The race to the Isuzu UTE A-League Premiership intensifies on Wednesday.
Tonight could be the night defending champions Melbourne City claim back-to-back Premiers Plate’s in the A-League Men if they beat lowly Perth Glory at HBF Park and second-placed Western United fail to beat Newcastle Jets in the hours prior.
Read on for individual match previews of the two midweek Isuzu UTE A-League fixtures, both available to watch LIVE via Paramount+:
Western boss Aloisi draws on experience in title battle
Anna Harrington, AAP
John Aloisi plans to draw on every bit of experience he’s had as a player and coach as Western United attempt to pinch the A-League Men Premiers Plate from Melbourne City’s grasp.
Western spurned a golden chance to leapfrog City into top spot after losing 1-0 to Central Coast Mariners on Saturday and trail the reigning champions by two points and Melbourne Victory, who have played one more game, by one.
Aloisi’s charges play Newcastle Jets, who haven’t made the finals, at McDonald Jones Stadium on Wednesday night, ahead of City facing bottom club Perth Glory, and realistically must win to have a chance at claiming their maiden piece of silverware.
While Western’s Premiership hopes aren’t entirely in their own hands, Aloisi drew on his experience of a player at Central Coast in 2007-08, stressing they just had to play their part and see how the rest unfolded.
“We know that there’s always twists and turns at the end of the season,” he said.
“So all you can do is focus on what you’re doing and try and get the results you need and then the other results you can’t control, but stranger things have happened.
“I’ve been involved in the last round a few times. I remember once as a player I was at Central Coast and I think we were sitting third and four teams could win it and we won our game and the rest didn’t do their job so we ended up winning the premiers plate.
“It’s just about focusing on us and making sure that we’re prepared for the two games and especially this one tomorrow night, because it’s the first one, and making sure that we perform at our best. That’s all we can ask for.”
Aloisi also just fell short of claiming the Premiers Plate as Brisbane Roar coach in 2015-16.
Western remained in NSW between the loss to the Mariners and facing the Jets away and Aloisi believed that time together would prove a positive.
“Especially after a result that we didn’t want, it was good that the group was together and to pick each other up pretty quickly,” he said.
“That can only happen when you’re in a hub environment.”
Steven Lustica (calf) won’t play against Newcastle or in Sunday’s final regular-season game against Adelaide United.
Newcastle Jets v Western United
Isuzu UTE A-League
Wednesday, May 4 2022
MCDONALD JONES STADIUM
Kick-off: 7.05pm AEST
MATCH CENTRE | HOW TO WATCH
City shrug off ACL exit to focus on Premiers Plate race
Anna Harrington, AAP
With the Isuzu A-League Premiership in sight, Melbourne City will attempt to shake off their brutal AFC Champions League exit when they take on Perth Glory.
City went unbeaten in the group stage in their inaugural ACL campaign in Thailand and claimed 12 points to finish runners-up in Group G on goal difference, only just missing out on qualifying for the knockout stage.
To ensure City’s qualification from second position, Vissel Kobe had to beat Hong Kong champions Kitchee SC in Group J – and an 88th-minute goal that put the Japanese side 2-1 up looked to be enough.
But minutes later, former Melbourne Victory midfielder Raul Baena scored Kitchee’s equaliser that sent City crashing out.
“It was fantastic. We represented our club really well, the players were fantastic,” City head coach Patrick Kisnorbo said of Wednesday’s fixture.
“I couldn’t be much prouder of the players.
“We played the way we wanted to play in tough conditions and we gave everything and end of the day we had to wait on a result which didn’t happen.
“That’s it, you can’t change that. But it was a great learning curve for us as staff, as players and as a club. All of us should be really proud of what we did over there.
“This is new for me as well. I think in Australia we’re a bit blinded on how good Asian countries are.
“We think of Asia in other things, but not football, but there’s a lot of good teams over there in our group that we played and I’m sure in other groups.”
City flew directly to Perth but Kisnorbo shrugged off the heavy travel and playing schedule.
Kisnorbo was confident he would have a fit and firing squad, including Mat Leckie, who was managed through much of the ACL.
The reigning A-League Men champions are on the brink of sealing a second consecutive premiers plate with two games left in the season.
A win over wooden spooners Perth, who are playing their final game of the season, would all but seal silverware.
City are on 46 points, a point ahead of Victory with a game in hand and two points ahead of Western United, who also have two games left.
“All season we’ve taken it day by day, and it’s the same here now,” Kisnorbo said.
Perth Glory v Melbourne City
Isuzu UTE A-League
Wednesday, May 4 2022
HBF PARK
Kick-off: 9.05pm AEST
MATCH CENTRE | HOW TO WATCH
