And then there were two.
Sydney FC and Melbourne City are the last two clubs standing in the 2023-24 Liberty A-League Premiership fight – but the Sky Blues could land a knockout blow to their top-spot rivals before a ball is kicked in the final round…
And it’s all thanks to a torrential storm in mid-February.
Sydney and Canberra United are the only two teams with more than one game left to play in the regular season after their Round 17 clash was postponed after 36 minutes due to repeat lightning strikes and heavy rain at McKellar Park.
The fixture was abandoned and rescheduled for Wednesday, March 27 – between the penultimate and final round of the Liberty A-League season.
As a result, Sydney can wrap up the Premier’s Plate with a win over Canberra on Wednesday night.
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Sydney FC need one win from their final two fixtures to claim a fourth consecutive Liberty A-League Premiership – but with Big Blue rivals Melbourne Victory to play in Round 22, head coach Ante Juric will be hoping his side can take maximum points from Canberra on Wednesday to end the race for the Premier’s Plate.
No team in A-Leagues history, men’s or women’s, has ever recorded four straight Premierships and the achievement would be significant for head coach Juric, who has been in charge of the Sky Blues through it all since taking the reins in 2017.
But taking a point or less from Canberra on Wednesday night would complicate the Premiership equation, with Melbourne City currently sat just one point behind the league leaders.
City and Sydney are the only two teams still in with a chance of finishing on top of the table but Dario Vidosic’s side is relying on Sydney taking one point or less from their two games against Canberra and Victory.
Sydney play Victory before City take on Perth Glory on the final day of the season (Sunday, March 31) – and as a result, these are the three scenarios which guarantee the Premiership on their own terms:
- Beat Canberra
- Draw to Canberra and beat Victory
- Lose to Canberra and beat Victory
If Sydney draw with both Canberra and Victory and City beat Perth, City would claim the Premiership. Both sides would be level on 41 points, but City would jump Sydney into first due to a superior win total (12 to Sydney’s 11).
If Sydney draw to Canberra and lose to Victory, City would become Premiers with a win over Perth.
If Sydney lose to Canberra and draw with Victory, City would jump to the top of the table by defeating Perth.
Don’t miss a minute of the action as Sydney travel to McKellar Park to face Canberra on Wednesday afternoon – watch LIVE on Paramount+ and 10 Play!
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