Melbourne CIty can go top of the Isuzu UTE A-League table with a win over Adelaide United at AAMI Park on Tuesday night – but the plucky Reds have shown on two occasions to date this season they’re more than capable of spoiling the City party.
It’s the second of two A-Leagues fixtures on Tuesday night, with Western Sydney Wanderers hosting Canberra United in the Liberty A-League (see preview below) to kick-start the action.
Adelaide have prevented City from running away with maximum points in a pair of 2-2 draws at Coopers Stadium decided by late goals to the home side. From a possible six points City have managed to take just two off Adelaide, to sit in second spot behind Western United leading into this fixture.
Reds captain Stefan Mauk is still expected to be available for the home side as he awaits a VISA for his pending move to Japan. New signing Zach Clough looked bright off the bench in his Reds debut and could be deployed from the start for Carl Veart’s side.
An in-form Mathew Leckie has helped City’s star-studded attack finally live up to expectation, combining with fellow Socceroo Jamie Maclaren to devastating effect in recent games. Leckie has three goals in two City appearances, and returns to face his former club Adelaide for the first time since returning from Europe to sign with the Isuzu UTE A-League champions.
Melbourne City v Adelaide United
Isuzu UTE A-League
Tuesday, February 15 2022
AAMI PARK
Kick-off: 7.55pm AEDT
MATCH CENTRE | HOW TO WATCH
Before the Isuzu UTE A-League fixture gets underway, two under-fire Liberty A-League teams will go head to head at Wanderers Football Park (kick-off 5.55pm AEDT).
Western Sydney (eighth) host Canberra (ninth) with both sides looking to end their respective seasons on a high. The Wanderers lost 5-0 to Melbourne Victory last time out; a result Catherine Cannuli’s outfit will be desperate to bounce back from against a winless Canberra team.
Vicki Linton’s Canberra are having a nightmare campaign, with no wins on the board after nine fixtures. Their poor form was put under the microscope on Saturday night when Wellington Phoenix – on a run of nine consecutive losses and without a Liberty A-League win in club history – ventured to Viking Park to emphatically defeat Canberra 3-0.
Finals are off the cards for both of these sides – an especially disappointing reality for Canberra after ending their post-season drought last season. But a run of form to end the campaign could breed positivity for the future – and a streak of that nature could begin for either team at Wanderers Football Park on Tuesday night.
Western Sydney Wanderers v Canberra United
Liberty A-League
Tuesday, February 15 2022
Blacktown International Sportspark
Kick-off: 5.05pm AEDT
MATCH CENTRE | HOW TO WATCH
