A blockbuster Big Blue highlights another enthralling round of fixtures in the Hyundai A-League with huge implications in the race for the upcoming 2018/19 Season Finals Series.
Everything is still up for grabs heading into Round 24 and we’ll know a lot more about the destination of the Premiers’ Plate and the battle for a top-two and top-four berth following the weekend’s fixtures.
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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
Melbourne City v Brisbane Roar
Friday, 7.50pm (AEDT)
With just one victory in their last eight matches, Melbourne City enters Round 24 in sixth spot and needing a win to stay alive in the three-way battle for fourth spot.
So Friday night’s clash against a Brisbane Roar outfit with nothing but pride to play for must be seen as a prime opportunity for City to rejoin the winner’s circle.
Following last week’s shock 3-0 loss to Western Sydney, City coach Warren Joyce would probably settle for a replication of their most recent encounter with Roar, a gritty 1-0 victory played in January.
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The Roar are also looking to bounce back after a 3-1 loss to Sydney FC last Friday night, with Darren Davies’ side looking to play the role of finals spoilers over the final month of the regular season.
City will be hoping Caltex Socceroos striker Jamie Maclaren recovers from his injury to play in this clash against his former club, who have Dylan Wenzel-Halls as their x-factor, with the Ipswich speedster having scored four goals in his last seven appearances.
How to watch: Tune in to FOX SPORTS 505 to catch Friday night football, with the match kicking off at 7.50pm (AEDT). You can also stream it live on the MyFootball Live App, or subscribe to Kayo Sports.
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Newcastle Jets v Western Sydney Wanderers
Saturday, 5.35pm (AEDT)
Welcome to the Hyundai A-League’s last-chance saloon.
With four matches remaining, the seventh-placed Jets sit seven points outside of the finals places after they were put to the sword by a David Williams-inspired Wellington Phoenix on Saturday.
The Wanderers sit a further three points behind the Jets in eighth, but proved they aren’t a spent force with a comprehensive 3-0 win over City on Saturday night, courtesy of Oriol Riera’s double.
So there’s still plenty at stake for both sides at McDonald Jones Stadium in the first game of a Saturday night double-header.
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It was the Jets who dominated the previous clash between these two back in Round 17, with Roy O’Donovan scoring twice on the way to a resounding 5-1 win.
But this is a different Wanderers team now and they will head up the M1 confident of securing a fifth win in seven games if they can take all three points in the Hunter.
How to watch: Tune in to FOX SPORTS 505 to catch this clash, which kicks off at 5.35pm (AEDT) on Saturday. You can also stream it live on the MyFootball Live App, or subscribe to Kayo Sports.
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Sydney FC v Melbourne Victory
Saturday, 7.50pm (AEDT)
Saturday night’s Big Blue could hardly have come at a better time for both clubs – and neutral fans of the competition.
Trailing leaders Perth by six and seven points respectively, the Sky Blues and Victory will battle it out for the opportunity to stay alive in the chase of Glory for this season’s Premiers’ Plate.
But perhaps more importantly, the winner at the SCG will have the front-running in the race for a top-two finish, which comes with the lure of a home Grand Final qualifier.
So there’s plenty at stake in what is always a keenly-contested match-up between these two fierce interstate rivals.
Both clubs head into the clash off the back of impressive away wins, Sydney FC scoring twice late to beat the Roar 3-1, while Victory became just the second team to defeat the Glory this season with their 2-0 success in the west.
It’s Victory that has had the better of the two previous match-ups this season, winning both contests 2-1, including the last meeting on Australia Day at AAMI Park.
You won’t want to miss Saturday night’s Big Blue and you can see every minute LIVE and FREE on 10 Bold or tenplay, and on FOX SPORTS 505, with kick off at 7.50pm (AEDT). 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=6019897379001
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Adelaide United v Wellington Phoenix
Sunday, 5.00pm (AEST)
Another fixture with enormous finals ramifications sees the fourth-placed Phoenix travel to Coopers Stadium to face the fifth-placed Adelaide United.
Wellington head to the City of Churches having banged in a Hyundai A-League record 15 goals in their last three matches, including the weekend’s 4-1 mauling of Newcastle Jets.
David Williams was the star for Mark Rudan’s side scoring a superb hattrick, and the ominous sign for Adelaide is the Kiwi club will welcome back leading scorer Roy Krishna for this one.
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But trailing the ‘Nix by just three points, Adelaide are still well in the hunt for a top-four berth.
They snapped a five-game winless run with a crucial 1-0 win over the Central Coast Mariners in Gosford on Sunday.
It was far away from their best display of the season but it may just have stopped the rot and give them the impetus for a big end to the campaign.
Coopers Stadium should be rocking for this one in a game that is sure to have a finals-feel a month out from the playoffs.
How to watch: Tune in to FOX SPORTS 505 to see which side takes a giant step towards the top four, with kick-off at 5.00pm (AEDT). You can also stream it live on the MyFootball Live App, or subscribe to Kayo Sports.
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Central Coast Mariners v Perth Glory
Sunday, 7.00pm (AEST)
Perth will approach their trip to Central Coast knowing a win won’t quite be enough to lift up Hyundai A-League Premiership, but another three points will take them mighty close.
Despite Saturday night’s 2-0 loss to the Victory, Tony Popovic’s men still hold a healthy six-point lead from second-placed Sydney FC with four games to go.
And while ‘Popa’ never likes losing, he might just view it as a bit of a reality check ahead of the finals.
While the Mariners went down 1-0 against Adelaide United on Sunday, they continued to look a far more well-drilled and structured side under new boss Alen Stajcic.
But they will need to go up a couple of levels to match it with Glory, who are unbeaten on their travels all season, including a 4-1 win over the Mariners in Gosford on New Year’s Eve.
How to watch: Tune in to FOX SPORTS 505 to watch the final game of Round 24, which kicks off at 7.00pm (AEDT) on Sunday. You can also stream it live on the MyFootball Live App, or subscribe to Kayo Sports.
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