Match preview: Wellington Phoenix v Melbourne City

The Summer of Heroes may have ended, but there’s no end to the intensity as Wellington Phoenix host Melbourne City on Saturday afternoon in a game that can determine the final top-six places (AEDT).

Wellington’s nine-game unbeaten run came to an end against Sydney FC on Wednesday night, with Mark Rudan’s men succumbing to a tight 1-0 loss at Westpac Stadium.

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FULL-TIME HIGHLIGHTS: Wellington Phoenix v Melbourne City

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Sarpreet Singh was on-song once more, registering three shots on target, but his inability to breach Sydney’s defence sums up the Phoenix’s performance.

City, meanwhile, bounced back from their 2-1 loss to Central Coast Mariners with some promising showings of their own.

A nil-all draw with Perth Glory steered the ship back on course, before Bart Schenkeveld’s injury-time header sealed the three points for City in a thrilling 4-3 win against Western Sydney Wanderers in Round 15.

https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=5992299572001

Warren Joyce’s men have produced some peculiar football of late — they are resolute at the back, with some serious steel in the midfield via Luke Brattan and Rostyn Griffiths.

Up front, there appears to be a vacuum created in Bruno Fornaroli’s absence. While Ritchie De Laet has impressively deputised, City are lacking that killer instinct necessary to edge teams in tight encounters.

The last time these sides met in Round 4, City triumphed 2-0 at home thanks to goals from De Laet and Fornaroli. Times have changed with regards to form and personnel, making this prospect all the more enticing.

https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=5859794903001

Key Opta Stats

Melbourne City have won three of their last four matches at Westpac Stadium against Wellington Phoenix in the Hyundai A-League (L1), including a 5-1 triumph in their most recent fixture there.
Phoenix strike Roy Krishna boasts a shot conversion rate of 31% this Hyundai A-League campaign, the highest of any player to have made at least 10 total shots.
Wellington have failed to find the back of the net in the first halves of their last two games at Westpac Stadium; the last time they went longer without doing so was a three-game stretch in January 2018.

Ins and outs

Wellington Phoenix squad: 1.Filip KURTO (gk), 4.Mandi SOSA, 5. Ryan LOWRY, 6.Dylan FOX, 7.Cillian SHERIDAN, 9.Nathan BURNS, 11.David WILLIAMS, 13.Liberato CACACE, 14.Alex Rufer, 15.Michal KOPZCYNSKI, 16.Louis FENTON, 18.Sarpreet SINGH, 19.Tom DOYLE, 20.Oliver SAIL (gk), 21.Roy KRISHNA, 22.Andrew DURANTE (c), 23.Max BURGESS, 27.Steven TAYLOR**two to be omitted**

Ins: 6. Dylan FOX (promoted), 23.Max BURGESS (promoted)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: Nil

Melbourne City FC squad: 1.Mark BIRIGHITTI, 2.Ritchie De LAET, 3.Scott JAMIESON (c), 4.Harrison DELBRIDGE, 5.Bart SCHENKEVELD, 7.Rostyn GRIFFITHS, 8.Riley MCGREE, 10.Dario VIDOSIC, 13.Nathaniel ATKINSON, 15.Kearyn BACCUS, 18.Eugene GALEKOVIC (gk), 19.Lachlan WALES, 21.Ramy NAJJARINE, 25.Iacopo LA ROCCA, 22.Curtis GOOD, 26.Luke BRATTAN, 27.Florin BERENGUER-BOHRER, 30.Moudi NAJJAR **two to be omitted**

Ins: 10.Dario VIDOSIC (returns from injury), 21.Ramy NAJJARINE (promoted)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: Nil