KEEPUP previews all the action across Round 22 of the Isuzu UTE A-League, brought to you by Neds.
The stakes are high for both Sydney FC and Western United when they collide on Saturday night at Allianz Stadium.
Sydney come out of the international break off the back of two consecutive defeats, falling to both Wellington Phoenix and Western Sydney Wanderers – leaving them precariously hanging on to a place inside the top six going into the last five games of the season.
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The Sky Blues have had mixed results against the reigning champions this season so far, winning the first meeting back in round two 3-1 but lost in Tasmania by a single goal thanks to an Alessandro Diamanti screamer.
Steve Corica will be sweating on the fitness of gun forward Robert Mak who sustained an injury on international duty with Slovakia, but Adam Le Fondre is set to return after an injury layoff along with Max Burgess from suspension.
Meanwhile, Western will be looking to climb into the top six for the first time all season with a win over Sydney – having missed a glorious chance to do so before the break.
Western’s three game winning-streak came to an end at the hands of Brisbane Roar, who defeated them 1-0 in Redcliffe thanks to a Jay O’Shea cracker.
However, John Aloisi’s charges remain firmly in the hunt for finals and will be looking for consecutive wins over the Sky Blues for the first time in their history – and should they score once it will be their 150th in league history.
Opta stat: Western United will be looking to win back-to-back A-League Men games in New South Wales for the first time since August 2020 after picking up a 3-1 win over the Newcastle Jets at McDonald Jones Stadium in their most recent such fixture.
MATCH DETAILS
Sydney FC v Western United
Saturday, April 1 2023
Allianz Stadium
Kick-off: 7:45pm AEDT
Broadcast: 10 Bold & Paramount+
Odds: Sydney $1.75, Draw $3.60, Western $4.10
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Perth Glory will bid farewell to Macedonia Park on Saturday evening, when they take on Macarthur FC.
Glory have been sensational at their home away from home all-season, losing only once in nine games in Balcatta – including four victories and four draws. However, with HBF Park’s renovations finally completed, Perth will play their final game at their temporary home.
Perth’s form at home has kept them in the hunt for finals, sitting four points outside the six going into the final stretch of the season – despite having a poor road record.
Ruben Zadkovich’s side will be hoping to regain Mustafa Amini after he missed their 2-2 draw with Newcastle Jets before the international break.
They will also be searching for a first ever win against Macarthur, having not beaten them in their first six meetings.
Meanwhile, Macarthur will also be looking to close the gap on the top six this weekend, having cut it to three points with a gutsy 1-1 draw with league leaders Melbourne City before the break.
The Bulls were dealt a major blow during the international break, with attacker Daniel Arzani being ruled out for the remainder of the season due to an ankle injury – compounding their already depleted attacking stocks having lost captain Ulises Davila to a season ending blow.
Mile Sterjovski’s Macarthur have also lost their last five league matches away from Campbelltown Stadium, their longest losing run in such fixtures and have conceded 3.8 goals per game in that span.
Should Macarthur win, it will be their first ever victory in Western Australia (won an ‘away’ game in Tasmania), despite never losing against Perth and need one more goal to bring up 100 in league history.
Opta stat: Perth Glory have lost only one of their last 12 A-League Men matches in Western Australia (W6, D5), a 4-2 defeat against Melbourne City FC (11 February 2023).
MATCH DETAILS
Perth Glory v Macarthur FC
Saturday, April 1 2023
Macedonia Park
Kick-off: 10pm AEDT
Broadcast: Paramount+
Odds: Perth $2.00, Draw $3.45, Macarthur $3.35
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League leaders Melbourne City welcome Newcastle Jets to town as they look to inch ever closer to a third successive Isuzu UTE A-League Premiership.
City went into the break, battered and bruised with a host of key players nursing and playing through injuries. Nonetheless, the reigning premiers still remain top and were the first team to lock in a finals berth after a 1-1 draw with Macarthur.
They will go in confident given they’ve only lost one of their last 15 games against Newcastle at AAMI Park and only one in their last 11 on their home deck overall.
The Jets, however, will be looking to get back to winning ways and keep themselves in the mix for the top six as they remain two points behind Sydney FC in the hunt for a finals berth.
Newcastle have gone winless in their last four games and were seconds away from ending that unwanted streak but conceded an equaliser in the dying minutes of their 2-2 draw with Perth Glory.
However, Arthur Papas’ side face an enormous up-hill task to knock off City, when taking into account not only their poor road form against them – but their overall form in Victoria.
The Jets have lost 59% of their A-League Men matches in Victoria (27/46) – which is the third
highest rate of any team in the history of the competition (minimum eight games played) behind only the Central Coast Mariners (62%) and Wellington Phoenix (60%).
Opta stat: Melbourne City have won four of their last five A-League Men matches against Newcastle Jets (L1), including their last three meetings – the longest winning run by either team in the history of this fixture.
MATCH DETAILS
Melbourne City v Newcastle Jets
Sunday, April 2 2023
AAMI Park
Kick-off: 3pm AEST
Broadcast: 10 Bold & Paramount+
Odds: City $1.36, Draw $4.60, Jets $7.25
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It’s now or never for Melbourne Victory and their finals hopes.
Tony Popovic’s Victory kept their slim chances alive with a 2-0 win over Central Coast Mariners before the international break, cutting the deficit to six points behind Sydney FC in the chase for a finals berth.
Victory still have a game in hand – which they are behind in 1-0 in the halted Melbourne Derby from December – but face an enormous task to build on their stirring win over Central Coast when they head across the ditch to take on Wellington Phoenix.
They will also be without striker Fernando Romero due to suspension after he was sent off minutes following his maiden goal for the club.
However, should Victory come away with three points, it will be back to back wins for the first time this season – while also making it three consecutive victories against the ‘Nix – something they haven’t done since November 2013.
Wellington, on the other hand, will be hoping to bounce back after being demolished 5-1 at the hands of Adelaide United.
The loss saw them lose ground on the top two, but they would be hoping a win can keep their hopes of a week off in the finals alive – while conversely, avoiding being dragged closer to the trailing pack outside the six.
Phoenix will regain Oskar Zawada after he missed the game due to paternity leave and his impact can’t be understated having been directly involved in 10 goals in his last 10 games (nine goals, one assist).
Opta stat: Wellington Phoenix are undefeated in their last three A-League Men matches against Melbourne Victory in New Zealand (W2, D1), including a 3-0 win in their most recent meeting in the country (15 March 2020); they will be aiming for back-to-back wins in such fixtures for the first time in the history of the competition.
MATCH DETAILS
Wellington Phoenix v Melbourne Victory
Saturday, April 1 2023
Sky Stadium
Kick-off: 1pm AEDT
Broadcast: Paramount+
Odds: Phoenix $2.35, Draw $3.35, Victory $2.70
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Central Coast Mariners return home to Gosford for the first time since February, as they welcome Brisbane Roar to town on Saturday evening.
The Mariners have been going down a slippery slope as of late, winning one of their last five games and only two in their last nine.
However, Nick Montgomery’s side are still sitting quite comfortable inside the top six – but need points to avoid being dragged closer to the sides hoping to jump in and have been bolstered by the return of both Jacob Farrell and Beni Nkololo.
One of those wins did come against the Roar in Redcliffe, which extended their winning streak versus Brisbane to three consecutive games.
Brisbane, on the other hand, are still in the hunt for a finals berth after coming away with a crucial 1-0 win over Western United before the break.
Interim coach Nick Green has overseen a change in the Roar’s fortunes since taking over, as Brisbane have won two and lost two under his watch – with both defeats coming in the dying moments of tight contests vs Macarthur and Melbourne City.
Back to back wins for the first time this season plus results going in their favour could cut the deficit on sixth place Sydney to as low as a single point on the table.
Opta stat: Central Coast Mariners are undefeated in their last six A-League Men matches at Industree Group Stadium (W4, D2); the last time they recorded a longer unbeaten run at the venue was a seven-match span from February to April in 2021 (W4, D3).
MATCH DETAILS
Central Coast Mariners v Brisbane Roar
Saturday, April 1 2023
Industree Group Stadium
Kick-off: 5pm AEDT
Broadcast: Paramount+
Odds: Mariners $1.82, Draw $3.60, Roar $3.80
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