KEEPUP previews a monster final round of the Isuzu UTE A-League regular season, with thanks to neds.
Melbourne City coach Rado Vidosic has heaped praise on Western Sydney Wanderers’ ahead of their final round clash, believing this Friday’s contest will serve as a barometer for where the Premiers are at heading into finals.
City welcome the Wanderers to AAMI Park on Friday night, who are looking to potentially wrap up second spot with a win. Marko Rudan’s side also need some help in the Adelaide vs Central Coast clash to earn a week off.
Vidosic is wary of the threat the Wanderers possess, believing they are one of the teams to beat in the post-season.
THE PERMUTATIONS: What this final round means for City and Wanderers
“They have done really well this year,” he said in his pre-match press opportunity.
“They brought in three or four new players in January. They brought in some world class players in their line-up. It took them a little bit of time to gel in. Its not easy to come and play in Australia. Last game against Wellington they were unbelievable.
“All their top guns were firing on all cylinders. They’ve got this specific way of playing, they’ve got speed through the middle, with (Brandon) Borrello they’ve got speed down the side, then also they’ve got (an) unbelievable back line with a fantastic goalkeeper… their midfield is top notch.
“They are one of the key players in this finals. It is going to be a tough game.
“It is a good challenge for us. We are playing at home, we will try to make it as hard for them as possible. I’m really looking forward to seeing where we are at the moment against one of the better teams in the A-League.”
City welcomed back Mathew Leckie and Richard van der Venne last week after a long layoff with injury, as they both look to ramp up their minutes ahead of the finals series.
Vidosic sung the praises of the Socceroos gun on Thursday morning: “He is one of, if not the best, player in the A-League.
“We missed him. Our attack was not as fluid as we were with him. To get him back is going to be much easier for us to create chances. Probably easier to score goals.
“He has got this unbelievable defensive quality to win the ball, break the attack and put us into good transition moments. He is not there (straight into the XI) yet. Let’s see how he goes today.”
City go into the game undefeated in their last seven Isuzu UTE A-League games against Western Sydney Wanderers FC (W4 D3) and are unbeaten in their last eight meetings at AAMI Park in the competition (W5 D3).
Incredibly, City have only lost once in their last 30 games at AAMI Park against teams from outside Victoria (W23 D6), with the last loss coming vs Adelaide United in February 2022.
It will also be a game of milestones, with Wanderers captain Marcelo notching up his 600th club game and City midfielder Aiden O’Neill playing his 100th league game and 60th in City colours.
Opta stat: This will be Western Sydney Wanderers’ 300th game in the A-League Men; their 82 draws through their first 299 games are more than any other team logged in their first 300 games in the competition.
MATCH DETAILS
Melbourne City v Western Sydney Wanderers
Friday, April 28 2023
AAMI Park
Kick-off: 7:45pm AEST
Broadcast: Paramount+
Odds: City $1.83, Draw $3.60, Wanderers $3.75
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In the other game of Friday night’s monster doubleheader, second-placed Adelaide United welcome third-placed Central Coast Mariners to town – where a week off and an AFC Cup berth is on the line.
The objective couldn’t be more simple for Adelaide who simply have to win to wrap up second spot, but anything less could see them drop as low as fourth depending on what happens in Western Sydney Wanderers’ clash with Melbourne City.
It’s also quite a similar path for the Mariners, as a win should also wrap up second spot, but will be dependant on whether the Wanderers win and by how much.
THE PERMUTATIONS: What this final round means for Adelaide and the Mariners
Adelaide, however, haven’t won in their last three games and snatched a point in the last minute of a heart-stopping 4-4 draw against Perth Glory on Sunday evening.
A win this weekend would finally wrap up their 200th Isuzu UTE A-League victory in history too.
Meanwhile, the Mariners have been in sensational form since the international break (W3, 1D), including a stirring come from behind 3-1 win over Newcastle Jets last weekend. However, Nick Montgomery’s side haven’t won at Coopers Stadium since November 2016 and not in back-to-back games against the Reds since February 2017.
Should they wrap up a top-two spot, it will be the first time they have done so since 2013, where they won their one and only Championship, while for Adelaide it will be their highest finish in seven years – the same year they also took home silverware in the Grand Final.
Opta stat: No player has played more minutes (449), scored more goals (5), or made more shots at goal (29) as a substitute in the 2022/23 A-League Men season than Adelaide United’s Nestory Irankunda.
MATCH DETAILS
Adelaide United v Central Coast Mariners
Friday, April 28 2023
Coopers Stadium
Kick-off: 7:45pm AEST
Broadcast: Paramount+
Odds: Adelaide $2.40, Draw $3.60, Mariners $2.50
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It’s simple for Wellington.
The ‘Nix just need one more point to wrap up a finals berth on Saturday evening, when they take on Macarthur FC at Campbelltown Stadium.
Ufuk Talay’s side have been on a slippery slope as of late, losing four of their last five and only getting a single point from a possible 15.
Luckily, the sides below them haven’t been able to capitalise on the Phoenix’s poor form, so they remain in pole position to secure a second straight finals appearance this weekend.
However, should Macarthur spring an upset and win over Saturday, it will mean the ‘Nix will have a nervous wait going into the rest of the night with Perth Glory, Newcastle Jets and Western United still mathematically alive.
THE PERMUTATIONS: What this final round means for Macarthur and Wellington
After the heavy defeat against Western Sydney Wanderers last Friday, Talay said the players had an honesty session of sorts with one another.
“We got them to confront each other and tell them about their strengths and what they can improve on,” he said on Friday.
“I think it’s nice, sometimes coming from their teammate rather than the coach at times, which is a little bit eye opening for some players because sometimes self-awareness disappears.
“You don’t see it because it’s your behaviour, your actions and it was nice to be told from their teammates that this is what they can do, this is what they can bring to the team.”
As for what they can improve on holistically, Talay believes their defensive side of the game needs improving, having conceded 17 goals in their last five.
“I think the group are pretty smart enough to comprehend what we need to improve on,” he said.
“One thing is obviously being clinical in front of goals, the opportunities that we create, because I think Wanderers was the only game that we didn’t score in.
“We do score goals, we do create opportunities, but at the moment, what we heavily rely in is our structure defensively and i think that’s been something that we definitely need to improve on.”
Incredibly, a 1-0 loss could open up the door for one of the most incredible finishes should Perth Glory win 3-2 against Western later that night. In this scenario, as a result of their points, goal difference, goals scored and season head-to-head being even (3-3 aggregate) – it would come down to discipline.
The first tiebreaker is lowest amount of red cards for the season (Wellington 5-4 Perth) and if that’s split then, lowest yellow cards (Wellington 51-60 Perth).
READ: Isuzu UTE A-League Men Competition Rules Summary
The Bulls’ finals hopes came to an end last weekend after losing 2-1 to Melbourne Victory, but they will be hoping to wrap up a Round of 32 Australia Cup berth with a win and some help along the way.
Mile Sterjovksi’s side are unbeaten in their last three A-League Men games at Campbelltown Stadium (W1 D2). Should they go a fourth straight game without loss, it would equal their longest unbeaten run at the venue in the competition.
Incredibly, Macarthur have dropped 12 points in their last six games from either leading or equal positions, including conceding second-half stoppage time equalisers or winners in their last three games.
Opta stat: Wellington Phoenix have conceded multiple goals in each of their last five games in the A-League Men, their joint-longest run conceding multiple goals in their history in the competition.
MATCH DETAILS
Macarthur FC v Wellington Phoenix
Saturday, April 29 2023
Campbelltown Stadium
Kick-off: 5pm AEST
Broadcast: Paramount+
Odds: Bulls $3.50, Draw $3.60, Phoenix $1.88
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Sydney FC coach Steve Corica has quelled any fears of a long term injury for Robert Mak after he went down with hamstring injury in their 2-0 win over Brisbane Roar last week.
The Slovakian international has been in ripping form as of late, scoring four goals in his last four, including important strikes against Perth Glory and Brisbane which ultimately wrapped up a finals berth for the Sky Blues.
THE PERMUTATIONS: What this final round means for Sydney and Newcastle
However, he came from the field at half-time last Monday and required scans to see just how bad the injury was and in some positive news for the Sky Blues, he looks to be all good but still may not feature this weekend if Corica opts to take a conservative route.
“Robbie Mak is all good. He had a scan yesterday and nothing showed up in that. His hamstring was a little bit tight. He will train and then we will see what we do with him,” Corica said.
“We don’t want to take a risk. We want him ready for the finals. But if he is good to go, we will wait and see.”
Sydney need at least a point to wrap up fifth spot on the table and have only lost once in their last six at Allianz Stadium.
Their opponents, Newcastle are still mathematically in the hunt for finals, but need to win and win big, while getting some help along the way, including a heavy Wellington defeat and Perth loss to Western (by a smaller margin than any potential Newcastle win).
A win for Arthur Papas’ side will at least lock in an Australia Cup Round of 32 berth for next season, as well.
Wins have been hard to come by as of late for the Jets, who have won only once in their last eight (D2, L5) and conceded multiple goals in all but two of those games.
Opta stat: Newcastle Jets have won only one of their last 13 A-League Men games against Sydney FC in Sydney (D3 L9) and haven’t kept a clean sheet in such a fixture since January 2015.
MATCH DETAILS
Sydney FC v Newcastle Jets
Saturday, April 29 2023
Allianz Stadium
Kick-off: 5pm AEST
Broadcast: Paramount+
Odds: Sydney $1.65, Draw: $3.90, Jets: $4.40
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Melbourne Victory and Brisbane Roar wrap up their respective regular seasons, when they lock horns on Saturday evening at AAMI Park.
Brisbane’s finals hopes came to an end on Monday night in their 2-0 loss to Sydney FC, joining Victory and Macarthur FC as the only teams mathematically out of the finals race.
Both sides, however, will be looking to avoid the Australia Cup playoffs. A win for Victory will wrap up a Round of 32 berth, but for the Roar, they will need to win and get some help along the way.
Victory have been in good form at home as of late, losing only once in their last seven league games at AAMI Park as the home team (W4 D2) and are undefeated in their last three – including a 2-1 win over Macarthur last week.
THE PERMUTATIONS: What this final round means for Victory and Brisbane
Not only will a win wrap up an Australia Cup berth, it will also ensure they avoid winning a second ever wooden spoon, something they last achieved only two years ago.
Roar, on the other hand, have had the wood over Victory in Victoria, winning three of their last seven games against Tony Popovic’s side – including a 1-0 earlier this season.
However, Brisbane have only picked up two points in their last eight games, despite scoring at least a single goal in all but one of those contests. A loss for Brisbane could also mean they win the wooden spoon, should Macarthur also win earlier in the day.
Opta stat: Jason Geria (if he plays) is set to play his 150th A-League Men game for Melbourne Victory, becoming just the fourth player to reach the milestone for the club (Leigh Broxham, Archie Thompson, Adrian Leijer).
MATCH DETAILS
Melbourne Victory v Brisbane Roar
Saturday, April 29 2023
AAMI Park
Kick-off: 7:45pm AEST
Broadcast: 10 Bold & Paramount+
Odds: Victory $1.87, Draw $3.60, Roar $3.60
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Perth Glory and Western United will lock horns in the final game of the regular season, in what may have enormous stakes in the race for the final spot in the tops six.
Both teams will be watching on to see what happens in with Wellington Phoenix’s clash with Macarthur, as a win for the Bulls will keep the door ajar for both teams to sneak in.
Glory have the better chance of the two teams to steal a spot inside the six, residing three points behind and only having an inferior goal difference by two.
THE PERMUTATIONS: What this final round means for Perth and Western
Incredibly, a 1-0 loss for Wellington could open up the door for one of the most incredible finishes should Perth win 3-2 against Western. In this scenario, as a result of their points, goal difference, goals scored and season head-to-head being even (3-3 aggregate) – it would come down to discipline.
The gap could have been only a single point had Perth hung on to all three points in their thrilling 4-4 draw with Adelaide, as Nestory Irankunda broke Glory hearts with a 99th minute equaliser.
Coach Ruben Zadkovich, however, isn’t taking Western United lightly and is well aware of the class the reigning champions still possess despite having their finals fate all but sealed.
“Western United are a dangerous team, because I feel like they have some key individuals who can hurt you at any moment,” he said.
“None more so than guys like (Alessandro) Diamanti. If he travels and if he plays this is going to be his last game before he retires. He is a good example of Western United. Just when he can be out of the game and not so involved, he has the moments of individual brilliance.
“They have a few players like that – Lachie Wales, Connor Pain – who can be very dangerous in transition. They pose some threats. (Aleksandar) Prijovic up top, let’s be honest, he’s a top top striker.
“They’ve got young Noah Botic who is another one who is a great talent and a real good prospect for Australian football. Socceroo full-backs (Ben) Garrucio and (Josh) Risdon. They are a tidy outfit. Last year’s champions. They are not to be underestimated.”
Western do come into the game with a good record against Perth, having won four of their last five games against the Glory, but lost in their last meeting in Western Australia in December.
If United are to keep their finals hopes alive, they need to win and win big, plus rely on Wellington losing and Newcastle not winning by a bigger margin than theirs.
It’s likely it will be the final time both Nikolai Topor-Stanley and Alessandro Diamanti take the field in their respective storied careers, after they both announced their retirements from the game.
A win will seal an Australia Cup berth for either side, but a loss will mean they play in the playoffs.
Opta stat: Perth Glory have conceded four goals in each of their last two games in the A-League Men; only once in the history of the competition has any team conceded four or more goals in more than two straight games (3 games – Central Coast Mariners from March to April in 2016).
MATCH DETAILS
Perth Glory v Western United
Saturday, April 29 2023
HBF Park
Kick-off: 10pm AEST
Broadcast: Paramount+
Odds: Glory $1.98, Draw $3.50, Western $3.30
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