Neds Weekend Preview: Roar eyeing a six-year first against Sydney

After Melbourne Victory’s 4-0 win over Newcastle Jets on Friday night, look ahead to the rest of the action on its way in Round 5 with KEEPUP’s weekend preview, thanks to neds.

Melbourne City are flying high this season, even after they surrendered a 2-0 lead in last week’s dramatic 2-2 draw against Wellington Phoenix at AAMI Park.

Reigning Golden Boot winner and Socceroos hopeful Jamie Maclaren already has five goals in four matches this season. The Australia international has scored five of City’s last seven goals in the A-League Men.

But form and history is against City – who have star defender Nuno Reis back in the squad while Thomas Lam has dropped out following his red card – when it comes to facing Perth Glory on Saturday afternoon.

Not only has Maclaren failed to score across his last three appearances against the Glory, but City have only won one of their past 11 ALM fixtures versus Perth at AAMI Park (D5 and L5) – a 1-0 victory in December 2021.

Perth defeated City 2-0 in their most recent meeting in the ALM (May 2022) and they will be aiming for back-to-back victories for the first time since December 2018.

The Glory went down to Adelaide United in South Australia last week, though Giordano Colli provided a memorable highlight with his Goal of the Week.

Perth have also elevated former City attacker Stefan Colakovski to the squad for the trip to Melbourne, where he could reunite with his ex-team.

Opta stat: Melbourne City have lost only one of their last 12 A-League Men regular-season matches at AAMI Park (W7, D4), a 3-0 loss to Melbourne Victory (9 April 2022). They are undefeated in their four such fixtures since then (W3, D1) and scored exactly two goals in each of those games.

MATCH DETAILS

Melbourne City v Perth Glory
Saturday, November 5 2022
AAMI Park
Kick-off: 5.00pm AEDT
Broadcast: Paramount+
Odds: City $1.42, Draw $4.25, Glory $6.75
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Borrello the Socceroos bolter?

Brandon Borrello deserves to be in the FIFA Men’s World Cup conversation after a strong start to his first season with Western Sydney Wanderers, according to head coach Marko Rudan says.

After five years playing in Germany, Borrello returned to the Isuzu UTE A-League this term and has been growing in influence for the unbeaten Wanderers, who host Central Coast Mariners at CommBank Stadium on Saturday night.

Borrello was involved in everything as Western Sydney recorded a 2-0 win over the Jets that Rudan rated as their best performance of the season.

Borrello celebrates scoring against the Jets.

A four-time Socceroo, Borrello registered his first A-League Men strike since 2017 early in the second half and Rudan believes the winger is doing all he can to push his case for a spot in the 26-player squad.

“I think so, if you base it on form and fitness,” Rudan said, with the World Cup set to kick-off on November 20. “One of the things (Borrello) has mentioned is that he wants to get back into Socceroos selection.

“It’s just about how do we as coaches service him and his requirements in order to get him where he wants to be.”

There will be two other World Cup hopefuls on the other side of the pitch – Mariners pair Jason Cummings and Garang Kuol.

Cummings was crucial to the Mariners’ last-start win, scoring one goal and setting up the other three in a stunning 4-2 comeback win over reigning champions Western United.

Kuol – the subject of this week’s A-Leagues All Access episode, titled Sky’s The Limit – also came off the bench and scored, only enhancing his Qatar 2022 hopes.

Opta stat: Western Sydney Wanderers have lost only one of their last 13 A-League Men matches against Central Coast Mariners at home (W6, D6) – a 2-0 defeat in February 2017. They are undefeated in their six such fixtures since then (W3, D3) and have scored exactly two goals in each of those games.

MATCH DETAILS

Western Sydney Wanderers v Central Coast Mariners
Saturday, November 5 2022
CommBank Stadium
Kick-off: 7.45pm AEDT
Broadcast: 10 Bold & Paramount+
Odds: Wanderers $1.90, Draw $3.50, Mariners $3.60
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Historic encounter between the ‘Nix and Bulls

Sunday afternoon at Sky Stadium in Wellington… it will be the first time Wellington Phoenix and Macarthur FC meet in an A-League Men match in New Zealand.

Wellington, actually, lost their most recent game in the country when facing a team for the first time – 1-0 against Western United in October 2019, snapping a six-match unbeaten streak in such fixtures (W2 and D4).

But the Phoenix, buoyed by their come-from-behind draw against City in Melbourne, usually do well on home soil.

Ufuk Talay’s men have lost just one of their past 15 ALM games in New Zealand (W10 and D4) – a 4-0 rout at the hands of Central Coast Mariners in April this year. They have conceded just three goals across the first halves during that span.

The Phoenix will be coming up against a wounded Bulls outfit, eager for a response following their defeat at home to Sydney last time out.

Barbados international Mario Williams could make his debut, with Jonathan Aspropotamitis suspended.

Macarthur will have to buck an unwanted trend if they are to emerge victorious across the Tasman. The Bulls are winless in their last nine ALM matches away from Campbelltown
Stadium (D4, L5) – their longest winless run away from their home ground; this despite the Bulls trailing at half-time only once in their last six games in that span.

Opta stat: World Cup hopeful and Macarthur star Daniel Arzani has attempted (29) and completed more dribbles (12) than any other player in the league this season.

MATCH DETAILS

Wellington Phoenix v Macarthur FC
Sunday, November 6 2022
Sky Stadium
Kick-off: 1.00pm AEDT
Broadcast: Paramount+
Odds: Phoenix $1.98, Draw $3.50, Macarthur $3.30
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Roar eyeing a six-year first against the Sky Blues

Not since March 2016 have Brisbane Roar celebrated back-to-back wins over Sydney FC, but they have the chance to do just that this weekend.

The Roar entertain the Sky Blues at Moreton Daily Stadium on Sunday afternoon, having defeated Sydney 3-1 in their most recent ALM meeting in May, which ended an eight-game winless run against the opponents (D4 and L4).

Brisbane – spearheaded by Charlie Austin – have only lost once this season, though they have been restricted to three draws for their points and they will be without suspended goalkeeper Jordan Holmes, who will be replaced by his house-mate Macklin Freke.

“One of us does and the one with long hair doesn’t,” Freke grinned as the Roar also welcome back Jack Hingert “I am the designated housewife.

“I live with Jordie. We are good mates and we train together every day. Hopefully I can take this chance. I’m excited to get back out there and get another start under my name. 

“It is always nice come on, make a few saves and keep a clean sheet but full credit to the defence (against Victory). We did well to get a point.”

Sydney got the better of Dwight Yorke’s Macarthur FC 3-2 last time out, extending their unbeaten run to three straight matches.

Expect the Sky Blues to dictate possession in Brisbane – Sydney have a possession rate of 60% this season, the best of any team and 16 percentage points higher than Brisbane Roar (44%). Only Macarthur FC (37%) have a lower rate than the Roar in the campaign.

Opta stat: Brisbane Roar (0) are the only team remaining yet to make an error leading to a goal in the A-League Men in 2022; Sydney FC have conceded two goals via this method.

MATCH DETAILS

Brisbane Roar v Sydney FC
Sunday, November 6 2022
Moreton Daily Stadium
Kick-off: 3.00pm AEDT
Broadcast: 10 Bold & Paramount+
Odds: Roar $2.85, Draw $3.30, Sydney $2.30
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Can the champions stop the rot?

It is safe to say Western United did not anticipate this kind of start to their title defence – bottom of the table and winless through four rounds as Adelaide United come to town on Sunday evening.

To sum up where Western stand right now, they coughed up a two-goal lead in a remarkable 4-2 defeat away to Central Coast Mariners. Nikolai Topor-Stanley’s red card – increased to a three-game ban – contributed to the wild turnaround in Gosford.

John Aloisi’s Western have just one point to their name. They have dropped 21 competition points from winning positions in the ALM in 2022 – the most of any team this year. Adelaide (23) have gained more points from losing positions than any other side in that time.

Western have gained James Troisi from injury but they are depleted in defence, with Tomoki Imai also sidelined, and they will have their hands full against Craig Goodwin and Co.

Adelaide captain Goodwin has been a standout in the league this term as he fights to cement his place in Graham Arnold’s Socceroos squad.

Goodwin has created 16 scoring chances in 2022-23, six more than any other player. His Reds team-mate Ben Halloran (eight) has created the joint-most chances by any player in open play (also Luke Brattan – eight for Sydney FC).

Opta stat: Adelaide United defeated Western United 2-1 in their most recent ALM meeting in May 2022, snapping a four-game winless run against them (D2, L2). They will be aiming
for back-to-back wins against Western for the first time in the history of the
competition.

MATCH DETAILS

Western United v Adelaide United
Sunday, November 6 2022
AAMI Park
Kick-off: 5.00pm AEDT
Broadcast: Paramount+
Odds: Victory $2.35, Draw $3.35, Adelaide $2.70
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