The teams are in for Round 3 of the 2024-25 Isuzu UTE A-League season.
Wellington Phoenix head into Saturday’s highly-anticipated New Zealand Derby without captain Alex Rufer due to a knee injury, the club confirmed. But there is good news for the Phoenix, with star recruit Marco Rojas included in the Round 3 squad.
Rojas is a chance to make his first appearance in Phoenix colours since 2011 and is joined in contending for his first minutes of the season by fellow Wellington signing Paulo Retre, who is pushing to return from a groin injury that has kept him out of the opening two rounds.
Wellington face Auckland FC at Sky Stadium on Saturday afternoon (3pm kick-off AEDT).
BUY TICKETS TO THE HISTORIC NEW ZEALAND DERBY!
Around the league, Sydney FC will be without wingers Douglas Costa and Joe Lolley due to injuries but head coach Ufuk Talay is hoping to have the star duo back in the mix for next week’s AFC Champions League Two clash with Sanfrecce Hiroshima; it’s not good news for Sydney’s Corey Hollman, however, who is set for an extended period out with an ankle injury.
READ MORE: ‘Good news’ for Sydney FC as coach sets timeline for Lolley & Costa injury return
Brisbane Roar’s Neicer Acosta will miss Round 3 through injury, while this weekend comes too soon for Adelaide United signing Bart Vriends who is back in full training, along with fellow Red Fabian Talladira, but is not included in head coach Carl Veart’s squad to face Western Sydney Wanderers on Saturday night due to match fitness.
Read on for all the team news ahead of Round 3.
* Western United and Melbourne City to submit their squads for Monday night’s game at AAMI Park on Sunday afternoon
Friday, 7:35pm (AEDT): Brisbane Roar v Sydney FC
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Brisbane Roar squad: 1. Macklin FREKE (GK), 3. Corey BROWN, 4. Ben WARLAND, 6. Joe CALETTI, 7. Rafael STRUICK, 8. Walid SHOUR, 10. Florin BERENGUER, 15. Hosine BILITY, 16. Thomas WADDINGHAM, 17. Harry VAN DER SAAG, 19. Jack HINGERT, 21. Antonee BURKE-GILROY, 23. Keegan JELACIC, 24. Sam KLEIN, 26. Jay O’SHEA (C), 27. Ben HALLORAN, 29. Matt ACTON (GK), 30. Quinn MACNICOL, 35. Louis ZABALA, 43. Adam ZIMARINO
(Two to be omitted)
Ins: 3, Corey BROWN, 30. Quinn MACNICOL
Outs: 11. Neicer ACOSTA (leg injury), 49. Ivan OZZI
Unavailable: 2. Scott NEVILLE (knee), 5. Marcus FERKRANUS (knee), 11. Neicer ACOSTA (leg injury)
Sydney FC squad: 1. Andrew REDMAYNE, 4. Jordan COURTNEY-PERKINS, 5. Hayden MATTHEWS, 7. Adrian SEGECIC, 8. Anas OUAHIM, 9. Patryk KLIMALA, 12. Harrison DEVENISH-MEARES, 13. Pat WOOD, 15. Leo SENA, 16. Joel KING, 17. Anthony CACERES, 19. Mitch GLASSON, 20. Tiago QUINTAL, 22. Max BURGESS, 23. Rhyan GRANT (C), 25. Jaiden KUCHARSKI, 28. Nathan AMANTIDIS, 33. Marin FRANCE, 37. Will KENNEDY, 41. Alex POPOVIC
(Two to be omitted)
Ins: 19. Mitch GLASSON (promoted), 20. Tiago QUINTAL (promoted), 22. Max BURGESS (return from suspension), 33. Marin FRANCE (promoted)
Outs: 6. Corey HOLLMAN (ankle), 10. Joe LOLLEY (groin)
Unavailable: 3. Aaron GURD (foot), 11. Douglas COSTA (hamstring)
Saturday, 3:00pm (AEDT): Wellington Phoenix v Auckland FC
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Wellington Phoenix squad: 1. Josh OLUWAYEMI (gk), 3. Corban PIPER, 4. Scott WOOTTON, 5. Fin ROA CONCHIE, 6. Tim PAYNE, 7. Kosta BARBAROUSES, 8. Paulo RETRE, 9. Hideki ISHIGE, 10. David BALL, 11. Stefan COLAKOVSKI, 12. Mo AL-TAAY, 15. Isaac HUGHES, 19. Sam SUTTON, 21. Marco ROJAS, 24. Oskar VAN HATTUM, 25. Kazuki NAGASAWA, 27. Matt SHERIDAN, 30. Alby KELLY-HEALD (gk), 39. Jayden SMITH, 41. Nathan WALKER
(Two to be omitted)
Ins: 8. Paulo RETRE (return from injury) 10. David BALL (promoted), 21. Marco ROJAS (return from injury)
Outs: 14. Alex RUFER (injury), 29. Luke BROOKE-SMITH (omitted), 36. Xuan LOKE (omitted)
Unavailable: 17. Gabriel SLOANE-RODRIGUES (injured), 18. Lukas KELLY-HEALD (injured)
Auckland FC squad: 1. Michael WOUD, 2. Hiroki SAKAI, 3. Scott GALLOWAY, 4. Nando PIJNAKER, 5. Tommy SMITH, 6. Louis VERSTRAETE, 7. Cameron HOWIESON, 8. Luis TOOMEY, 10. Guillermo MAY, 12. Alex PAULSEN, 14. Liam GILLION, 15. Francis DE VRIES, 17. Callan ELLIOT, 18. Finn MCKENLAY, 21. Jesse RANDALL, 22. Jake BRIMMER, 23. Dan HALL, 25. Neyder MORENO, 27. Logan ROGERSON, 28. Luis Felipe GALLEGOS
(Two to be omitted)
Ins: 8. Luis TOOMEY
Outs: 9. Max MATA
Unavailable: Nil
MIND GAMES: Six acts that have ignited the New Zealand derby
Saturday, 5:00pm (AEDT): Central Coast Mariners v Perth Glory
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Central Coast Mariners squad: 1 Adam PAVLESIC (gk), 3. Brian KALTAK, 8. Alfie McCALMONT, 9. Alou KUOL, 10. Mikael DOKA, 11. Vitor FEIJAO, 12. Lucas MAURAGIS, 15. Storm ROUX, 16. Harry STEELE, 17. Sabit NGOR, 24. Diesel HERRINGTON, 26. Bradley TAPP, 27. Sasha KUZEVSKI, 29. Nico DUARTE, 30. Jack WARSHAWSKY, 33. Nathan PAULL, 36. Haine EAMES, 37. Bailey BRANDTMAN, 40. Dylan PERAIC-CULLEN, 99. Ryan EDMONDSON
(Two to be omitted)
Ins: Nil
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 20. Trent SAINSBURY (injured)
Perth Glory squad: 1.Oli SAIL (gk), 3.Anas HAMZAOUI, 5.Lachlan BARR, 6.Brandon O’NEILL, 7.Nicholas PENNINGTON, 9.David WILLIAMS, 11.Hiroaki AOYAMA, 12.Taras GOMULKA, 13.Cameron COOK (gk), 14.Nathanael BLAIR, 15.Zach LISOLAJSKI, 16.Adam BUGARIJA, 17.Jarrod CARLUCCIO, 18.Cristian CAICEDO, 20.Trent OSTLER, 21.Abdul FAISAL, 22.Adam TAGGART (c), 24.Andriano LEBIB, 26.Khoa NGO, 33.Luis CANGA
(Two to be omitted)
Ins: 18.Cristian CAICEDO, 20.Trent OSTLER
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 8.Mustafa AMINI (injured), 10.Nikola MILEUSNIC (injured), 19.Josh RISDON (injured)
Saturday, 7:35pm (AEDT): Western Sydney Wanderers v Adelaide United
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Western Sydney Wanderers squad: 2.Gabriel CLEUR, 4.Alex BONETIG, 5.Dylan SCICLUNA, 7.Zac SAPSFORD, 8.Tae-wook JEONG, 9.Marcus ANTONSSON, 12.Ben HOLLIDAY, 13.Dean PELEKANOS, 14.Nicolas MILANOVIC, 16.Tom BEADLING, 19.Jack CLISBY, 21.Aydan HAMMOND, 23.Bozhidar KRAEV, 25.Josh BRILLANTE, 26.Brandon BORRELLO, 27.James TEMELKOVSKI, 30.Jordan HOLMES (GK), 21.Aidan SIMMONS, 40.Tristan VIDACKOVIC (GK), 64.Juan MATA
(Two to be omitted)
Ins: Nil
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 20. Lawrence THOMAS
Adelaide United squad: 1.James DELIANOV, 6. Stefan MAUK, 7. Ryan KITTO, 8. ISAÍAS, 9. Luka JOVANOVIĆ, 10. Zach CLOUGH, 12. Jonny YULL, 14. Jay BARNETT, 17. Ben FOLAMI, 19. Yaya DUKULY, 20. Dylan PIERIAS, 21. Javi LÓPEZ, 26. Archie GOODWIN, 27. Josh CAVALLO, 36.Panashe MADANHA, 40. Ethan COX, 42. Austin AYOUBI, 44. Ryan WHITE, 51. Panagiotis KIKIANIS, 55. Ethan ALAGICH.
Ins: 36. Panashe MADANHA
Outs: 4. Jordan ELSEY
Unavailable: 4. Jordan ELSEY, 23. Luke DUZEL
Sunday, 4:00pm (AEDT): Melbourne Victory v Macarthur Bulls
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Melbourne Victory FC squad: 2. Jason GERIA, 3. Adama TRAORE, 5. Brendan HAMILL, 6. Ryan TEAGUE, 7. Daniel ARZANI, 8. Zinedine MACHACH, 9. Nikolaos VERGOS, 10. Bruno FORNAROLI, 11. Clerismario SANTOS RODRIGUES, 14. Jordi VALADON, 16. Joshua INSERRA, 17. Nishan VELUPILLAY, 18. Fabian MONGE, 19. Jing REEC, 22. Joshua RAWLINS, 25. Jack DUNCAN, 27. Reno PISCOPO, 28. Kasey BOS, 30. Daniel GRASKOSKI
(One to be omitted)
Ins: 21.Roderick MIRANDA (returns from suspension), 16.Joshua INSERRA (promoted)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: Nil
Macarthur FC squad: 5. Matthew JURMAN, 6. Tomislav USKOK, 7. Daniel DE SILVA, 8. Jake HOLLMAN, 11. Jed DREW, 12. Filip KURTO, 13. Ivan VUJICA, 15. Dino ARSLANAGIC, 18. Walter SCOTT, 20. Kealey ADAMSON, 22. Liam ROSE, 23. Frans DELI, 24. Dean BOSNJAK, 26. Luke BRATTAN, 27. Joshua DAMEVSKI, 28. Harrison SAWYER, 30. Alexander ROBINSON, 33. Yianni NICOLAOU, 44. Marin JAKOLIS, 98. Valere GERMAIN
(Two to be omitted)
Ins: Nil
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 9. Chris IKONOMIDIS (Injured), 21. BERNARDO (injured)
Monday, 7:00pm (AEDT): Western United v Melbourne City
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Western United squad: 1. Tom HEWARD-BELLE (gk), 5. Oliver LAVALE, 6. Tomoki IMAI, 9. Hiroshi IBUSUKI, 10. Matthew GRIMALDI, 13. Tate RUSSELL, 14. Jake NAJDOVSKI, 19. Noah BOTIC, 20. Abel WALATEE, 21. Sebastian PASQUALI, 22. Kane VIDMAR, 23. Rhys BOZINOVSKI, 29. Charbel SHAMOON, 30. Dylan LEONARD, 32. Angus THURGATE, 33. Matthew SUTTON (gk), 34. James YORK, 44. Jordan LAUTON, 37. Luke VICKERY, 77. Riku DANZAKI
(Two to be omitted)
Ins: 37. Luke VICKERY, 44. Jordan LAUTON (promoted)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 4. James DONACHIE (injured), 7. Ramy NAJJARINE (injured), 17. Ben GARUCCIO (injured), 43. Khoder KADDOUR (injured)
Melbourne City FC squad: 1. Jamie YOUNG (GK), 2. Callum TALBOT, 6. Steven UGARKOVIC, 7. Mathew LECKIE, 10. Yonatan COHEN, 13. Nathaniel ATKINSON, 15. Andrew NABBOUT, 19. Zane SCHREIBER, 22. Germán FERREYRA, 23. Marco TILIO, 26. Samuel SOUPRAYEN, 27. Kai TREWIN, 30. Andreas KUEN, 33. Patrick BEACH (GK), 35. Medin MEMETI, 38. Harry POLITIDIS, 41. Lawrence WONG, 42. Ben DUNBAR, 46. Ben MAZZEO, 47. Kavian RAHMANI.
(Two to be omitted)
In: 7. Mathew LECKIE (returns from injury), 35. Medin MEMETI, 41. Lawrence WONG, 46. Ben MAZZEO (all promoted).
Out: 16. Aziz BEHICH (suspension), 20. Arion SULEMANI (calf).
Unavailable: 8. James JEGGO (suspension), 16. Aziz BEHICH (suspension), 17. Max CAPUTO (leg), 20. Arion SULEMANI (calf), 21. Alessandro LOPANE (knee), 34. Jayden NECOVSKI (knee), 36. Harry SHILLINGTON (ankle), 37. Peter ANTONIOU (ankle), 39. Emin DURAKOVIC (hamstring).
