All the in’s and out’s for this weekend’s final round (21) of the Hyundai A-League 2008/09 season.
Will it be Adelaide United, Melbourne Victory or Queensland Roar who will take home the Premier’s Plate?
Stats, facts & milestones
The Hyundai A-League could be welcoming its one millionth fan for the season this weekend. After last week’s round of Hyundai A-League action, the aggregate audience for the Hyundai A-League is 954,973, meaning 45,027 people need to attend this upcoming round’s fixtures to reach the season aggregate of one million fans.
Weekend Matches
Melbourne Victory v Wellington Phoenix
Friday 23 January, 2009
Telstra Dome
Local kick off 8.00pm AEDT (10.00pm NZDT)
Referee. Strebre Delovski
Live and exclusive broadcast on FOX Sports 1 and Sky Sport 3.
Hyundai A-League club radio broadcast partner is SEN (Melbourne) 1116AM and Radio Network (Wellington) 1035AM.
To purchase tickets visit www.ticketmaster.com.au
Melbourne Victory: 1.Michael THEOKLITOS (gk), 2.Kevin MUSCAT (Captain), 3.Michael THWAITE, 5.Sebastian RYALL, 7.Matthew KEMP, 8.Grant BREBNER, 9.Danny ALLSOPP, 10.Archie THOMPSON, 11.NEY FABIANO, 12.Rodrigo VARGAS, 14.Billy CELESKI, 15.Tom PONDELJAK, 16.Carlos HERNANDEZ, 17.Jose Luis LOPEZ, 20.Mitchell LANGERAK (gk), 22.Nick WARD .*one to be omitted
In: Matthew KEMP (return from suspension).
Out: Nil
Others Unavailable: Nil
Wellington Phoenix: 1. Mark PASTON (gk), 2. Jeremy CHRISTIE, 3. Tony LOCHHEAD, 4. Jon McKAIN, 5. Karl DODD, 7. Leo BERTOS, 9. Shane SMELTZ, 10. Michael FERRANTE, 11. DANIEL, 15. Adam KWASNIK, 18. Ben SIGMUND, 20. Glen MOSS (gk), 22. Andrew DURANTE, 23. Costa BARBAROUSES, 25. Manny MUSCAT.
In: 22. Andrew DURANTE (return from injury).
Out: 6. Tim BROWN (suspended – 1 week).
Others Unavailable: 13. Troy HEARFIELD (suspended – 1 week), 17. Vince Lia (knee – season)
Stats, Facts & Milestones
Having won each of their past five games at Telstra Dome, Melbourne Victory are now aiming to create a new Hyundai A-League record of winning consecutive home games – never before has a team won six home matches in a row.
HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORDS in all official competitions
All matches (played 5): Melbourne Victory wins 2, Wellington Phoenix wins 1 (2 draws).
In Melbourne (played 2): Melbourne Victory wins 1, Wellington Phoenix wins 0 (1 draw).
Queensland Roar v Perth Glory
Saturday 24 January, 2009
Suncorp Stadium
Local kick off 7.00pm (6.00pm AWDT)
Referee. Peter O-Leary
Live and exclusive broadcast on FOX Sports 1 and Sky Sport 1.
Hyundai A-League club radio broadcast partner is 6PR (Perth).
To purchase tickets visit www.premier.ticketek.com.au
Queensland Roar Squad: 1. Liam REDDY (gk), 2.Andrew PACKER, 4.Craig MOORE (c), 5.Josh McCLOUGHAN, 7.Michael ZULLO, 8.Massimo MURDOCCA, 9.Sergio VAN DIJK, 10. Charlie MILLER, 12. Tahj MINNIECON, 14.Ben GRIFFIN, 15.Matthew McKAY, 17.Mitch NICHOLS, 18.Danny TIATTO, 19. Isaka CERNAK, 20.Griffin McMASTER (gk), 21.Tommy OAR, 22. Robbie KRUSE, 23. Tim SMITS. *three to be omitted
In: 1. Liam REDDY (returns from injury), 12. Tahj MINNIECON (returns from injury), 19. Isaka CERNAK (promoted), 21.Tommy OAR (promoted), 23. Tim SMITS (promoted).
Out: 16.Hyuk-Su SEO (calf injury), 40. Matt HAM (end of short-term injury contract)
Others Unavailable: REINALDO (groin injury), Luke DEVERE (hamstring injury)
Perth Glory Squad: 30.Tando VELAPHI (gk), 1.Jason PETKOVIC (gk), 2.Nikolai TOPOR-STANLEY, 4.Jamie COYNE (c), 5.Jamie HARNWELL, 7.Nick RIZZO, 11.Scott BULLOCH, 13.Nikita RUKAVYTSYA, 15.Hayden DOYLE, 16.Adriano PELLEGRINO, 17.Jimmy DOWNEY, 19.Naum SEKULOVSKI, 22.Wayne SRHOJ, 24.Anthony SKORICH, 28.Andrija JUKIC, 29.Victor SIKORA, 31.Scott NEVILLE, 32.Dean EVANS. *three to be omitted
In: 13.Nikita RUKAVYTSYA (return from trial in Holland), 17.Jimmy DOWNEY (return from injury), 24.Anthony SKORICH (promoted from Youth Team), 32.Dean EVANS (promoted from Youth Team).
Out: 3.David TARKA (hip – season).
Others Unavailable: Josip MAGDIC (ankle – season), AMARAL (hamstring – season), James ROBINSON (abdomen – season), Frank JURIC (shoulder – test), Eugene DADI (on loan to FC Vaduz), Dino DJULBIC (transfer to Rot Weiss Ahlen – Germany), Hayden FOXE (leg – season), Mark LEE (foot – 1 week), Marc ANTHONY (hamstring – 1 week), Adrian TRINIDAD (ankle – 1 week).
Stats, Facts & Milestones
Having already obtained more competition points this season (33 so far) than in season 2007/08 (31) Queensland Roar are now set to finish higher on the final Hyundai A-League ladder than in any previous season – the Roar’s highest final placing was 4th in 2007/08.
HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD in all official competitions
All matches (played 11): Queensland Roar wins 8, Perth Glory wins 1 (2 draws).
In Brisbane (played 5): Queensland Roar wins 3, Perth Glory wins 0 (2 draws)
Sydney FC v Newcastle Jets
Sunday 25 January, 2009
Sydney Football Stadium
Local kick off 5.00pm
Referee. Kevin Docherty
Live and exclusive broadcast on FOX Sports 1 and delayed coverage on Sky Sport 1.
Hyundai A-League club radio broadcast partner is 1233 ABC Newcastle.
To purchase tickets visit www.premier.ticketek.com.au
Sydney FC Squad: 1. Clint BOLTON (gk), 2. Iain FYFE, 4. Simon COLOSIMO, 7. Robbie MIDDLEBY, 8. Stuart MUSIALIK, 10. Steve CORICA(c), 12. Shannon COLE, 14. Alex BROSQUE, 15. Terry McFLYNN, 16. Chris PAYNE, 18. Adam CASEY, 19. Mark BRIDGE, 20. Ivan NECEVSKI (gk), 27. Matthew JURMAN, 32. Brendan GAN, 34. Rhyan GRANT, 35. Kofi DANNING. *two to be omitted
In: 12. Shannon COLE (return injury), 18. Adam CASEY (promoted), 27. Matthew JURMAN (promoted).
Out: 36. Zach CAIRNCROSS (Suspended – 2 weeks).
Others Unavailable: 22.Mike ENFIELD (knee – indefinite), 11.Brendon SANTALAB (shoulder – 2 weeks).
Newcastle Jets Squad: 1.Ante COVIC (gk), 2. Adam GRIFFITHS, 7. Kaz PATAFTA, 8. Matt THOMPSON (c), 10. Jin-Hyung SONG, 11. Tarek ELRICH, 13. Adam D-APUZZO, 16. Ben KANTAROVSKI, 17. Antun KOVACIC, 26. Mark MILLIGAN, 27. Jesse PINTO, 28. Jarrad ROSS, 30. Justin PASFIELD (gk), 31. James VIRGILI, 32. Brodie MOOY, 33. Taylor REGAN.*one to be omitted
In: 2. Adam GRIFFITHS (returns from suspension), 31. James VIRGILI (returns from national team duties)
Out: 12. Jobe WHEELHOUSE (suspended)
Others Unavailable: 15. Jason HOFFMAN (knee – season),18. Noel SPENCER (ankle – season), 20. Ben KENNEDY (ankle – season), 19. Jason NAIDOVSKI (knee – season), 24. Marko JESIC (knee – season), 29. Sean ROONEY (hand – season).
Stats, Facts & Milestones
Newcastle’s Antun Kovacic is set to make his 50th National League appearance. He made 42 appearances for Melbourne Knights in the old National League and eight combined appearances for Melbourne Victory and Newcastle Jets in the Hyundai A-League.
HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORDS in all official competitions
All matches (played 13): Sydney FC wins 6, Newcastle Jets wins 2 (5 draws).
In Sydney (played 6): Sydney FC wins 3, Newcastle Jets wins 0 (3 draws)
Central Coast Mariners v Adelaide United
Sunday 25 January, 2009
Bluetongue Stadium
Local kick off 7.00pm AEDT (6.30pm ACDT)
Referee. Matthew Breeze
Live and exclusive broadcast on FOX Sports 1 and Sky Sport 1.
Hyundai A-League club radio broadcast partner Coast FM (Gosford) 96.3FM and FRESH FM (Adelaide).
To purchase tickets visit www.premier.ticketek.com.au
Central Coast Mariners Squad: 20. Danny VUKOVIC (gk), 2. Andre GUMPRECHT, 4. Pedj BOJIC, 5. Bradley PORTER, 7. John HUTCHINSON, 9. Nik MRDJA, 10. Adrian CACERES, 11. Dylan MACALLISTER, 12. Greg OWENS, 13. Paul O’GRADY, 16. Nigel BOOGAARD, 18. Alex WILKINSON, 19. Matt SIMON, 22. Sasho PETROVSKI, 27. Brady SMITH, 28. Matthew LEWIS, 30. Andrew REDMAYNE (gk). *two to be omitted
In: 12. Greg OWENS (Promoted), 16. Nigel BOOGAARD (Returns from Injury), 27. Brady SMITH (Promoted from NYL), 28. Matthew LEWIS (Promoted from NYL)
Out: 8. Dean HEFFERNAN (Suspended – 2 rounds), 15. Andrew CLARK (Suspended – 1 round)
Others Unavailable: 6. David D’APUZZO (Knee – Indefinite), 17. Matthew OSMAN (Hamstring – Indefinite), 21. Ahmad ELRICH (Knee – Season).
Adelaide United Squad: 20.Eugene GALEKOVIC (gk), 2.Robert CORNTHWAITE, 3.ALEMAO, 4.Angelo COSTANZO, 5.Michael VALKANIS, 6.CASSIO, 7.Lucas PANTELIS, 9.Paul AGOSTINO, 10.CRISTIANO, 13.Travis DODD (capt.), 14.Scott JAMIESON, 15.Jonas SALLEY, 18.Fabian BARBIERO, 24.Paul REID, 25.Robert YOUNIS, 30.Mark BIRIGHITTI (gk). *one to be omitted
In: 6.CASSIO (promoted), 7.Lucas PANTELIS (returns from injury), 25.Robert YOUNIS (promoted)
Out: 19.Sasa OGNENOVSKI (suspended), 26.Matthew MULLEN (omitted)
Others Unavailable: 1.Daniel BELTRAME (gk) (knee – season), 22.DIEGO (quad – 1 week), 16.Daniel MULLEN (knee – 3 weeks), 8.Kristian SARKIES (ankle – test), 21.Jason SPAGNUOLO (knee – 2 weeks)
Stats, Facts & Milestones
In their 44 Hyundai A-League matches to date, the Central Coast Mariners have recorded an aggregate attendance of 490,137 people – this puts the Mariners just 9,863 people away from reaching an all-time aggregate audience of half a million fans at Bluetongue Stadium.
HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORDS in all official competitions
All matches (played 12): Central Coast Mariners wins 5, Adelaide United wins 4 (3 draws).
In Gosford (played 5): Central Coast Mariners wins 3, Adelaide United wins 2 (0 draws).
Note.
– Squads subject to change
– Match date and kick-off times are subject to change without notice.
THIS ROUND RE-WOUND
2005/06
The final round of the 2005/06 season provided an ideal appetiser for the first Hyundai A-League finals series, as Major Semi-Finalists Sydney and Adelaide fought out a classic encounter, won by Sydney 2-1.
2006/07
A battle for the fourth and final play-off spot between Queensland (who needed a win) and Sydney in Round 21 2006/07 ended 1-1 at Suncorp Stadium, in front of over 32,000 fans, ensuring Sydney went through to the finals at the expense of the Roar.
2007/08
Of the four teams which went into Round 21 2007/08 equal on points at the top of the ladder, it was only the Mariners (2-0 winners over Wellington) and Newcastle (2-1 over Perth) who could nab all three points in the final home-and-away round, with Sydney (who drew 2-2 with Melbourne) and Queensland (0-2 losers to Adelaide) failing to make the all-important top-two.
BIRTHDAY BOYS
Ben Kantarovski (Newcastle Jets) turns 17 on Tuesday 20-Jan
Matt Simon (Central Coast Mariners) turns 23 on Thursday 22-Jan
