Are you ready for 10 cracking games in 11 summer days? The Hyundai A-League’s Summer of Football kicks off on Friday night appropriately in the Sunshine State, and here’s why the fans will love it.
Hyundai A-League’s Summer of Football is here
Pre-Christmas cracker in Brisbane
The Summer of Football kicks off on Friday night with another clash in the growing rivalry between Roar and Wanderers. A big crowd is expected and these two have shared had some epic games, from a grand final in 2014 to that unbelievable 5-4 Semi-Final win by the Wanderers last season. If this clash is half as good as those ones, it will be a ripper!
Timmy and Bruno on the Coast
The Mariners’ traditional New Year’s Eve fixture is always a special night in Gosford but it has some extra star power this year with the legend Cahill, super-striker Fornaroli and their City mates coming to town. Expect fireworks. Literally. What a way to see in 2017!
‘Bes’ into the record books
Berisha has drawn level with Archie Thompson [90 goals] on the all-time goal-scoring charts but when will he take the mantle on his own? With Victory enjoying back-to-back home games against the Mariners and Jets either side of New Year’s Eve, surely Bes will find the net and claim the record. Although there’s someone else on his tail….
Smeltz’s return in the west
With the Hyundai A-League transfer window opening in early January, recently-signed Wellington striker Shane Smeltz will make his A-League return in the Nix’s Distance Derby against his former club in Perth. Smeltz is currently just one goal behind Berisha and Thompson. Will he mark his comeback with a goal at nib?
City v Glory: Part II
Glory handed City a sobering 3-2 defeat when the two sides met at AAMI Park in round 3 in a bruising and fiery 90 minutes. It had a bit of everything. Andy Keogh’s hat-trick, a contentious penalty decision and Glory boss Kenny Lowe sent to the stands. What will the rematch dish-up?
Big crowds, big atmospheres, plenty of thrilling action
The beauty of the festive period and summer football is the holidays and with 10 games in 11 days there’s plenty of football for fans to get to. And they generally flock to matches, ensuring massive crowds and plenty more noise and colour at all Hyundai A-League matches.
Top of the table blockbuster in Sydney
Brisbane Roar is one of the few sides in the 2016/17 Season that hasn’t been blown away by the rampaging Sky Blues. John Aloisi’s troops come to Allianz on Friday, December 30 in what promises to be one of the matches of the season between two of the league’s most in-form outfits.
Transfer window opens
For club’s looking to bolster their squads, January means the opening of the transfer window and the chance to make some crucial mid-season signings. We’ve already seen a couple (Janjetovic to Wanderers, Smeltz to Wellington) but who else will bring players in. If names like Dimitar Berbatov and Robbie Keane – who have been mentioned as potential targets – come to fruition, it’s going to be a huge summer transfer window.
Adelaide v Victory rivalry continues
In early January, Kevin Muscat takes his Victory side back to Adelaide for another huge clash with the Reds. Even though the sides are at different ends of the ladder this season, when does this clash not deliver? It was an injury-time Marco Rojas winner which got Victory over the line earlier this season in a thriller at Coopers.
