Perth Glory have given their chances of a finals berth a significant boost with an upset 2-1 win over Sydney FC on Saturday.
Perth scored the first two goals of the game, in the 23rd minute through Andrew Keogh and in the 65th through Chris Harold.
Shane Smeltz found a goal for Sydney in the 79th minute but it wasn’t enough to avoid a loss to Perth.
The result leaves Glory less than a win behind sixth-placed Adelaide United, though the Reds have a game in hand tomorrow against the Central Coast Mariners.
Final score
Sydney FC 1
Perth Glory 2
Allianz Stadium will play host to a mouth-watering clash when Sydney FC take on Perth Glory this afternoon. Can the Sky Blues resurrect their stuttering form to halt the Glory’s surge towards the top six? Join The Roar from 5:15pm (AEDT) for live scores from the match
Sydney FC’s recent results will not have pleased manager Graeme Arnold. As the finals draw closer, Arnie’s boys haven’t amassed any momentum – in fact they’ve done the opposite.
The Sky Blues haven’t registered an A-League victory since their Round 15 triumph against crosstown rivals and league leaders Western Sydney Wanderers on January 16.
Sydney will have to be on their game in this one as they come up against a rampant Perth Glory side who haven’t been defeated in over a month. Their last loss came in Round 14 when they were beaten 3-1 by Adelaide United.
More recently the boys from the west claimed the scalp of the ‘Nix in Wellington last Sunday, courtesy of a solitary headed effort from Chris Harold. Thanks to their purple patch, Kenny Lowe’s men are still in contention for the finals. Every point will prove crucial as they seek to close the gap between themselves and sixth-placed Adelaide United, a gap which currently stands at five competition points.
Their opponents will be out to stop their hot streak on Saturday afternoon. Sydney FC sit in fifth spot on the ladder heading into Round 19 and a win could hoist them to as high as third place by Sunday evening.
However, if the Glory take three points back to Perth, the Sky Blues could drop to sixth and their opponents would be a maximum of three points from sixth spot and a finals berth.
History suggests that Sydney should come away with the points; the boys from the harbour city have been on the losing side against Perth only once in their last six meetings. If Sydney wish to keep their title hopes alive they must come away with maximum points on this occasion.
The Sky Blues will be boosted by the return of captain Alex Brosque, while January acquisition David Carney is expected to join his skipper in the starting XI.
Perth will also welcome back their captain as Richie Garcia returns to the fold following a stint on the treatment table.
Sydney boast the league’s most frugal defence and are the only team to have conceded less than 20 goals this campaign (19). It will prove an intruiging battle between defence and attack – the Glory’s forward line has been particularly potent of late, especially young Chris Harold who has netted four times in his last four appearances for the Glory.
Prediction
Sydney FC 1-2 Perth Glory
Join The Roar from 5:15pm (AEDT) for live scores from Allianz Stadium.
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Here is the way the Roar expert panel sees all the action unfolding across the final weekend of play prior to the semi-finals.
Mathew Leckie played a pivotal part in Melbourne City claiming an 8-nil win; playing a role in several of his team's goals.
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Anthony Caceres is a player with immense talent and has a fantastic work rate, broke the deadlock against the Mariners in the 74th minute.
