This is how things stand with three rounds to play in the Isuzu UTE A-League regular season. aleagues.com.au sets the scene for the run home with a Premiership and finals spots up for grabs.
There are just three rounds remaining in the 2023-24 Isuzu UTE A-League regular season and there is still so much to be decided.
There’s not just a Premier’s Plate on the line as the regular season concludes – there are still finals berths available.
If that wasn’t enough, a Golden Boot winner is set to be crowned too.
This is everything you need to know.
VOTE FOR YOUR A-LEAGUES ALL STARS: Everything you need to know
The Premiership Race
Defending champions Central Coast Mariners are the team to beat in a three-horse race for the Premiers Plate.
Melbourne Victory are five points further back following their derby triumph over Melbourne City, but are mathematically still in the frame.
Central Coast snapped their 10-year wait for a Championship last season, though the Gosford club have not won the Premiership since 2012.
Also in the AFC Cup Inter-Zonal Final, the Mariners hold the upper-hand in the race, despite losing key stars and head coach Nick Montgomery (Hibernian) at the start of the season, while they also started their title defence with four straight defeats.
Two of their final three matches are away from Industree Group Stadium, which includes a trip to Western United’s new venue in Tarneit and an F3 Derby away to Newcastle Jets. Mark Jackson’s side are also juggling their continental commitments in the AFC Cup.
Wellington have never won a piece of silverware in their Isuzu UTE A-League history – and this season remains their best chance yet.
Despite a last-gasp loss on the road to the Mariners, the Phoenix are still very much in the mix to win the Premiers Plate.
A potentially season-defining match looms this Friday, with Giancarlo Italiano’s side – who have two of their final three fixtures on home soil – welcoming third-placed Victory to New Zealand, where the ‘Nix are unbeaten in seven matches.
Victory went 15 matches unbeaten to begin their campaign and, after a blip, Tony Popovic’s squad seem to have rediscovered their form amid a four-match unbeaten streak.
Winners of four Championships, there is still a chance Victory could get their hands on a Premiers Plate for the first time since 2015 or even secure a top-two berth.
Remaining games
Central Coast Mariners
Saturday, April 13: Western United (A)
Wednesday, April 17: Abdish-Ata Kant (A) – AFC Cup
Sunday, April 21: Adelaide United (H)
Wednesday, April 24: Abdish-Ata Kant (H) – AFC Cup
Saturday, April 27: Newcastle Jets (A)
Wellington Phoenix
Friday, April 12: Melbourne Victory (H)
Friday, April 19: Newcastle Jets (A)
Saturday, April 27: Macarthur FC (H)
Melbourne Victory
Friday, April 12: Wellington Phoenix (A)
Saturday, April 20: Brisbane Roar (H)
Saturday, April 27: Western Sydney Wanderers (H)
Six-way race for the Finals spots
We’ve entered the final sprint of this Isuzu UTE A-League season and six teams are still battling for the right to play finals football, alongside the Phoenix, Mariners and Victory, who have locked in their place in the post-season.
Adelaide United are ninth and six points adrift of the top six but the resurgent Reds are looming as the team to watch.
Carl Veart’s Adelaide have reeled off three consecutive wins and, with a game in hand, they could move to within just three points of the top six if they cash in. As such, they loom as the dark horse who could turn things upside down in the final weeks of the campaign.
The Reds were one spot off the foot of the table after Round 20 but those three wins on the bounce have fired Veart’s side back into finals contention.
Sydney FC have gained plaudits for their attacking style and relentless pressing but missed the chance to stay within three points of Melbourne Victory following a shock 3-1 loss at Newcastle Jets over the weekend.
Macarthur FC have lost back-to-back games and three of their last four, having a surrendered a two-goal lead on their trip to Western United, while Western Sydney Wanderers were upstaged by Brisbane Roar in Round 23 as the visitors kept their finals chances alive.
Melbourne City are the three-time reigning premiers but are in serious danger of missing the finals for the first time since 2013-14. They are winless in three outings after a week that saw two late defeats.
Remaining games
Sydney FC
Saturday, April 13: Western Sydney Wanderers (H)
Saturday, April 20: Macarthur FC (A)
Sunday, April 28: Perth Glory (H)
Macarthur FC
Friday, April 12: Adelaide United (A)
Saturday, April 20: Sydney FC (H)
Saturday, April 27: Wellington Phoenix (A)
Western Sydney Wanderers
Saturday, April 13: Sydney FC (A)
Saturday, April 20: Melbourne City (H)
Saturday, April 27: Melbourne Victory (A)
Melbourne City
Sunday, April 14: Perth Glory (H)
Saturday, April 20: Western Sydney Wanderers (A)
Sunday, April 28: Western United (H)
Brisbane Roar
Saturday, April 13: Newcastle Jets (H)
Saturday, April 20: Melbourne Victory (A)
Friday, April 26: Adelaide United (H)
Adelaide United
Friday, April 12: Macarthur FC (H)
Tuesday, April 16: Western United (A)
Sunday, April 21: Central Coast Mariners (A)
Friday, April 26: Brisbane Roar (A)
Golden Boot
Aside from the Premiership and finals race, there is also a significant individual honour in play.
Who will be crowned the 2023-24 Isuzu UTE A-League top goalscorer?
Melbourne Victory’s evergreen talisman Bruno Fornaroli currently tops the standings with 18 goals in 18 games, one ahead of Perth Glory captain and fellow Socceroos forward Adam Taggart.
The last and only time Fornaroli won an A-Leagues Golden Boot was back in 2015-16, when he finished the season with 25 goals for Melbourne City. If he holds on, he would be the oldest ever winner of the honour.
Taggart, who won the 2013-14 Golden Boot and was also the leading goalscorer in South Korea’s top flight back in 2019, is well and truly in the hunt after last week’s brace against Adelaide United.
There is also Newcastle Jets forward Apostolos Stamatelopoulos, who has shouldered the load for his side this season with 15 goals.
Central Coast Mariners’ Angel Torres (13 goals) and Macarthur FC star Valere Germain (12 goals) round out the top five.
