Sydney FC have the opportunity to go to the top of the Hyundai A-League ladder when they visit Western United FC on Sunday afternoon.
With current leaders Melbourne City having the bye, the Sky Blues will go first with a draw at GMHBA Stadium.
But having won their last three games on the bounce – scoring nine goals in the process – Steve Corica’s troops will expect to pick up all three points against the competition new boys.
While the champions are in excellent touch, the same can’t be said about United who have lost two on the spin after their shock 1-0 defeat to the Mariners on Sunday.
Even with the likes of Alessandro Diamanti, Besart Berisha and Scott McDonald in their side, United haven’t found the net in the last 212 minutes of play.
Slow starts have affected Mark Rudan’s side for much of the campaign and if that continues against Sydney, it could be a tough afternoon for the hosts.
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Sunday, December 1 2019
Kick-off: 4.00pm AEDT
Venue: GMHBA Stadium
Broadcast: FOX Sports 505
Stream: MyFootball Live App, Kayo Sports
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Team news
Western United FC Squad: 1.Filip KURTO (GK), 2.Aaron CALVER, 3.Brendan HAMILL, 4.Andrew DURANTE, 5.Dylan PIERIAS, 6.Connor CHAPMAN, 8.Panagiotis KONE, 9.Apostolos STAMATELOPOULOS, 10.Scott MCDONALD, 11.Connor PAIN, 12.Dario JERTEC, 13.Ivan VUJICA, 14.Max BURGESS, 15.Jonathan ASPROPOTAMITIS, 18.Besart BERISHA, 19.Josh RISDON, 22.Ersan GULUM, 23.Alessandro DIAMANTI, 26.Kwabena APPIAH-KUBI, 30.Ryan SCOTT (GK)
**2-4 to be omitted**
Ins: 15.Jonathan ASPROPOTAMITIS (promoted), 22.Ersan GULUM (promoted)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 20.James DELIANOV (GK) (knee – season)
Sydney FC squad: 1.Andrew REDMAYNE (gk), 2.Patrick FLOTTMANN, 4.Alex WILKINSON (c), 5.Alex BAUMJOHANN, 6.Ryan McGOWAN, 7.Michael ZULLO, 8.Paulo RETRE, 9.Adam LE FONDRE, 10.Milos NINKOVIC, 11.Kosta BARBAROUSES, 12.Trent BUHAGIAR, 13.Brandon O’NEILL, 16.Joel KING, 17.Anthony CACERES, 18.Luke IVANOVIC, 20.Tom HEWARD-BELLE (gk), 21.Harry VAN DER SAAG, 23.Rhyan GRANT, 24.Marco TILIO, 26.Luke BRATTAN
**2-4 to be omitted**
In: 16.Joel KING (promoted), 21.Harry VAN DER SAAG (promoted), 24.Marco TILIO (promoted)
Out: Nil
Unavailable: 3.Ben WARLAND (ACL), 19. Chris ZUVELA (knee)
Did you know?
- Sydney FC have won seven of their last eight Hyundai A-League matches in Victoria (L1), that lone defeat did come in their most recent such road trip (26 January 2019).
- The Sky Blues have scored the most goals from corners (4) of any side this Hyundai A-League season, but United are one of three teams yet to concede from this method (also Sydney FC and Perth Glory).
- Western United FC’s Josh Risdon has created the most chances in open play (16) of any player this Hyundai A-League season, five more than Sydney FC’s best Milos Ninkovic (11).