Neds Weekend Preview: New Year’s Eve and a Kuol farewell

Garang Kuol’s final Central Coast Mariners match and Macarthur FC’s trip to Western Sydney Wanderers headline the action across the Isuzu UTE A-League. KEEPUP previews the fixtures ahead of Round 10, thanks to Neds.

Ladies and gentlemen, the New Year’s Eve showdown between Central Coast Mariners and Melbourne Victory is your last chance to watch Garang Kuol in Australia before he embarks on a life-changing European adventure.

With the January transfer window set to reopen, Newcastle United-bound sensation Kuol will step out in a Mariners jersey for the final time on Saturday night prior to his big move to the United Kingdom.

All eyes will be on the 18-year-old, who featured at the FIFA Men’s World Cup with the Socceroos, as Kuol and the Mariners look to end the year in style.

Fourth in the standings but coming off a loss to league-leading Melbourne City, the Mariners have a chance to bounce back against stuttering Victory on home soil.

Upstaged by resurgent reigning Isuzu UTE A-League champions Western United, Tony Popovic’s Victory have lost two of their past three games to sit ninth in the standings, although they are only two points adrift of the top six.

Victory – who will be boosted by the return of marquee Nani – will have to arrest their form away to the Mariners, having not won in Gosford since 2019, when a team led by legend Kevin Muscat took down Central Coast 3-2.

Opta stat: Central Coast Mariners have lost only one of their last six A-League Men matches against Melbourne Victory (W2, D3), a 1-0 defeat in February 2022.

MATCH DETAILS

Central Coast Mariners v Melbourne Victory
Saturday, December 31 2022
Industree Group Stadium
Kick-off: 7.00pm AEDT
Broadcast: 10 BOLD & Paramount+
Odds: Mariners $2.40, Draw $3.35, Victory $2.65
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Beware of the Bulls. Dwight Yorke’s Macarthur FC will roll into CommBank Stadium for Sunday evening’s showdown against second-placed Western Sydney Wanderers oozing confidence.

Macarthur lost in their first game back after the World Cup-enforced break, but they have won consecutive matches to catapult themselves up to third in the standings – a point behind the Wanderers and five adrift of City.

Led by inspirational captain Ulises Davila and in-form import Bachana Arabuli, who scored twice, Macarthur blitzed 10-man Sydney FC 3-0 on the road.

Marko Rudan’s new-look Wanderers, meanwhile, are stuttering after a strong start to the season.

While Western Sydney remain second in the table, the Wanderers have gone three matches without a win since the season resumed following Qatar 2022.

The Wanderers were held to a 1-1 draw by Brisbane Roar last time out, having gone down to Western United in Round 8.

Though, Western Sydney are set to be boosted by the return of star duo Milos Ninkovic and Kusini Yengi.

Opta stat: Macarthur FC are undefeated against Western Sydney Wanderers in the A-League Men (W3, D2); the Wanderers are one of two teams yet to defeat the Bulls in the competition (Perth Glory).

MATCH DETAILS

Western Sydney Wanderers v Macarthur FC
Sunday, January 1 2023
CommBank Stadium
Kick-off: 5.00pm AEDT
Broadcast: Paramount+
Odds: Wanderers $1.83, Draw $3.50, Macarthur $3.90
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Round 10 of the Isuzu UTE A-League gets underway on Friday night at AAMI Park, where resurgent Western United welcome Brisbane Roar to Melbourne.

Western are coming off back-to-back wins, after upstaging Victory, as they continue to overcome their slow start to 2022-23.

John Aloisi’s Western, who have been buoyed by the returns of Serbian star Aleksandar Prijovic and Japanese ace Tomoki Imai, find themselves just two points shy of the top six. While Nikolai Topor-Stanley is banned for the Roar showdown, Western will regain Leo Lacroix from suspension.

As for Warren Moon’s Roar, they continue to fly under the radar this term.

Even after Charlie Austin’s departure, the Roar fought back to share the points against the Wanderers thanks to Carlo Armiento’s Isuzu UTE A-League Goal of the Week.

The Roar have lost just once this season and conceded a mere six goals through nine games – only reigning premiers City have the same number.

Opta stat: Western United have scored five goals after the 76th minute of matches in the 2022/23 A- League Men season, more than any other team in the campaign; Brisbane Roar (0) are the only team yet to concede a goal during this period.

MATCH DETAILS

Western United v Brisbane Roar
Friday, December 30 2022
AAMI Park
Kick-off: 7.45pm AEDT
Broadcast: Paramount+
Odds: Western $2.15, Draw $3.20, Roar $3.20
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The pressure is mounting on Sydney FC as the Sky Blues make the trip to the Hunter Valley to face Newcastle Jets on Sunday afternoon.

Sydney ended 2022 with four defeats in five games following their loss to Macarthur on Christmas Eve, and Steve Corica’s side are in genuine danger of missing consecutive finals series for the first time in their history.

Sitting 10th in the table and with star Englishman Joe Lolley suspended, the Sky Blues will be hoping the New Year provides more joy, starting against the Jets.

There will be a timely boost, however. Former Everton, Manchester City and England midfielder Jack Rodwell is back from injury, as well as Max Burgess and Luke Brattan.

As for the Jets, they are flying high after jumping five places in the standings thanks to their 1-0 win at Adelaide United.

The Jets – unbeaten in three games against Sydney – occupied 11th spot heading into the clash, with the Round 9 victory lifting them to sixth, level on 12 points with the fifth-placed Reds.

“There’s no limit for what the group can achieve,” Jets boss Arthur Papas said. “I still believe that and I’ve maintained that prior to this result.

Opta stat: Newcastle Jets will be aiming for back-to-back wins against Sydney FC in the A-League Men for the first time since December 2012, following their 2-0 victory against the Sky Blues in their most recent meeting (25 March 2022).

MATCH DETAILS

Newcastle Jets v Sydney FC
Sunday, January 1 2023
McDonald Jones Stadium
Kick-off: 3.00pm AEDT
Broadcast: 10 BOLD & Paramount+
Odds: Jets $3.40, Draw $3.50, Sydney $1.95
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If their last meeting is anything to go by, Monday’s Wellington Phoenix-Melbourne City matchup is going to be fun.

In October, the Phoenix travelled to Melbourne and overturned a two-goal deficit in a dramatic and last-gasp 2-2 draw against City.

The Phoenix – led by the form of their imports – are in the mist of a three-game undefeated streak following their 1-1 draw away to Perth Glory prior to Christmas.

City, meanwhile, have shown no signs of slowing down even after Patrick Kisnorbo’s big move to Ligue 1 with Troyes.

In stifling conditions, reigning Golden Boot winner and current leader Jamie Maclaren took his tally to 10 goals in eight matches this season as City prevailed 1-0 against the Mariners.

City have been a class above so far in 2022-23, but Phoenix’s form at home to the reigning premiers will provide encouragement.

City have not beaten the Phoenix in New Zealand since February 2017, when a Michael Valkanis-led outfit routed Wellington 5-1.

Opta stat: Wellington Phoenix have won their last four A-League Men matches against Melbourne City FC in New Zealand; a fifth consecutive win in this game would be the Phoenix’ outright longest winning run in such fixtures in the history of the competition.

MATCH DETAILS

Wellington Phoenix v Melbourne City
Monday, January 2 2023
Sky Stadium
Kick-off: 1.00pm AEDT
Broadcast: Paramount+
Odds: Phoenix $3.05, Draw $3.45, City $2.10
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Adelaide United will kick-off the New Year against Perth Glory on Monday night, with a point to prove.

The Reds were below par in their loss at home to the Jets in Round 9 as Adelaide’s winless run after the World Cup break continues.

Adelaide have tasted two straight defeats to go from third in the table to fifth, and they could end the round outside of the top six.

They will, however, regain Ben Halloran from suspension.

Making the trip across from Western Australia are the league’s bottom side Perth Glory. Although, Ruben Zadkovich’s team are showing signs of improvement amid their rebuild.

Perth have collected four points from a possible nine since the break, which includes last week’s draw with Wellington.

With the January transfer window to open on Sunday, returning hometown hero Adam Taggart could make his debut.

Opta stat: Adelaide United have won their last three A-League Men matches against Perth Glory; a fourth consecutive victory in this game would equal their longest winning run against the Glory in the history of the competition (W4 – August 2008 to August 2009).

MATCH DETAILS

Adelaide United v Perth Glory
Monday, January 2 2023
Coopers Stadium
Kick-off: 7.45pm AEDT
Broadcast: Paramount+
Odds: Adelaide $1.70, Draw $3.70, Glory $4.40
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