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Five clubs are seeking breathing space on the most suffocating A-League ladder ever.
Never before in the competition’s history have just two points separated the top five clubs so close to the end of regulation rounds.
The tight finish has been dubbed “the great race” by the head of the A-League, Damien De Bohun.
The last time there was such a slender gap between the top five nearing the business end of an Australian season was in the National Soccer League after round 22 in 1989/90.
“It’s the tightest contest of any Australian competition in years,” De Bohun said on Monday.
“The finishing position in the top six has a huge bearing on qualifying for the grand final so the season could turn on every point and every goal over the remainder of the regular season.
“The pressure on every club will be enormous and that will produce some great, unscripted live drama.”
De Bohun said the top five – Wellington Phoenix (first, 42 points), Melbourne Victory (second, 41 points), Sydney FC (third, 41 points), Perth Glory (fourth, 40 points) and Adelaide United (fifth, 40 points) – all have genuine claims to the premier’s plate.
Melbourne Victory appear best positioned.
Victory are one point adrift of leaders Wellington Phoenix, who have banked 42 points.
But crucially the Victory have five games to play while the rest of the top five have only four.
The postponement of the Victory’s round 18 away fixture against Brisbane Roar because of a cyclone will shape the ladder’s upper reaches.
Kevin Muscat’s outfit travel to meet Wellington this Sunday but the rest of their fixtures are against clubs likely to miss the finals – Newcastle Jets, Brisbane twice, and Central Coast Mariners.
Wellington, in their last four matches, confront two sides in the top five logjam: Victory and Sydney FC, and also clash with sixth-placed Melbourne City.
The Sky Blues have a testing run home with games against Adelaide, Perth and Wellington to come.
Perth, the early pacesetters, remain well-placed despite a recent form slump – they play just one of the current top five, Sydney, in their last four games.
Adelaide also play just one of the top five in their run home – Saturday night’s blockbuster against Sydney FC.
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