Western United’s top-six ambitions go on the line when they face Newcastle Jets at McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday night.
Mark Rudan’s side clinched their third straight win over state rivals Melbourne Victory in their first Hyundai A-League campaign last Saturday night.
It was a result which brought the Green and Black within striking distance of the top six; they currently sit four points behind Adelaide United in sixth place on the table.
But Rudan’s side hold three games in hand on the Reds, and can comfortably claim a spot in the Finals Series with a string of positive results to close out the campaign.
The Jets have the advantage over United this season, having registered one win and one draw from their previous two meetings with the Hyundai A-League new-boys this season.
The Hunter outfit have been hot and cold since the restart of the league, having shocked league leaders Sydney FC in a come-from-behind 2-1 win before drawing with 0-0 with bottom-placed Central Coast Mariners three days later.
Newcastle can leapfrog Rudan’s side on the Hyundai A-League table with a win, however their ascendancy would undoubtedly be short-lived as United hold three games in hand over Carl Robinson’s side, who have just two fixtures to play before the conclusion of their 2019/20 campaign.
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Sunday, August 2 2020
Kick-off: 7.30pm AEST
Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium
Broadcast: FOX Sports 507
Stream: MyFootball Live App, Kayo Sports
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Team news
Newcastle Jets squad: 3.Jason HOFFMAN, 4.Nigel BOOGAARD (c), 6.Steven UGARKOVIC, 7.Roy O’DONOVAN, 9.Abdiel ARROYO, 10.Dimi PETRATOS, 11.Nick FITZGERALD, 12.Lucas MAURAGIS, 16.Matt MILLAR, 17.Joe LEDLEY, 18.Johnny KOUTROUMBIS, 19.Kosta PETRATOS, 20.Lewis ITALIANO (gk), 21.Bernie IBINI, 28.Patrick LANGLOIS, 29.Connor O’TOOLE, 31.Maki PETRATOS, 32.Angus THURGATE, 40.Noah JAMES (gk), 44.Nikolai TOPOR-STANLEY
**2-4 to be omitted**
Ins: 9.Abdiel ARROYO (promoted), 28.Pat LANGLOIS (promoted)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 22.Lachlan JACKSON (knee – indefinite)
Western United FC squad: 1.Filip KURTO (GK), 2.Aaron CALVER, 4.Andrew DURANTE, 5.Dylan PIERIAS, 6.Tomoki IMAI, 7.Valentino YUEL, 10.Steven LUSTICA, 11.Connor PAIN, 14.Max BURGESS, 15.Jonathan ASPROPOTAMITIS, 17.Joshua CAVALLO, 18.Besart BERISHA, 19.Josh RISDON, 21.Sebastian PASQUALI, 22.Tomislav USKOK, 23.Alessandro DIAMANTI (c), 25.Luke DUZEL, 26.Patrick ANTELMI, 27.Jerry SKOTADIS, 30.Ryan SCOTT (GK)
**2-4 to be omitted**
Ins: 17.Joshua CAVALLO (promoted), 25.Luke DUZEL (promoted), 26.Patrick ANTELMI (promoted)
Outs: 9.Apostolos STAMATELOPOULOS (soreness)
Unavailable: 3.Brendan HAMILL (knee – season), 13.Ivan VUJICA (groin – season), 20.James DELIANOV (GK) (knee – season).
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Did you know?
- Western United FC have won their last three Hyundai A-League games, their longest winning streak ever.
- The Jets have lost just once in their last 10 Hyundai A-League games, winning five of those games with the other four drawn.
- Newcastle have had 129 shots on target in 2019/20, more than any other team in the Hyundai A-League.
- United’s Max Burgess has scored five goals and provided two assists in his last three games.
