First v fourth and second v third. It doesn’t get much bigger than this. KEEPUP previews all the Round 19 action in the Isuzu UTE A-League, thanks to Neds.
The round kicks off in Adelaide, as the Reds welcome league leaders Melbourne City to Coopers Stadium for a Friday night blockbuster under lights.
City make the trek to South Australia sitting nine points clear atop the table – solidifying their spot as the competition’s benchmark with a 3-2 win over Sydney FC last weekend.
The reigning premiers, however, will again have to find a way to replace star winger Mathew Leckie – who is out for up to two months with a hamstring strain. Against Sydney, City went more narrow, replacing Leckie with Valon Berisha and partnering him with Aiden O’Neill, Florin Berenguer and Richard van der Venne in midfield.
This saw City switch to a 4-3-1-2 formation, away from their usual 4-3-3 that had become their trademark over the last few seasons.
The change paid off, as City were able to get the best out of their attack by bringing in the extra midfielder, and allowing their marauding full-backs Jordan Bos and Callum Talbot to bomb on.
Alternatively, City can opt to bring in Andrew Nabbout – who is the most like-for-like replacement for Leckie – and return to their trademark style.
City head coach Rado Vidosic addressed their current injury concerns on Thursday, saying they need to be careful with how they manage both Nabbout and Berenguer.
“Andrew (Nabbout)… is nursing an injury and we are trying to look after him as much as we can, that is why he has been coming on and not getting as much (game time) as we would like,” Vidosic said on Thursday.
“But he has put his hand up whenever we need him and I am so grateful for that.
“Florin (Berenguer) is coming back from his long-term injury and we need to be quite careful with him, not to push him too much too soon – and this is a game where there is only five days between two games.”
With Leckie missing, youngsters Luke Oresti, Emin Durakovic (out this week with concussion) and Max Caputo may be presented with opportunities too – with the trio all impressing in the early stages of City’s NPL2 VIC season – while Raphael Borges Rodrigues could also see more minutes when he returns from international duty.
In a further blow to their attacking stocks, scholarship player Arion Sulemani is out for the remainder of the season after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) last week.
But all eyes will also be on star striker Jamie Maclaren, who is now only four goals away from equalling Besart Berisha as the all-time leading goalscorer in Isuzu UTE A-League history – while a win for City’s would be their 150th in competition history.
Maclaren has scored seven goals in his last seven A-League Men games against Adelaide, including one in each of his last two games against them.
Adelaide, meanwhile, rescued a point in the dying moments of their 1-1 draw with Melbourne Victory last weekend, thanks to an incredible goal from wunderkind Nestory Irankunda – which kept Carl Veart’s side equal-second on the standings, but fourth on goal difference.
Irankunda has scored five goals in his A-League Men career; only former Reds sensation Mohamed Toure (seven) has scored more goals before turning 18 in the history of the competition.
Adelaide have scored 15 goals in their last seven games, but have been equally leaky going back the other way – going six games without keeping a clean sheet.
However, they haven’t lost in seven games, with one of those games coming in a 3-3 draw with their opponents this Friday, where Adelaide twice surrendered a two-goal advantage at AAMI Park in late January.
But Adelaide would go in with confidence knowing they’ve only last once of their last eight regular season meetings against City (W3 D4).
The Reds will be bolstered by the return of full-back Ryan Kitto for his 150th Isuzu UTE A-League game after missing last weekend due to suspension.
Opta Stat: Adelaide United are unbeaten in their last seven games in the A-League Men (W3, D4); the last time they went longer without a defeat in the competition was a 14-game stretch from December 2015 to March 2016 (W11 D3).
MATCH DETAILS
Adelaide United v Melbourne City
Friday, March 3 2023
Coopers Stadium
Kick-off: 7:45pm AEDT
Broadcast: Paramount+
Odds: Adelaide $3.60, Draw $3.70, City $1.85
MATCH CENTRE | BUY TICKETS | HOW TO WATCH
Western Sydney Wanderers and Central Coast Mariners will resume hostilities this weekend, when they meet for the third time in 2022-23 on Saturday evening.
The two sides – who sit second and third on the table respectively – have played two spicy affairs already this campaign, with the latest ending in a 2-2 draw in Gosford.
As captured by the A-Leagues All Access cameras, Jason Cummings came off the bench to score the equaliser of a heltar-sceltar contest – as the Socceroos striker battled through a rib injury and tough duel with Wanderers captain Marcelo to rescue a point.
Cummings has scored five goals in his last four A-League Men games away from Industree Group Stadium, scoring two braces in that period.
Central Coast, however, will go into this contest depleted in both defence and attack with Brian Kaltak and Moresche set to miss due to suspension while coach Nick Montgomery won’t be on the touchline after his red against Wellington Phoenix too.
Kaltak’s absence further compounds the Mariners’ centre-half stocks, with Nectar Triantis already missing due to international duty – meaning Dan Hall and Cam Windust will be considered in the heart of defence, along with Jacob Farrell who won plaudits for his performance as a left-sided centre-back last weekend.
The Wanderers, on the other hand, come in off the back of some red hot form, defeating Macarthur FC 4-0 last weekend.
But it’s their attack that is turning heads at the moment, scoring eight goals in their last two after only firing home 17 in their previous 16 games.
A players who has played a large part of their recent turn of fortunes in the attacking third has been the form Brandon Borrello, who has scored six goals in his last nine games – benefitting from a move more centrally in recent weeks.
Their attack will be further boosted by the return of Yeni Ngbakoto from suspension, adding yet another dimension to a front-line which is already firing on all cylinders.
Opta Stat: Central Coast Mariners are undefeated in their last five A-League Men games against Western Sydney Wanderers (W2 D3), their longest ever streak without loss against the Wanderers.
MATCH DETAILS
Western Sydney Wanderers v Central Coast Mariners
Saturday, March 4 2023
CommBank Stadium
Kick-off: 5.00pm AEDT
Broadcast: Paramount+
Odds: Wanderers $2.30, Draw $3.35, Mariners $2.80
MATCH CENTRE | BUY TICKETS | HOW TO WATCH
Strap yourselves in for a monster ‘Big Blue’ at Allianz Stadium.
There is more than just bragging rights on the line when Sydney FC play host to Melbourne Victory in a Saturday night blockbuster. The Sky Blues are looking to solidify their place inside the top six, with a win striking a major blow to Victory’s chances of a late finals push.
Sydney lost their first game in four last weekend, falling to a 3-2 defeat to league leaders Melbourne City at AAMI Park – but remained inside the six due to Newcastle Jets and Macarthur both failing to pick up results.
However, they would go in confident, given they haven’t lost in New South Wales in three straight games.
Steve Corica could also call upon Jack Rodwell from the first minute this weekend, with the former England international only returning to the bench last weekend after an injury interrupted tenure at the Sky Blues thus far.
Meanwhile, Victory know they need to get points and fast if they are to keep pace with the pack.
READ: A UCL captain who bested Mbappe & Neymar has slipped quietly into Australia
Victory missed a golden chance to close the gap to only four points behind sixth-placed Sydney, surrendering a one-goal late in the game in their 1-1 draw with Adelaide United.
However, the bottom-placed Victory still remain in the hunt, knowing a win could cut the deficit to only three points if they can come away from Allianz with all three points.
They will, however, be without Johnny Warren medallist Jake Brimmer for the foreseeable future after he sustained a knee injury, but regain Rai Marchan from concussion.
Opta Stat: Melbourne Victory have won their last two A-League Men games against Sydney FC in Sydney, scoring seven goals in the process; they have never won three consecutive games against the Sky Blues in Sydney.
MATCH DETAILS
Sydney FC v Melbourne Victory
Saturday, March 4 2023
Allianz Stadium
Kick-off: 7:45pm AEDT
Broadcast: 10 Bold & Paramount+
Odds: Sydney $2.02, Draw $3.40, Victory $3.30
MATCH CENTRE | BUY TICKETS | HOW TO WATCH
Talking about big stakes.
Wellington Phoenix return home for the first time since January 22, when they play host to seventh-placed Newcastle Jets on Saturday afternoon.
Two points separate the two sides, meaning that a Jets win could see both teams trade placed by the end of the road – exhibiting just how big of a game this is for both team’s finals aspirations.
The fifth-placed Phoenix ended their four-game road stand by salvaging a dramatic late point in their 1-1 draw with Central Coast, extending their gap in fifth place due to the nature of the results from the teams sitting below them.
Wellington will be bolstered with the return of Kosta Barbarouses along with Callan Elliot – boosting both their attack and defensive stocks.
Should they come away with a win, it will be the first time since May 2021 that Wellington have won back to back games at Sky Stadium – but will need to end a poor streak against the Jets.
Newcastle missed a huge opportunity to climb into the six last weekend, falling to a 3-1 home defeat to Western United – their first loss in six games.
The Jets have won five of their last seven games against Wellington, including their last two games – one of those being a 3-1 win at home earlier this season.
Their talismanic striker Beka Mikeltadze comes into the contest in solid form too, having scored three goals in his last five after a quiet start to the campaign.
Opta Stat: Newcastle Jets defeated Macarthur FC 1-0 in their last A-League Men game away from McDonald Jones Stadium and will now be looking to win back-to-back games away from their home venue for the first time since June 2021.
MATCH DETAILS
Wellington Phoenix v Newcastle Jets
Saturday, March 4 2023
Sky Stadium
Kick-off: 1.00pm AEDT
Broadcast: Paramount+
Odds: Phoenix $1.94, Draw $3.50, Jets $3.50
MATCH CENTRE | BUY TICKETS | HOW TO WATCH
Is their new found life in the reigning champions?
Western United’s season is still alive after they defeated Newcastle 3-1 last weekend, lifting themselves off the bottom of the table and to five points outside the top six.
Up next is a trip to Ballarat, where they take on another team desperate for points in Perth Glory – who sit one point clear of John Aloisi’s side in 10th spot on the table.
Western are unbeaten in their last three games at Mars Stadium (W1 D2) and will be hoping their streak can continue this weekend – off the back of the green shoots shown in their trip to the Hunter.
Young gun Noah Botic is particularly thriving at the moment, scoring three goals in his last three games, leaving Aloisi with a big decision to make should strike partner Aleksandar Prijovic return from injury.
Aloisi has started the attacking duo together in previous meetings, but it remains to be seen whether he will change a winning formula should the Serbia international return – while Steven Lustica is also in line to make his long awaited comeback in midfield.
Perth, on the other hand, squandered a one-goal lead away to Brisbane Roar last weekend, missing a great chance to get within less than a game of the top six.
Their form on the road has been less than ideal, winning only once this season away from Western Australia but did beat the titleholders earlier this season at Macedonia Park.
Glory will be without key defender Daryl Lachman this weekend after he sustained a nasty hit against Brisbane which required him to go to hospital, while Ryan Williams also misses.
Opta Stat: Perth Glory are winless in their last five A-League Men games despite scoring multiple goals in four of those five fixtures (D3 L2); they had won 16 of their 21 games prior to that span when they had scored two or more goals on the day (D4 L1).
MATCH DETAILS
Western United vs Perth Glory
Saturday, March 4 2023
Mars Stadium
Kick-off: 5.00pm AEDT
Broadcast: Paramount+
Odds: Western $2.15, Draw $3.35, Glory $3.10
MATCH CENTRE | BUY TICKETS | HOW TO WATCH
The Nick Green era at Brisbane Roar is up and running in the best way possible.
Brisbane came from behind to win their first game in eight last weekend, breathing life into their season and getting the interim Roar coach’s tenure off to a flier.
The Roar played with more energy and dynamism against Perth Glory last weekend, particularly out wide, with the use of both Henry Hore and Jez Lofthouse in Green’s 4-4-2 system.
Roar now sit only four points outside the top six and head on the road to take on Macarthur – who are also desperate for points in their pursuit of the top six.
The Bulls’ season took another turn for the worse when they fell to a 4-0 defeat away to Western Sydney last weekend.
Macarthur has only won one of their five games with Mile Sterjovski at the helm and have lost five of their last seven, but remain only three points off the pace of the top six heading into the final eight games of the season.
Sterjovski will be without the services of Craig Noone due to suspension, further compounding their already depleted attacking stocks – but will be hoping Moudi Najjar will finally be back from injury.
Opta Stat: Brisbane Roar have been caught offside 38 times throughout the 2022-23 A-League Men season, the joint-most of any team in the competition and 13 more times than Macarthur FC (25).
MATCH DETAILS
Macarthur FC v Brisbane Roar
Sunday, March 5 2023
Campbelltown Stadium
Kick-off: 3.00pm AEDT
Broadcast: 10 Bold & Paramount+
Odds: Macarthur $2.55, Draw $3.30, Roar $2.55
MATCH CENTRE | BUY TICKETS | HOW TO WATCH
