Talking Points: Should Adelaide and Roar be getting nervous about their Finals Series spots?

Round 21 saw four teams on the outside of the Hyundai A-League Finals Series picture claim impressive wins – so is it time for the likes of Adelaide United and Brisbane Roar to start looking over their shoulder?

While four teams are deeply entrenched in the competition’s upper end, the Reds and the Roar have blown hot and cold over the 2019/20 campaign and currently occupy fifth and sixth positions on the competition ladder.

Gertjan Verbeek’s side are the perennial up-and-down team, having won nine and lost 10 without even drawing a game, while Robbie Fowler’s Queenslanders have followed a slow start with a strong surge before hitting the skids in a 1-0 reverse against Melbourne City on Sunday.

Over past weeks, the cracks have been showing in the clubs on the outside looking in. Three of them in Western Sydney Wanderers, Newcastle Jets and Melbourne Victory have changed coaches, while Western United have struggled with goalscoring woes. 

But those four sides, that were once deeply troubled, all showed massive upturns in fortunes during an unpredictable Round 21 to set the stage for a tilt on the Hyundai A-League Finals Series. 

In this week’s Talking Points, we ask which of those teams can make a run towards the promised land? And which of the current occupants might be feeling the heat as the chase ramps up over the final eight rounds?

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VOTE: Hyundai A-League Player of the Month – February 
VOTE: Hyundai A-League Coach of the Month – February
RECAP: Watch all the McDonald’s Mini Matches from Round 21
HOW TO WATCH: Every Hyundai A-League match in Round 22
ROUND 21:
 Who made the Hyundai A-League Team of the Week?

Do Wanderers have Sydney FC’s number or can they beat anyone?

The sight of Mitchell Duke dancing in front of the away end at Jubilee Netstrata Stadium will long be etched on the memories of supporters on both sides of the Sydney Derby divide for different reasons.

Even if Steve Corcia’s runaway Hyundai A-League leaders go on to crush competition records, as they have threatened in 2019/20, the accomplishment will always be tinged with the fact that Western Sydney did the double over the Champions – and beat them in their own back yard.

For the Red and Black faithful, this dramatic triumph against all odds is another symbol that their resurgence has been ignited and their Finals Series dream is still alive. Interim coach Jean Paul de Marigny’s side delivered a far more complete performance than in the historic 1-0 win at Bankwest Stadium in Round 3 – which Sky Blues personnel have frequently described as their best display of the season, even in defeat.

Those associated with Sydney FC will not be repeating that statement about the first Harbour City rivalry clash in Kogarah, as Wanderers created numerous goalscoring opportunities and, despite surrendering possession for long spells, they kept the table-toppers’ chances to a minimum. 

There has been clues in matches this calendar year  – in narrow wins against Adelaide, Newcastle and Brisbane – that Sydney’s improbable run had peaked, but it was their bitter rivals Wanderers that were the first team to land the knockout blow. The result will certainly give de Marigny and his troops the confidence they can beat anybody as they sit in striking distance of a top-six spot.

REPORT: History repeats as Duke header decides Sydney Derby
REACTION: 
‘We can really scare teams’: Duke says Wanderers ready to gatecrash Finals

https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6136817972001

My-Football-Live-Pass

Is this the win that restores the faith for up-and-down City?

Despite flying high on the table throughout the campaign, Melbourne City have been dogged by questions of whether they have the stomach to step up when it counts.

They may have finally put that to rest as they became the only team in the top six to post a win on the weekend as the edged out Brisbane Roar 1-0 on Sunday evening.

While it was far from a champagne performance, City’s first win over the Roar this season may have been just their second in five matches, but it does move them three points clear in second place ahead of Perth Glory.

Further, with Sydney FC still holding a 10 point margin in the Premiership race, it may just be enough to galvanise Erick Mombaerts enigmatic squad as they begin to contemplate finals football as their last remaining path to silverware this season.

While the match-winner was somewhat fortunate – an own goal off a prone Jamie Young after Josh Brillante’s volleyed drive struck the post –  City’s attack showed impressive patience in a match of few genuine chances.

And defensively, there was plenty of resolve as they saw off the Roar’s late push to salvage a point from the contest to earn their first clean sheet in over a month.

City skipper Scott Jamieson, playing in his 250th Hyundai A-League game, summed up the feeling post-match: “That’s better than a five or six nil [win] for us I believe – it was a good character win,” he said.

REPORT: City back into second place as unfortunate own goal sinks Roar
REACTION: ‘It’s better than a 5-0 win’: Jamieson praises resilient City after edging Roar

https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6137367532001

Kayo free trial

Bes breaks the drought, Max steals the show, Ale pulls the strings

It seemed odd that a team with the Hyundai A-League’s all-time leading goal scorer could go three games without finding the back of the net but that was precisely the situation facing Western United as they lined up against Central Coast Mariners.

It wasn’t the first time this year United had struggled for goals – they went through an equal dry spell prior to Christmas – but now hovering outside the top six there was a greater urgency to their predicament this time around.

As expected, it was Besart Berisha that broke through early at GMHBA Stadium, but then something strange happened – the previously goal-shy Max Burgess delivered his first, second and third Hyundai A-League goals in quick succession to blow the Mariners out of the water.

Of course, the prolific Berisha would strike again late – and set another competition record with his 20th goal against the Mariners in his career – but somewhat lost in the excitement of the 6-2 win was the role of Alessandro Diamanti.

The Italian midfield maestro claimed two assists, but his team-high 82 touches across the 90 minutes showed he is back to his best after seeming somewhat off his game throughout late February in his return from injury.

Whether the goal fest is an aberration or a sign of things to come will be determined when Mark Rudan’s side travel to Adelaide next weekend, however, if they are to push through for a top six finish in their maiden season it is clear that Diamanti is going to be key.

REPORT: Burgess nets 19 minute hat-trick as Western United inflict more misery on Mariners
REACTION: ‘When it rains it pours’: Burgess beaming after hat-trick heroics

https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6137347963001

My Football Live

Victory relieve the pressure but are they really finals material?

After six games without a win before their Original Rivalry clash with Adelaide United, you can forgive Melbourne Victory for thinking they turned a corner when Andrew Nabbout banged home his stoppage time winner at Marvel Stadium on Saturday.

In addition to curtailing their recent form woes, the 2-1 result ended the Reds four-game dominance in fixtures between the clubs and it marked their first win in the Hyundai A-League under Carlos Salvachua since his appointment in January.

There was plenty of hubris post-match as captain Ola Toivonen relayed that the side has not given up hopes of finals football: “We’re still in it,” the big Swede declared.

But in addition to being just minutes away from sharing the points, on another night the Victory could well have crashed to another loss – with the Reds failing to put away early chances and then seeing striker George Blackwood struck the frame twice in the second half.

It’s not to say that the Victory were undeserving of their win – they did eclipse their opponents with shots at goal, shots on target and fared better in their one-on-one duels – but whether it is a flash-in-the-pan or the start of a revival remains up for debate.

Still sitting six points outside the top six the Victory tackle four of the more in-form teams across the competition in coming weeks, starting with next Saturday’s Big Blue at home to the league leaders.

Putting one over a Sky Blues side looking to bounce back from a derby defeat will be the real litmus test of whether they have what it takes to turn their season around.

REPORT: Nabbout’s stoppage-time stunner keeps Victory’s season alive
REACTION: Toivonen hopes ‘win or die’ result will launch Victory’s top-six assault

https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6137190665001

Watch Live and Free

The remarkable Robinson revolution ramps up in Newy

It’s not surprising that the Newcastle Jets are on an upswing under their new coach Carl Robinson – after all, the team was at its nadir prior to his appointment last month as they proved big on heart but small on goals.

However, the turnaround in their past three games has been immense and it is fair to say their 2-1 win over Perth Glory on Saturday is the high water mark of their season to date.

It wasn’t just that they ended the Premiers’ ten-match unbeaten run or secured their first home win over the Glory in eight years, it was that they did it by playing a brand of football that has eluded them all season.

The Jets eclipsed Tony Popovic’s well-oiled machine in terms of possession, completed passes, duels won and shots at goal throughout the 90 minutes – a statistical benchmark few teams can claim over the past two seasons.

And while on most other days Nikolai Topor-Stanley’s long-range banger would only have threatened those in the stands (or perhaps neighbouring streets), the return of Roy O’Donovan as the man the Jets can rely on to snatch a winning goal is precisely what lifted the Jets to a Grand Final appearance in 2018.

With Bernie Ibini looking immediately threatening in his debut for the club off the bench, Wes Hoolahan and Bobby Burns showing more and more every week and Welsh international Joe Ledley looming as another crucial piece of the puzzle don’t be surprised if the Jets claim more top six scalps in the remaining rounds.

REPORT: Topor-Stanley’s special goal lights up Newcastle win over Perth
REACTION: Robinson gives Newcastle the confidence to play says Topor-Stanley 

https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6137185705001

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