliver SAIL (gk), 21.Callum MCCOWATT, 27.Steven TAYLOR (c), 31.Ben WAINE, 32.Sam SUTTON, 88. Gary HOOPER **2-4 to be omitted**
Ins: 2.Liam McGING (Promoted), 6.Tim PAYNE (Return from Suspension)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 16.Louis FENTON (Shoulder – season), 23.Walter SCOTT (Injury – Knee)
Western United FC squad: 1.Filip KURTO (gk), 4.Andrew DURANTE, 5.Dylan PIERIAS, 6. Tomoki IMAI, 7.Valentino YUEL, 8.Panagiotis KONE, 9.Apostolos STAMATELOPOULOS, 11.Connor PAIN, 12.Dario JERTEC, 14.Max BURGESS, 17.Joshua CAVALLO, 18.Besart BERISHA, 19.Josh RISDON, 22.Tomislav USKOK, 23.Alessandro DIAMANTI (c), 24.Thiel Iradukunda, 25.Luke DUZEL, 27.Jerry SKOTADIS, 28.Oskar Dillon, 30.Ryan SCOTT (gk) *2-4 to be omitted*
Ins: 12.Dario JERTEC (promoted), 22.Tomislav USKOK (promoted)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 2.Aaron CALVER (foot 2 weeks) 13.Ivan VUJICA (osteitis ), 20.James DELIANOV (gk) (knee, season), 3.Brendan HAMILL (knee, season)
Did you know?
- The first two clashes between Wellington Phoenix and Western United FC this season have been won by the away team on the day.
- Western United FC have won only one of their last five Hyundai A-League games played away from home (D2, L2) and are winless in their last three (D2, L1).
- Phoenix (83.1%) and Western United FC (82.9%) boast better passing accuracies this Hyundai A-League campaign than any other teams in the competition.
- Besart Berisha has scored five of Western United FC’s last eight Hyundai A-League goals – including three of their last four. He has scored 14 career against the Phoenix, the most of any player.
