This afternoon sees two sides on the final stretch of two very different seasons, with Western Sydney Wanderers looking for an A-League record ninth-straight win, while Wellington Phoenix try to keep their finals hopes alive. We’ll have live coverage from 5.00pm AEDT.
With Premiership rivals Central Coast falling to successive losses – the first of which was to the Wanderers themselves – Western Sydney could go five points clear at the top of the table with a win today.
Today’s game looks to be a more open affair than last week’s top-of-the-table clash, and Wanderers manager Tony Popovic may decide to bring in the creative Aaron Mooy for the more defensive Iacopo La Rocca in central midfield.
Otherwise, his line-up is likely to be largely the same following on from the disciplined showing against the Mariners.
Victory today would be a huge step towards claiming a Premiership in the Wanderers’ first season, and would leave them needing just two wins from their final three games to finish at the A-League summit.
The career-best form of A-League stalwarts Michael Beauchamp, Nikolai Topor-Stanley and Mark Bridge has been key to Tony Popovic’s success story, and these players will again prove integral to the Wanderers’ chances in today’s match.
Classy foreigners Shinji Ono and Youssouf Hersi should again be the main providers for the Wanderers front line.
Wellington Phoenix’s season could not be more different from that of the Wanderers. They sit last, six points from a finals place and have won just twice in the past 11 games.
Nonetheless, they are coming off a win against the Heart and interim manager Chris Greenacre seems to have inspired some renewed hope.
The Wanderers will be watching closely Phoenix dangermen Jeremy Brockie and Corey Gameiro while Paul Ifill, who has had a disappointing season, can be threatening on his day.
Though his form has dropped off recently, Belgian Stein Huysegems will be missed up front following last week’s red card.
While the Phoenix will be playing as a team with their season on the line, the Wanderers – well organised and buoyed by a number of players in the form of their lives- are likely to be too good for the New Zealand club.
Early ticket sales suggest close to a full house today, with another fabulous atmosphere guaranteed. A win tonight for the Wanderers may be the clincher for their Premiership ambitions – a fascinating match-up awaits.
Stevo
Guest
Credit to Nux for turning up and believing they could get a result. And away from home to boot.
Midfielder
Guest
Seems almost fate has decided the Drive Byes to win this year..
Roarsome
Guest
Wellington unlucky not to get a point out of that. WSW failed to score from free play though were fairly awarded two penalties from non-threatening positions Wellington scored and were nearly level through a great strike off the crossbar. Both WSW and CCM have been out of form over the past few weeks though WSW continue to get results. The chasing pack will still feel confident of the Championship.
Cappuccino
Roar Guru
FULL TIME | Western Sydney Wanderers 2-1 Wellington Phoenix | Crowd: 15,809 | Western Sydney take a massive step towards winning the Premiership, now they are five points clear at the top of the A-League table with just three games remaining. They are now A-League record holders, winning their ninth straight game. In spite of a valiant performance, Wellington's season is over in terms of Finals football. The Wanderers have rode their luck in the past three games, but have come up trumps each time and have replaced the Mariners as the team to beat come Finals time.
JR Salazar
Guest
This may be a done deal here...and it is.
Cappuccino
Roar Guru
90+3'- Phoenix are hopefully launching the ball forward now; it looks as though Western Sydney have this one. WSW 2-1 WP
Cappuccino
Roar Guru
90+2'- The Wanderers survive another Bertos free-kick and have a goal kick. One minute to go. WSW 2-1 WP
Cappuccino
Roar Guru
90+1'- A definite defensive change for Tony Popovic, with La Rocca replacing Poljak. The Phoenix have three minutes of stoppage time to salvage something. WSW 2-1 WP
Chad Bennett
Editor
Woah! That would have been brutal for Western Sydney. Draw probably the fair result though?
Roarsome
Guest
WSW continue to ride their luck
Cappuccino
Roar Guru
90'- Fantastic effort from Jeremy Brockie! Chests the ball down well outside the box, turns and volleys- but the ball cannons against the crossbar. WSW 2-1 WP
Cappuccino
Roar Guru
89'- Wellington are consistently pressuring the Wanderers now, keeping the ball and staying in Western Sydney's half. Potentially a season-defining final few minutes now, for both sides. WSW 2-1 WP
Cappuccino
Roar Guru
87'- Bertos' free-kick is headed away unconvincingly but the Wanderers survive and swarm back into the Phoenix half. WSW 2-1 WP
Cappuccino
Roar Guru
86'- Brockie is clipped and the Phoenix have another opportunity outside the box- Leo Bertos over the free-kick. WSW 2-1 WP
Cappuccino
Roar Guru
84'- A very decent crowd here tonight, 15809 A-League fans in attendance. Matteo Poljak sees yellow after a rough tackle from behind. WSW 2-1 WP
Cappuccino
Roar Guru
83'- We're well inside the last ten minutes now, and the Phoenix's season is essentially on the line. Three points is a must for Wellington, but such an outcome looks increasingly unlikely. WSW 2-1 WP
Cappuccino
Roar Guru
82'- Two changes for the Phoenix. Cernak replaces Sanchez, while Ifill comes off for Louis Fenton. WSW 2-1 WP
Cappuccino
Roar Guru
80'- Youssouff Hersi has a chance to shoot from a tight angle, but Glen Moss is up to the challenge and he sends it behind for a corner, which is followed up by a further corner. WSW in full control at the moment. WSW 2-1 WP
Cappuccino
Roar Guru
79'- Matteo Poljak drives the ball from outside the area but the shot is blocked and the Wanderers have another corner. WSW 2-1 WP
Cappuccino
Roar Guru
77'- Mooy's corner is taken short, the cross is well intercepted by the Phoenix but they cannot keep the ball once again. WSW 2-1 WP