Can Melbourne City hold their nerve? Or will the reigning Premiers get knocked off their perch?
It’s anyone’s guess how the final weekend of the Isuzu UTE A-League season will play out, with three teams within one point of one another vying for the Premiers Plate.
City are the favourites to defend their crown, leading Melbourne Victory and Western United by one point heading into the final set of fixtures.
Defeat Wellington on Monday night, and City will be Premiers for the second season running.
But, the fixtures are set up beautifully to add to the drama: should either Victory or Western win over the weekend, before City play, they will leap above City on the table, leaving Patrick Kisnorbo’s side no room for error against the ‘Nix.
Meantime Adelaide, Central Coast and Wellington will contest to finish fourth, and seal a home final.
It’s high stakes everywhere you look in the A-League Men’s on the eve of the finals series.
SATURDAY
SYDNEY FC v MELBOURNE VICTORY
Big Blue bragging rights go on the line on Saturday night in Sydney FC’s last ever home game at Netrstrata Jubilee Stadium – as do Victory’s hopes of a top-two finish.
Tony Popovic’s side is locked in a three-way battle for the Premiership, trailing leaders Melbourne City by one point and level with Western United in third. Victory are the first team of the top three to play this weekend, and can put pressure on their Victorian rivals to match their result by defeating the Sky Blues.
Securing three points against Sydney will take Victory two points clear of City and three of Western.
Sydney FC are out of finals contention, with Wellington securing the last spot in the six with a win over Western Sydney on Thursday night. The Sky Blues could end the season as low as ninth should they lose to Victory and Newcastle defeat Central Coast in the simultaneous kick-off.
If there’s anything for the Sky Blues to play for, it is ensuring their Big Blue rivals can’t win the Premiership.
TIPS: A draw in Kogarah.
Sydney FC v Melbourne Victory
Netstrata Jubilee Stadium
Kick-off: 7.45pm AEST
TV: P+, Network 10
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CENTRAL COAST MARINERS v NEWCASTLE JETS
It’s the second F3 Derby in the space of two weeks – and if the late-April meeting was anything to go by, we’re set for a classic at Central Coast Stadium.
Last time these two sides met, the Mariners won 4-2 on the road. Central Coast broke out to a three-goal lead before the Jets came back, having an equaliser ruled out by VAR before teenage Mariners sensation Garang Kuol sealed the three points for the visitors. Jets creator Daniel Peñha then received a red card for elbowing Mariners midfielder Harrison Steele as the derby clash ended in chaos.
Central Coast punched their ticket to the finals with a win over Brisbane Roar in midweek; they can still eclipse Adelaide United into fourth spot, and thus, a home final in the elimination final in week one.
TIP: A free-scoring Mariners win
Central Coast Mariners v Newcastle Jets
Central Coast Stadium
Kick-off: 7.45pm AEST
TV: P+
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SUNDAY
MACARTHUR FC v WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS
Ante Milicic will oversee his last game as Macarthur head coach as the Bulls host Western Sydney in Campbelltown on Sunday afternoon.
These two sides have met twice this season, with Macarthur collecting three points on both occasions. With neither team capable of breaking into the top six, this is a game both the Bulls and Wanderers will target to end their respectively disappointing seasons on a high.
TIP: Macarthur win at home.
Macarthur FC v Western Sydney Wanderers
Campbelltown Stadium
Kick-off: 4.05pm AEST
TV: P+
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ADELAIDE UNITED v WESTERN UNITED
Adelaide United host Western United on Sunday night, looking to extend their winning streak to five games and seal their spot in the top four.
The Reds will finish fourth by defeating Western, sewing up a home elimination final in the process. But Western won’t be ready to give Carl Veart’s side an easy ride as they look to ramp up their own finals preparations and bid for top spot.
Western’s 1-1 draw to Newcastle in midweek denied John Aloisi’s side the chance to go top of the table; instead they begin the weekend in third, needing both City and Victory to drop points to clinch the Premiers Plate with a win over the Reds.
The last time these two sides met, Western won 1-0 through Connor Pain’s first-half strike at AAMI Park in December, 2021.
TIP: Adelaide extend winning streak to five.
Adelaide United v Western United
Coopers Stadium
Kick-off: 6.20pm AEST
TV: P+
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MONDAY
MELBOURNE CITY v WELLINGTON PHOENIX
Should Melbourne City defeat Wellington Phoenix on Monday night, they’ll be Premiers. It’s the simple equation made slightly more complex by City’s recent dip in form; a shock 2-0 loss to Perth Glory on Wednesday night has left the reigning Champions in danger of letting top spot slip, with Victory and Western snapping at their heels.
Wellington sewed up their spot in the six with a win over the Wanderers on Thursday. Now, the objective is a top-four finish, which can be achieved with a win over City should Central Coast and Adelaide United both lose their weekend fixtures.
It got ugly for Wellington last time they faced City, with Patrick Kisnorbo’s side recording a 6-0 win.
TIP: City clinch the Premiership.
Melbourne City v Wellington Phoenix
AAMI Park
Kick-off: 7.05pm AEST
TV: P+
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TUESDAY
BRISBANE ROAR v SYDNEY FC
Brisbane Roar and Sydney FC meet in the final game of the regular season, with neither side capable of cracking the top six.
The occasion at Moreton Daily Stadium provides Sydney FC striker Bobô his final opportunity to feature in the league before he calls time on his career.
These two sides have met twice this season, once in the Australia Cup and once in the league in the space of three days. Sydney FC won out in the cup, whilst the points were shared in a 1-1 A-League Men’s draw.
TIP: Sydney see off Bobô in style with a three-point display.
Brisbane Roar v Sydney FC
Moreton Daily Stadium
Kick-off: 7.05pm AEST
TV: P+
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