Fresh from last weekend’s last-gasp Big Blue win over Melbourne Victory, Sydney FC face another pulsating derby date, this time travelling the short distance to ANZ Stadium, where they take on Western Sydney Wanderers in the Hyundai A-League on Saturday evening.
If they fail to win, and Perth Glory get a better result against Newcastle Jets in Sunday evening’s game at HBF Park, then the 2018/19 Premiers Plate is guaranteed to be heading to Western Australia.
WATCH FOR FREE: How to watch the Hyundai A-League LIVE and FREE
VIDEO:Full-time highlights of Sydney FC v Melbourne Victory
READ: Who made the Hyundai A-League Team of the Week for Round 24?
There is also an intriguing battle ahead at AAMI Park in Melbourne, where City play host to Adelaide United as the battle intensifies for the best finishing positions ahead of the Finals Series.
Read on to find out how to watch all of this weekend’s Hyundai A-League action.
Viewers from outside Australia can find out how to watch at: https://www.a-league.com.au/our-international-broadcasters
Brisbane Roar v Wellington Phoenix
Friday, 7.50pm (AEST)
Phoenix remain in the driving seat to clinch fourth spot on the ladder … but only just. A single point – plus goal difference – is all that separates Mark Rudan’s side in fourth from sixth-placed Melbourne City, so there is plenty still to play for.
The Wellington club’s impressive run of three straight wins (with 15 goals scored in the process, and only four conceded) came to a juddering halt on Sunday with a 3-1 defeat at Adelaide that brought the Reds to within sniffing distance of their rivals from across the Tasman Sea.
The ‘Nix travel to a Brisbane Roar side keen to salvage some positives for the next campaign from a season that is sliding out of view after four straight defeats.
It finished all square the last time Phoenix travelled to Suncorp Stadium, in Round 2, while the Wellington club enjoyed a 4-1 triumph when the sides met in New Zealand’s capital in late December.
How to watch: Tune in to FOX SPORTS 503 to catch Friday night football, with the match kicking off at 7.50pm (AEST). You can also stream it live on the MyFootball Live App, or subscribe to Kayo Sports.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6023537986001
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Melbourne City v Adelaide United
Saturday, 5.35pm (AEST)
It is pretty much as tight as it can be between these two. Melbourne City sit a point behind their Saturday afternoon visitors on the ladder in sixth, with a goal difference of +3 compared to the Reds’ +2.
Depending on Friday night’s result in Queensland, the winner of this clash could leapfrog their way to fourth spot. It’s all to play for.
City have been up and down in recent weeks, with only two victories in their last nine outings.
The good news for Warren Joyce’s men is that those wins have come in the last month – last weekend’s 4-1 thumping of the Roar was preceded three weeks’ earlier by a morale-boosting 2-0 win away at Sydney FC – suggesting they may be easing back into form at just the right moment.
Adelaide have been similarly unpredictable since early February, but travel to Melbourne for this crunch clash on the back of successive wins against Wellington Phoenix (3-1) and Central Coast Mariners (1-0).
How to watch: Tune in to FOX SPORTS 506 to catch this clash, which kicks off at 5.35pm (AEST) on Saturday. You can also stream it live on the MyFootball Live App, or subscribe to Kayo Sports.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6023522569001
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Western Sydney Wanderers v Sydney FC
Saturday, 7.50pm (AEST)
Another week, another derby for Sydney FC. And while Wanderers may be officially out of the Hyundai A-League 2018/19 Finals Series race, they would like nothing more than to bloody the nose of their cross-city rivals.
To do so they will need to reverse their fortunes so far this season, where both Sydney derby games have gone the way of the Sky Blues – 3-1 at ANZ Stadium in December, and 2-0 at the SCG back in Round 2 in October.
Alex Brosque scored in each of those successes, and the skipper will be keen to lead from the front once more in Saturday’s game as Sydney FC look to put further daylight between themselves and third-placed Melbourne Victory following their dramatic Big Blue win last weekend.
Anything but a win for Sydney FC will allow Perth Glory to clinch the Premiers’ Plate if they beat Newcastle Jets on Sunday evening.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=5854213696001
How to watch: You can catch every minute LIVE and FREE on 10 Bold or tenplay, and on FOX SPORTS 506, with kick off at 7.50pm (AEST). You can also stream it live on the MyFootball Live App, or subscribe to Kayo Sports.
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Melbourne Victory v Central Coast Mariners
Sunday, 5.00pm (AEST)
With a four-point gap opened up ahead of them after defeat in last weekend’s Big Blue in Sydney – and the possibility that will have stretched to seven by the time this game comes around – nothing less than a win will do for Kevin Muscat’s side as they chase second place in the ladder.
They currently lie third, and while they seem unlikely to be caught by the chasing pack, boss Kevin Muscat will not be satisfied until everything is mathematically certain.
Last weekend’s reverse to Sydney FC was only their second defeat in six and Muscat will be looking up, rather than down, as his side host Central Coast Mariners.
Victory ran out comfortable 4-1 winners when the sides met up at AAMI Park way back in Round 4 in November, but Muscat will be taking nothing for granted after the Gosford side gave him an almighty scare when the teams last met, in February.
Two goals from Andrew Hoole sent the Mariners in at the half-time break 2-0 to the good before a memorable second-half fightback from Victory culminated in an 88th-minute winner for Kosta Barbarouses.
How to watch: Tune in to FOX SPORTS 507 to see whether Victory can stay in touch with second-place Sydney FC, with kick-off at 5.00pm (AEST). You can also stream it live on the MyFootball Live App, or subscribe to Kayo Sports.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=5997715623001
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Perth Glory v Newcastle Jets
Sunday, 7.00pm (AEST)
This could be the moment the dream comes true for Tony Popovic’s Perth Glory.
If Sydney FC fail to collect all three points in their Saturday derby with Wanderers, then a win for Popovic’s charges will guarantee that the Premiers’ Plate will be making its way to WA.
Glory’s march towards a history-making first piece of silverware has been fairly relentless this term, with the hint of a wobble in Round 23’s home defeat by Melbourne Victory quickly put back on an even keel with a ruthlessly efficient 3-0 win at Central Coast Mariners last weekend.
It seems a matter of when, rather than if, Perth take the title this year and clinching it in front of their own fans with two rounds still remaining seems a fitting achievement.
For Jets, the equation is as simple as it is fiendishly difficult: they need to win all three of their remaining matches, and hope one of Phoenix, Adelaide United or Melbourne City lost all three of theirs, to sneak themselves a six-place finish.
How to watch: Tune in to FOX SPORTS 507 to watch the final game of Round 25, which kicks off at 7.00pm (AEST) on Sunday and could see Perth Glory clinch the Premiers’ Plate. You can also stream it live on the MyFootball Live App, or subscribe to Kayo Sports.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6023537940001
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