So here we are. The teams are all confirmed for the Hyundai A-League Finals Series, and the coming weekend will see four sides do battle in the Elimination Finals hosted by Melbourne Victory and Adelaide United.
An unexpected 10-goal swing in Round 27 may have denied fans what looked a nailed-on Melbourne Derby, but there is still everything to play for as Victory welcome the ‘Nix to AAMI Park on Friday evening, while Melbourne City travel to Adelaide’s Coopers Stadium for Sunday night’s big matchup.
Perth Glory and Sydney FC await the winners, and here’s how you can keep on top of all the action.
UPDATE: Finals Series fixtures confirmed
WATCH: How to watch the Hyundai A-League LIVE and FREE
TALKING POINTS: Can Sydney claim another Championship?
Melbourne Victory v Wellington Phoenix
Friday, 7.50pm (AEST)
Phoenix go into this tie licking their wounds after a 5-0 defeat at the hands of premiers Perth Glory on Sunday.
Coach Mark Rudan made several changes to his established line-up for the trip to Western Australia, and he paid the price as his old mate Tony Popovic‘s side tore the ‘Nix apart.
It will be a very different Wellington Phoenix that will travel to AAMI Park for this clash with Kevin Muscat’s Victory, though, with the likes of first-choice goalkeeper Filip Kurto and Golden Boot-winning striker Roy Krishna sure to be back in the starting line up.
READ: Exclusive interview with Phoenix hotshot Roy Krishna
FINALS SERIES: Muscat wants more from Melbourne Victory
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=5991567348001
There’s been nothing to choose between these two sides so far in 2018/19, with three meetings resulting in three draws. The most recent of those was a 1-1 tie at Auckland’s iconic Eden Park in Round 19, when superstars Krishna and Victory’s Keisuke Honda scored the goals.
The last time these sides met at AAMI Park it finished 3-3, with the Melbourne side’s Kosta Barbarouses snatching an 88th-minute equaliser after the Big V battled back from 3-1 down at half-time.
Victory laboured to a 1-0 win at Western Sydney Wanderers in Round 27, in a match that was effectively a dead rubber, and have been up and down in recent weeks as they have battled to compete in the AFC Champions League, as well as the Hyundai A-League.
But in Honda and Ola Toivonen they boast two of the competition’s leading stars, and Muscat will expect them to step up now the campaign has reached its sharp end.
How to watch: All Hyundai A-League 2019 Finals Series matches will be broadcast live on FOX SPORTS, 10 Bold, Sky Sport NZ and MyFootball Live App, Live Fast and Data Free for Telstra mobile customers. You can also subscribe to Kayo Sports.
Adelaide United v Melbourne City FC
Sunday, 7.00pm (AEST)
As statements of intent go, it is probably best not to read too much into Melbourne City’s 5-0 Round 27 victory over wooden-spooners Central Coast Mariners.
While the win will undoubtedly boost morale, and gave onlookers a rare glimpse of some of the Sky Blues’ young hopefuls, it is likely to prove of little use as a guide to what is likely to happen at Coopers Stadium on Sunday.
Expect City – whose big win, coupled with Perth Glory’s 5-0 triumph over Wellington Phoenix on Sunday, denied Melbourne an Elimination Finals Derby – to revert to type as they take on one of the Hyundai A-League’s form sides in Adelaide United.
The Reds come into the match on the back of an unbeaten run of five games, hitting form at just the right time to claim fourth spot in the ladder and finishing the regular season with a knockabout 5-3 win at Brisbane Roar on ANZAC Day.
WATCH: Adelaide put five past Brisbane Roar … and concede three
VIDEO: Melbourne City v Central Coast Mariners
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6000283563001
Despite the glut of last-round goals, though, it seems unlikely that the top six’s two lowest-scoring teams will throw caution to the wind on Sunday.
The pair’s last meeting, at AAMI Park in Round 25, ended in a 0-0 draw and it a flash of inspiration from the likes of United’s Isaias or City’s Jamie Maclaren will be needed to settle what is sure to be a tense, absorbing battle in South Australia.
How to watch: All Hyundai A-League 2019 Finals Series matches will be broadcast live on FOX SPORTS, 10 Bold, Sky Sport NZ and MyFootball Live App, Live Fast and Data Free for Telstra mobile customers. You can also subscribe to Kayo Sports.
