Graham Arnold’s battle-hardened Sydney FC and Ernie Merrick’s stuttering Wellington Phoenix will approach the A-League playoffs from different ends of the football spectrum.
Sydney’s 2-1 win over Wellington at Westpac Stadium on Sunday sealed second place on the ladder for the Sky Blues, and a week off before they host a home semi-final.
The Phoenix remain fourth, and will host fifth-placed Melbourne City next Sunday in an elimination play-off.
Wellington have struggled in closing out their season, leaking 10 goals in their last four home games and conceding an early goal in all but one of their last six matches.
In contrast, Sydney have have snaffled 32 of a possible 39 points since Christmas, and have gone the entire season without losing a match away from home.
“Four or five weeks ago, I said if we can get through this period we’ll be battle-hardened for the finals,” Arnold said.
“We had four out of five games away – the Phoenix twice, Perth and Newcastle, and we’ve got nine out of nine points for the last three games away.
“I honestly believe we’re the form team of the competition – we’re getting better and better.”
Merrick’s calm remains unruffled by his team’s inconsistencies in closing out the season, and says there was still plenty to be pleased about against Sydney FC.
“If you look at possession stats, the number of passes and successful passes, it was very good,” he said.
“But in that deadly area in the penalty box, we weren’t there when it counted.”
The Phoenix have a peculiar history against Melbourne City this season, two scoreless draws following November’s 5-1 thumping at home.
But City will be going into Sunday’s elimination final winless in their last four games, and pummelled 4-1 by Adelaide United on Saturday.
As well as continuing their tendency to leak early goals, Wellington missed their second penalty in three matches.
It’s not ideal, Merrick admits, but he is still confident his players can turn things around.
“When it comes to finals, everyone’s really tough. You can’t concede goals cheaply and you’ve got to take opportunities like penalty kicks.
“We’re playing good football, we’ve just got to finish it off.”
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
Even though St.Pauli ultimately lost a high-scoring affair, Jackson Irvine was a standout, as well as scoring a late goal.
Mathew Leckie played a pivotal part in Melbourne City claiming an 8-nil win; playing a role in several of his team's goals.
The loser of the Sydney Derby will be under immense pressure entering the final three matches of the season.
A good performance from Michael Ruhs, scoring twice to beat Macarthur and doubling his season goal tally in the process.
Phillip Cancar’s rather comical and momentarily delayed dive in the 36th minute of Newcastle Jets 3-1 win over Sydney FC on Sunday was a…
Sydney moved into fourth with their point but Glory's finals hopes are now officially extinguished.
