The Liberty A-League Finals Series is upon us. Ahead of Week One, KEEPUP provides a lowdown on everything you need to know ahead of the action kicking off on Saturday.
Four teams, one goal.
After an enthralling 2022/23 Liberty A-League season, the first week of the Finals Series is upon us.
A blockbuster weekend of action awaits, as the league’s top four sides will duel it out in hope of edging one step closer to taking home the championship on April 30.
First up, Melbourne City take on reigning two time champions Melbourne Victory on Saturday afternoon in a do-or-die Semi Final, before Sydney FC play host to Western United on Sunday evening.
Before a ball is kicked in anger for the first time on Saturday, here’s everything you need to know in anticipation of the Finals Series.
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PREVIEWS FOR EACH TEAM
SYDNEY FC: They’ve been dominant all season – but premiers have a championship curse to shed once and for all
WESTERN UNITED: Their first season is already a remarkable tale – but final chapter could have an incredible twist
MELBOURNE CITY: They flirted with catastrophe – but this is why City could yet be champions
MELBOURNE VICTORY: These remarkable numbers tell you why lightning could strike a third time for the reigning champions
HOW DOES THE FINALS SERIES WORK?
The winner of the Liberty A-League championship is determined in a three week Finals Series.
In the first week, the top two sides (Sydney FC vs Western United) face off in the first Semi Final, with the winner earning a week off and a place in the Grand Final.
The loser gets a second chance in the Preliminary Final the following week, taking on the winner of the second Semi Final (Melbourne City vs Melbourne Victory) for the remaining Grand Final spot.
Hosted by the loser of Sydney FC vs Western United, the Preliminary Final determines who faces the winner of the first Semi Final in the title decider the following week, with the loser’s season coming to an end.
The Grand Final will be played on April 30 at CommBank Stadium, where the winner will be crowned champions for the 2022/23 season.
WHERE DO I BUY TICKETS?
Tickets for the first Semi Final went on sale at 12.00pm (AEST) Tuesday April 4 via Ticketbooth, starting at $10 for adults, $7 for concession, $5 for junior and $20 a family.
All tickets must be pre-purchased online as there are no cash sales at the gate.
Melbourne City members can scan their physical or digital membership card at the gate for free entry – while Melbourne Victory members and general public must purchase tickets online.
Meanwhile, tickets for the second Semi Final between Sydney FC and Western United are on sale via Ticketek for those looking to go the double-header (with Sydney FC playing Perth Glory in the Isuzu UTE A-League at 3.00pm).
Otherwise, tickets can be purchased from the Allianz box office starting at $20 for adults, $10 junior and $40 a family for the Semi Final only. Fans will not be able to use the included public transport if they purchase at the box office.
Tickets for the Liberty A-League Grand Final went on sale in February and are available via Ticketek. All Liberty A-League Pass holders will also be able to attend the Grand Final.
The Liberty A-League Pass was a new initiative for the 2023 season designed to give under-16 football participants the opportunity to attend Liberty A-League games for FREE at their local club.
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HOW DO I WATCH THE FINALS?
The Liberty A-League Finals Series will be streamed exclusively on 10 Play and Paramount+, with the Grand Final also broadcast on 10 Bold.
FINALS FIXTURES
WEEK ONE
Semi Final Two: Melbourne City v Melbourne Victory
Date: Saturday, April 15
Venue: Casey Fields
Kick-off: 3 PM (AEST)
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Semi Final One: Sydney FC vs Western United
Date: Sunday, April 16
Venue: Allianz Stadium
Kick-off: 5:45 PM (AEST)
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WEEK TWO
Preliminary Final: Loser of Semi Final One vs Winner of Semi Final Two
Date: TBC
Venue:
Kick-off: TBC
WEEK THREE
Grand Final: Winner of Semi Final One vs Winner of Preliminary Final
Date: Sunday, April 30
Venue: CommBank Stadium
Kick-off: 4 PM (AEST)
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SEMI FINAL PREVIEWS
Melbourne City v Melbourne Victory
It doesn’t get much bigger than this.
Melbourne City v Melbourne Victory. Win or go home.
City – the most successful Liberty A-League finals team in history – will be looking to edge ever closer to winning a fifth championship and their first in three years. Meanwhile, their opponents Victory are looking to do it all again and become the second team after City to win a championship three-peat after they did the same between 2016-18.
And as we know, winning it from fourth after scraping into the finals is nothing new for Victory after they did the same last year.
Both sides come into this match having secured their finals berth on the last weekend of the regular season in dramatic circumstances.
Victory surrendered a two-goal lead against bottom-placed Wellington Phoenix in their 2-2 draw against the ditch, meaning City had to avoid defeat against Canberra United the following day to ensure the reigning champions returned to the finals.
City also gave up a two-goal advantage late, hanging on in the end to a 3-3 draw, which meant Victory scraped in ahead of the side from the capital and by the same token ensured Dario Vidosic’s side would host the second Semi Final.
Now, the arch-rivals are set to lock horns again in a rematch of last season’s Preliminary Final, which saw Jeff Hopkins’ side come away with a 3-1 win that knocked City out of the finals in straight sets.
And City would love nothing more than to enact some revenge for last year while stopping Victory from equalling their Championship record.
Melbourne City’s record: 3rd place, 30 points (9W, 3D, 6L), Goal difference: +13
City started the season like a house on fire, winning six of their opening eight games but have since dropped off as injuries and a dip in form has plagued their run-home.
Vidosic’s side has only won once in their last seven games – a 4-1 win over Newcastle Jets – to go with four defeats and two draws.
In their last two games, City surrendered leads late to Perth Glory and Canberra United, conceding a whopping six goals accumulatively from the 70th minute onwards in both contests.
However, their attack is humming, scoring seven in the last two which has coincided with the return of Holly McNamara and goalscoring form from Hannah Wilkinson and Rhianna Pollicina.
City are also yet to beat a top four side this year, only getting draws against Victory and Sydney FC while falling to defeat twice against Western United and once each to the aforementioned duo.
Melbourne Victory’s record: 4th place, 29 points (7W, 8D, 3L) Goal difference: +7
Similarly to City, Victory also come into finals in a lean patch of form.
The reigning champions have only won once in their last six games, but have drawn each of the other five games. In fact, Victory has only lost once (6-3 defeat to Sydney FC) since they lost the first two games of the season to Western United and the Sky Blues.
Despite losing Matildas midfielders Alex Chidac and Elise Kellond-Knight, Victory have been bolstered by the return of Melina Ayres – who again looks primed to tear up the finals.
Ayres has scored four goals in her last five games, taking her tally to nine goals this season and has made a name for herself as a big game player in finals.
She famously scored all-important goals against Adelaide United and City en route to Victory taking home the championship last season, along with a hat-trick the year before in their 6-2 Semi Final win over Brisbane Roar.
HEAD TO HEAD
Melbourne City 1-1 Melbourne Victory – January 15 2023
In the first meeting between the two sides this season, Victory opened the scoring thanks to Alex Chidiac before Hannah Wilkinson pulled one back as the first-half came to an end. Both teams had great chances to win it, but neither could quite find the breakthrough.
Melbourne Victory 2-0 Melbourne City – March 13 2023
Victory secured some bragging rights over their cross-town rivals after an incredible first-half blitz wrapped up the three points. Melina Ayres opened the scoring from the spot before a wonder strike from Paige Zois doubled their lead.
Semi Final Two: Melbourne City v Melbourne Victory
Date: Saturday, April 15
Venue: Casey Fields
Kick-off: 3 PM (AEST)
Broadcast: 10 Play & Paramount +
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Sydney FC v Western United
The tried and tested vs the newcomers.
Sydney FC welcome the Liberty A-League’s newest side Western United to Allianz Stadium for their first ever final on Sunday evening.
The premiers – who completed the three-peat on the final day of the season – finished a point clear of Western and will be looking to finally break their post-season hoodoo this time around.
Ante Juric’s side have lost four of the last five Grand Finals, including the last three, with two of those coming after winning the premiership in the same season.
Their last Championship was in fact back in 2019 and should they win it this year, they’ll equal City as having won the most in competition history.
In fact, should they make the Grand Final, it will be their 10th in the league’s history.
For Western, they will be looking to make Sydney earn their way to the Grand Final the hard way.
This will be United’s first time in the deep end, as they make their finals bow off the back of an incredible maiden season in the Liberty A-League.
Marc Torcaso’s side shocked the system when they won their first seven games of the season, but their results have since tapered off with the loss of some key individuals.
However, if there’s one thing we have learned this year, write this team off at your own peril.
Sydney FC’s record: 1st place, 40 points (13W, 1D, 4L) Goal difference: +28
The Sky Blues come into finals primed for a tilt at the league’s championship.
Juric’s side are unbeaten in their last four games and have beaten each of the other three sides that finished inside the top four this campaign – with Western being the only finals bound team to take all three points off of them this season.
Sydney have only lost four times for the entire season, but never in consecutive games, bouncing back with statement wins after each of their defeats.
Their team is incredibly well balanced from front-to-back, with stars on every line. They have had the league’s best defence (15 conceded), to go with the competition’s best attack (43 goals scored) along with a top quality midfield.
Young defensive duo Kirsty Fenton and Charlize Rule have been breakout players this season, as has Sarah Hunter and Shay Hollman in midfield along with the ever-reliable Mackenzie Hawkebsy.
Meanwhile, Cortnee Vine is arguably in the form of her career – leading the assists charts this season with eight – with Madison Haley (eight goals) and Princess Ibini (seven) reaping the benefits of her silver service.
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Western United’s record: 2nd place, 39 points (13W, 5L) Goal difference: +18
What a season it’s been for Western United.
The league’s newcomers started the season with seven consecutive wins, including scalps against all three top-four sides in their incredible early run.
Golden Boot winner Hannah Keane has been a revelation, as has Hillary Beall between the sticks, while Sydney Cummings and Alana Cerne have been rocks defensively among many others who have impressed in Western’s green and black this season.
However, since their early burst, results have somewhat tapered, winning only twice in their last four – with one of them being overturned result in their favour due to Brisbane Roar fielding an ineligible player.
Western lost a host of key players throughout the season, including 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup winner Jessica McDonald, defender Aimee Medwin and Matildas midfielder Chloe Logarzo – who has since returned just in time for finals.
Whether Logarzo features against her former side will be a curious watch right until Sunday evening.
Head to head:
Western United 2-0 Sydney FC – January 11 2023
Western continued their incredible start to life in the Liberty A-League with a stirring 2-0 victory over Sydney FC at City Vista Recreation Reserve. Two goals from Golden Boot winner Hannah Keane before half-time proved to be the difference as Marc Torcaso’s side extended their perfect start to seven consecutive wins.
Sydney FC 3-0 Western United – March 5 2023
Two months later, the Sky Blues enacted an element of revenge on Western with a thumping win at Kogarah. In what was essentially a Premiership decider, Sydney put the foot down after half-time scoring all three goals in the second-half. Rachel Lowe fired home a quick-fire double before Princess Ibini wrapped up there win with time expiring.
Semi Final One: Sydney FC v Western United
Date: Sunday, April 16
Venue: Allianz Stadium
Kick-off: 5:45 PM (AEST)
Broadcast: 10 Play & Paramount +
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