There’s a bit of everything on Tuesday – some Isuzu UTE A-League and AFC Champions League action.
Western United are in Tasmania again, this time to face Macarthur FC in the A-League Men.
In Asia’s elite continental club competition, Sydney FC feature on matchday two against hosts Hoang Anh Gia Lai in Vietnam.
Read on for individual match previews of the Isuzu UTE A-League match and AFC Champions League fixture, both available to watch LIVE via Paramount+:
Premiers Plate not driving Western United in ALM
Ed Jackson, AAP
They’re firmly in the race for this season’s Isuzu UTE A-League Premiers Plate, but Western United head coach John Aloisi says the lure of the club’s first piece of silverware isn’t driving his team.
A 6-0 humbling of hapless Perth Glory in Launceston last Saturday has Western five points behind leaders and defending champions Melbourne City.
With City on AFC Champions League duty in Thailand, another win against Macarthur FC in Tasmania on Tuesday will have Aloisi’s team just two points behind in the Premiership race with a game in hand.
While that would set up a grandstand finish for the two clubs in the final weeks of the season, Aloisi insists his team are focused on the bigger picture.
“We’re not talking about that yet,” Aloisi said. “I know that’s one thing the media will talk about because it’s there but as a team and the playing group we’re just making sure we’re focused on each game.
“The next game is the most important, which is Macarthur, and we’ve got a bit of a break after that.
“We’re hoping – and we’ll do our best – if we perform well to get the result we want and then we’ve got three big games in the last weeks of the season.”
The comfortable victory margin over the Glory allowed Aloisi to give players an early mark as he used all five substitutes, ensuring his squad is fit and firing for the visit of the Bulls to UTAS Stadium.
Macarthur, meanwhile head south on the back of a 2-1 victory over Brisbane Roar, secured via Jake McGing’s 89th-minute winner against his former club.
That victory keeps Ante Milicic’s Macarthur inside the top six, but with Sydney FC and Central Coast Mariners hot on their heels they need to continue picking up points.
“Macarthur are a tough team. Even when they’re not playing well, they seem to be able to get results,” Aloisi said.
“They’re coached very well by Ante Milicic so it’s going to be a tough game.
“We’re looking forward to the challenge.”
Western United v Macarthur FC
Isuzu UTE A-League
Tuesday, April 19 2022
UTAS STADIUM
Kick-off: 5.05pm AEST
MATCH CENTRE | HOW TO WATCH
Caceres expects tough test from ACL hosts
Ed Jackson, AAP
Sydney FC’s welcome in Vietnam may have been warm so far but midfielder Anthony Caceres isn’t expecting any hospitality from their AFC Champions League opponents Hoang Anh Gia Lai.
The Sky Blues face the Vietnamese top-flight team in their second group-stage fixture on Tuesday, after beginning their Group H campaign with a goalless draw against South Korea’s Jeonbuk Motors on Sunday.
Hoang Anh Gia Lai lost their opener against Kevin Muscat’s Yokohama F.Marinos 2-1 but Caceres said the supposed group minnows showed plenty for Sydney to be wary of in that contest.
“We expect that game to be really tough, we caught a glimpse of them against Yokohama and they play with a lot of energy,” Caceres said.
“Obviously they’re used to the conditions here and they’ve got the backing of the crowd behind them.
“That could prove to be one of the toughest games that we have in the group stage.”
Facing a gruelling schedule of six games in just two weeks, Caceres knows the importance of Sydney building on the point earned against Jeonbuk.
“We need to pick up results early, that sets the tone for the rest of the competition,” said the 29-year-old, a veteran of three prior AFC Champions League group-stage campaigns.
“We can take plenty of confidence from that Jeonbuk game but this game is going to be completely different.
“I expect a more intense game.
“They’d be keen to prove themselves in front of the crowd, in their home country and we need to be up for the challenge from the beginning.”
Caceres said the Sky Blues have settled in well to their COVID-19 bubble in Ho Chi Minh City and despite playing a full 90 minutes in oppressive conditions against Jeonbuk, he’s pulled up well to back up in Tuesday’s game.
“Physically I’m probably in the best shape that I have been in my career,” he said.
“I feel like I’m more than capable of backing up regularly in this condensed schedule.
“It’s a challenge that I actually really enjoy.”
Sydney FC v Hoang Anh Gia Lai
AFC Champions League
Tuesday, April 19 2022
THONG NHAT STADIUM
Kick-off: 9.00pm AEST
MATCH CENTRE | HOW TO WATCH
