Melbourne Victory look to continue their mini resurgence, while top-two fancies lock horns in Gosford. KEEPUP previews all the Round 18 action, thanks to Neds.
Are Melbourne Victory back?
Victory’s season has a pulse once more, after coming away with derby bragging rights in an enthralling 3-2 win against arch-rivals and league leaders Melbourne City last weekend.
Tony Popovic’s Victory still sit seven points adrift of the top six, but have now claimed maximum points against two of the current top six in two of their last three outings.
Victory have found some momentum in the attacking third too, particularly in those two wins at home, scoring three in each of those contests.
But the points must keep rolling in if they are to make an unlikely dash for a finals berth – starting with Adelaide United on Sunday – the Reds present another enormous challenge.
Adelaide are riding high recently, putting together a six-game unbeaten run and closing the gap on the top two in the process – but missed a golden opportunity to climb into second after squandering the lead three times in their 4-4 draw with Western Sydney Wanderers last week.
Adelaide’s attack has been firing on all cylinders, but defensively, they have been leaking goals aplenty – scoring 12 goals but conceding 10 in their last four.
The Reds will also be without the suspended Ryan Kitto, while Josh Cavallo’s season came to a premature end after he tore his Achilles. Jay Barnett is in line to make his club debut against his former side, along with former Western United midfielder Luke Duzel who is also in the mix for his United bow.
In the two previous meetings this season, Adelaide came away with a 3-0 win and were held to a 1-1 draw in January – thanks to a rocket from now former Victory striker Nick D’Agostino.
The match will also be part of the Pride Cup men’s and women’s double-header, which celebrates LGBTI+ inclusion in football.
Opta Stat: Melbourne Victory have lost only one of their last five A-League Men games against Adelaide United (W2 D2) after having lost all but one of their eight games against them in the competition prior (W1 L7).
MATCH DETAILS
Melbourne Victory v Adelaide United
Sunday, February 26 2023
AAMI Park
Kick-off: 3pm AEDT
Broadcast: 10 Bold & Paramount+
Odds: Victory $2.15, Draw $3.40, Adelaide $3.05
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Get ready for an absolute cracker to open the round.
Central Coast Mariners welcome Wellington Phoenix to Gosford on Friday night, in what shapes up to be a potential finals preview between to top-two aspirants.
The Mariners, who sit in second spot, are coming in off a 2-2 draw against Perth Glory, having wrestled back an early two-goal deficit to snatch a point in the final minutes of the contest – all thanks to their Socceroos striker Jason Cummings who scored a penalty brace.
It’s the first game back at their spiritual home since January 28, having played five of their last six on the road and are unbeaten at Industree Group Stadium in five consecutive games.
However, they will be without Nectar Triantis who is away on international duty with the Young Socceroos.
Their opponents, Wellington, have had a good record against the Mariners this season and sit only three points behind them heading into the contest.
The Phoenix drew with the Mariners in round two, before knocking them off last month at the ‘cake tin’ 2-1 in what was nothing short of a fiery contest.
This is the last of a four game away trip for the ‘Nix, who turned around their difficult start to life on the road (two losses) with a 3-0 win in Tasmania over Western United.
Bulgarian midfielder Bozhidar Kraev has particularly stood out in the last fortnight, scoring in their last two games while Polish striker Oskar Zawada (nine goals) sits four behind Cummings (12) in the Golden Boot race.
Wellington will be without suspended January nomination for Young Footballer of the Year Callan Elliot due to suspension.
Opta Stat: Wellington Phoenix have not trailed at half-time in any of their last 13 games in the A-League Men (led seven, level six), but have gone on to lose four of those fixtures (W6 D3).
MATCH DETAILS
Central Coast Mariners v Wellington Phoenix
Friday, February 24 2023
Industree Group Stadium
Kick-off: 7:45pm AEDT
Broadcast: Paramount+
Odds: Mariners $1.88, Draw $3.60 Phoenix $3.50
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Melbourne City will look to be getting back to winning ways when they host Sydney FC at AAMI Park on Saturday evening.
City suffered only their second loss of the season in last Saturday’s Melbourne Derby, but still hold a sizeable seven-point gap (with a game in hand) atop the Isuzu UTE A-League standings.
Mathew Leckie is riding an incredible hot-streak, having now scored four goals in his last four games – including a brace against Victory.
City, however, have been leaky defensively – going four games without keeping a clean sheet and will be buoyed by the impending return of Curtis Good.
However, the side they are coming up against is the other side to hand Rado Vidosic’s side a mark in the loss column, as the Sky Blues knocked off City back in December 2-1 at Allianz Stadium.
Sydney are unbeaten in their last four games, but were forced to come from behind to snatch a late point in their 1-1 draw with Brisbane Roar last week.
Ultimately, Alex Parsons’ last-gasp goal was enough to keep them inside the six heading into the weekend by the skin of their teeth, sitting only goal difference clear of Newcastle Jets.
The Sky Blues are set to regain Jack Rodwell in a major boost for their defence, given defensive counterpart James Donachie will miss due to suspension.
Young midfielder Patrick Yazbek is also out of the squad, playing his final game with the club last week before he made the move to Norwegian side Viking FK.
Opta Stat: Sydney FC have won only 37% of their 30 A-League Men games without Adam Le Fondre since his Debut in 2018, compared to their 54% win rate when he does play.
MATCH DETAILS
Melbourne City vs Sydney FC
Saturday, February 25 2023
AAMI Park
Kick-off: 5pm AEDT
Broadcast: Paramount+
Odds: City $1.75, Draw $3.75, Sydney $4.00
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It’s a derby in the west of Sydney on Saturday night football as the Wanderers take on Macarthur FC at CommBank Stadium
Western Sydney battled back to snatch a point in their 4-4 draw with Adelaide United last weekend, thanks to a bit of magic from new signing Amor Layouni in the dying minutes.
The Wanderers have only won twice in their last 11 games, but have only lost twice in that period too and remain right in the hunt for a top-two spot, sitting only two points behind the second-placed Mariners.
In a major boost for the Wanderers, captain Marcelo is in with a chance to make his return to injury, solidifying a defence which sorely missed his presence against Adelaide while forward Yeni Ngbakoto serves the final game of his two-match ban.
Earlier this season, the Wanderers demolished Macarthur 4-0 at the same venue and will go in with the same confidence against the Bulls.
Macarthur suffered a 1-0 defeat at hands of Newcastle last week in a weather interrupted ‘marathon match’ at Campbelltown Stadium.
The Bulls, however, created more chances than the Jets and came close to snatching a result on multiple occasions – falling just short in the end.
Macarthur remain outside the top six by three points and an inferior goal difference and will be without star captain Ulises Davila for the rest of the season after he had knee surgery this week along with in-form striker Moudi Najjar (injury).
However, they should welcome back Tomislav Uksok from suspension, while Daniel Arzani is in the mix after being omitted from the squad entirely last week.
Opta Stat: Macarthur FC have won only two of their last 15 A-League Men games played away from Campbelltown Stadium (D4 L9) and have lost their last three such fixtures on the bounce by a combined score of 11-1.
MATCH DETAILS
Western Sydney Wanderers v Macarthur FC
Saturday, February 25 2023
CommBank Stadium
Kick-off: 7:45pm AEDT
Broadcast: 10 Bold & Paramount+
Odds: Wanderers $1.72, Draw $3.60, Macarthur $4.40
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Newcastle Jets are putting together a serious run of form.
The Jets have stormed back into finals contention over the last month, going unbeaten in their last six and cutting the gap to only goal difference outside the top six – an incredible turn in fortunes from where they were at the start of 2023.
Newcastle will be looking to continue their hot streak when they welcome bottom-placed Western United to town on Saturday evening and a win could potentially be enough to land them inside the six.
They will once again be without injured playmaker Reno Pisocopo but they are set to regain Brandon O’Neill in a boost to their midfield stocks.
Meanwhile, Western are desperate for points and need to start getting wins on the board if they are to turn around their difficult season.
The reigning champions suffered a third straight defeat in their 3-0 loss to Wellington last weekend which sunk them to the foot of the table – as both Victory and Brisbane Roar earned results later in the weekend.
In a boost to their leaky defence, Western should regain Josh Risdon and full-back counterpart Ben Garuccio from injury.
Opta Stat: Western United are unbeaten in their last five A-League Men games against Newcastle Jets (W3 D2), with each of their last two meetings in the competition ending in 1-all draws.
MATCH DETAILS
Newcastle Jets v Western United
Saturday, February 25 2023
McDonald Jones Stadium
Kick-off: 5pm AEDT
Broadcast: Paramount+
Odds: Jets $2.25, Draw $3.35, Western $2.90
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The Nick Green era at Brisbane Roar kicks off in Redcliffe, as the Queenslanders welcome Perth Glory to town in the final game of the round.
Despite an improved performance against Sydney FC, Brisbane parted ways with Warren Moon during the week as their run without a win extended to seven straight games – with Green coming in as interim boss until the end of the season.
Brisbane sit seven points outside the six and face an enormous hill to climb if they are to get back into finals contention but they would go in with some confidence against a Glory outfit who have struggled outside of Western Australia.
Perth have only won once in their last 17 league games outside of WA, with that coming in their 2-1 win over Central Coast Mariners earlier this season.
However, they came away with a point in their last road trip in a 2-2 draw with Wellington Phoenix in January and are a much improved outfit in the last few weeks.
Glory have surged up the table thanks to a brilliant streak of performances at their home away from home – Macedonia Park – closing the gap to only four points outside the top six.
Perth will regain Mustafa Amini and Daryl Lachman as well, in a major boost to their midfield and defensive stocks.
Striker Adam Taggart is also in the frame to come up against his former team, having scored 11 goals in 18 games for the Roar in the 2018-19 season, whilst key Roar creator Jay O’Shea misses out with a broken toe and defender Jack Hingert returns.
Opta Stat: Brisbane Roar are winless in their last five A-League Men games in Queensland (D3, L2); the last and only previous time they went longer without a win in their home state was an eight-game stretch from September 2005 to January 2006 (D4, L4).
MATCH DETAILS
Brisbane Roar v Perth Glory
Sunday, February 26 2023
Kayo Stadium
Kick-off: 5pm AEDT
Broadcast: Paramount+
Odds: Roar $1.94, Draw $3.30, Glory $3.70
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