Preview of A-League Round 24 matches (all times AEDT/AEST):
THURSDAY, April 2
Brisbane Roar v Central Coast Mariners at Suncorp Stadium, 8pm
Head to head: Brisbane 15 Central Coast 7 Drawn 9
Last clash: Round 17, 2014-15 – Brisbane 2 bt Central Coast 0 at Central Coast Stadium
Tab Sportsbet: Brisbane $1.95 Central Coast $3.50 Draw $3.50
Brisbane can kiss their finals hopes goodbye if they can’t beat the Mariners at home in this one. Those hopes are already hanging by a thread after Saturday’s 1-0 loss to Melbourne City, which was the Roar’s fourth consecutive A-League defeat and left them eight points adrift of the top six. The continued absence of Thomas Broich (ankle), Matt McKay, Luke DeVere, Corey Brown and James Donachie (all international duty) has been telling, and it’s unlikely any of those five will feature against a settled Central Coast outfit.
Key: Jean Carlos Solorzano. The Roar’s best avenue to goal must produce against the Mariners.
Tip: Brisbane Roar
FRIDAY, April 3
Western Sydney Wanderers v Melbourne City at Pirtek Stadium, 7.40pm
Head to head: Western Sydney 6 Melbourne City 1 Drawn 1
Last clash: Round 10, 2014-15 – Western Sydney 3 bt Melbourne City 2 at Pirtek Stadium
Tab Sportsbet: Melbourne City $2.50 Western Sydney $2.60 Draw $3.40
A win here for City will take them another step closer to locking in sixth spot on the ladder and an unlikely finals berth after a rollercoaster season. Having put together a three-match winning streak and with most of their big guns back from injury, they will be confident of making it four on the trot. The exhausted Wanderers, on the other hand, are counting down the days until Mad Monday, but showed last week in Brisbane they could yet prove a nuisance for finals-bound sides.
Key: Robert Koren. If he fires, Western Sydney’s depleted defence could crumble.
Tip: Melbourne City
SATURDAY, April 4
Sydney FC v Adelaide United at Allianz Stadium, 7.30pm
Head to head: Sydney 11 Adelaide 14 Drawn 4
Last clash: Round 12, 2014-15 – Adelaide 3 bt Sydney 0 at Allianz Stadium
Tab Sportsbet: Sydney $2.20 Adelaide $3 Draw $3.50
With only two points separating first and fifth, it doesn’t get much bigger than this. The winner will go top, albeit temporarily. Sydney FC should regain the services of marquee striker Marc Janko, who continued his hot streak with a goal for Austria in a mid-week international friendly. He’ll be a straight swap for the suspended Shane Smeltz and will only strengthen a Sky Blues outfit that crushed a depleted Wellington 3-0 in New Zealand last week. Adelaide’s form has been shaky since January and they’ll find it tough to beat Graham Arnold’s men at home – but remember, they did it last time.
Key: Marcelo Carrusca. For Adelaide to be a chance he has to be at his majestic best in midfield.
Tip: Sydney FC
SUNDAY, April 5
Wellington Phoenix v Melbourne Victory at Westpac Stadium, 5pm
Head to head: Phoenix 4 Victory 13 Drawn 6
Last clash: Round 19 2014-15 – Phoenix 3 bt Victory 2 at AAMI Park
Tab Sportsbet: Phoenix $2.35 Victory $2.75 Draw $3.50
Potentially a grand final preview – and with the international window closed and the best players from both sides back on deck, it should look like one too. The Phoenix had five missing last weekend and didn’t look themselves in a 3-0 loss to Sydney, so expect Ernie Merrick to demand an instant return to the kind of football that took them to the top of the table. Victory had five of their own out but still mustered a 2-1 comeback win over Central Coast and will have revenge on their minds having fallen last time around against Wellington. This should be a crackerjack contest between two entertaining, enterprising sides.
Key: Nathan Burns. Will be looking to pick up where he left off after Socceroos duty.
Tip: Draw
MONDAY, April 6
Newcastle Jets v Perth Glory at Hunter Stadium, 5pm
Head to head: Jets 6 Glory 17 Drawn 6
Last clash: Round 10 2014-15 – Glory 2 bt Jets 0 at nib Stadium
Tab Sportsbet: Glory $2 Jets $3.50 Draw $3.40
Perth, who for so long this season have looked odds-on to take the Premier’s Plate, finally snapped a concerning nine-match winless run last week with a 3-2 triumph over the Wanderers. Traditionally, they have the wood over Newcastle, and there’s no reason why that should change as the Hunter club’s season of woe continues. The addition of Andrew Hoole, who scored a hat-trick for the Olyroos on Tuesday night against Myanmar, should inject the Jets with some much-needed spark – but if the Glory are fair dinkum about the A-League, they can’t afford to drop any points here.
Key: Andy Keogh. Needs to build up a head of steam and get back to scoring regularly with finals looming large.
Tip: Glory
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