PREVIEW OF A-LEAGUE ROUND 25 MATCHES (all times AEST).
FRIDAY, April 12
Brisbane Roar v Wellington Phoenix at Suncorp Stadium, 7.50pm
Head to head: Roar 18, Phoenix 7, drawn 10
Last clash: Round 9 – Phoenix 4 Roar 1 at Westpac Stadium
Brisbane is normally a graveyard for the Phoenix but Mark Rudan’s men have more to play for than the injury-ravaged Roar. Last week’s loss to Adelaide was a reality check for Wellington, who had been in rampant form, but the likes of striker Roy Krishna will target a Brisbane side who have conceded 20 goals in their last six games. A host of Roar youngsters are getting elevated minutes and can push hard for contracts in their three final games – all at Suncorp Stadium.
Key: Steven Taylor – The English centre back’s return will help stiffen a Phoenix defence that hasn’t kept a clean sheet in their last eight.
Tip: Phoenix
SATURDAY, April 13
Melbourne City v Adelaide United at AAMI Park, 5.35pm
Head to head: City 10, Adelaide 10, drawn 7
Last clash: Round 18 – City 1 Adelaide 1 at AAMI PARK
A key game in the race for fourth place in the league and a home play-off reward. Both sides cast aside some patchy form in style last week, with City crushing the Brisbane Roar and Adelaide outclassing the Phoenix. The home side haven’t lost in their last 10 at AAMI Park, that run helped by Jamie Maclaren’s equaliser when they played Adelaide there two months ago. Striker Apostolos Stamatelopoulos’s suspension turns the heat up on Craig Goodwin to end a mini goal drought for United.
Key: Luke Brattan – The Melbourne City workhorse is hitting form at the right time, delivering two assists and making seven tackles against the Roar.
Tip: City
Western Sydney Wanderers v Sydney FC at ANZ Stadium, 7.50pm
Head to head: Wanderers 4, Sydney FC 11, drawn 5
Last clash: Round 8 – Sydney 3 bt Wanderers 1 at ANZ Stadium
Steve Corica says his Sydney FC men have produced some of their best football in the last week as they try to stay in the race for the Premiers Plate. He said the outcry over the SCG surface overshadowed the quality of their performance in beating Melbourne Victory while his plaudits were just as loud following the 3-3 Asian Champions League home draw with Shanghai SIPG midweek. A Sydney derby should hold no fear, with the Wanderers having won just one of them in the last 15. Veteran forward Mark Bridge is back from injury for Western Sydney, weeks out from his retirement and two game short of 250 A-League appearances.
Key: Brandon O’Neill – It’s the 100th A-League game for the midfielder and wouldn’t the Sky Blues want another of his trademark long-range stunners?
Tip: Sydney FC
SUNDAY, April 14
Melbourne Victory v Central Coast Mariners at AAMI Park, 5pm
Head to head: Victory 22, Mariners 9, drawn 11
Last clash: Round 17 – Victory 3 bt Mariners 2 at Central Coast Stadium
Central Coast say they’ll try to run the premiers off their feet. Not a bad tactic against a Melbourne Victory side who have travelled back from China stewing on a 4-0 ACL thumping from Guangzhou Evergrande on Wednesday. Victory coach Kevin Muscat has overseen 13 wins and four draws against the Mariners, who haven’t yet given up on avoiding the wooden spoon according to captain Matt Simon.
Key: James Troisi: Victory’s classy attacker scored in both wins over the Mariners this season but is goal-less in his last eight games.
Tip: Victory
Perth Glory v Newcastle Jets at HBF Park, 7pm
Head to head: Glory 25, Jets 8, drawn 8
Last clash: Round 16 – Glory 2 bt Jets 0 at HBF Park
If Sydney FC drop points the night before, Perth can make history by hoisting the Premiers Plate in front of their home fans on the back of victory over the mercurial Jets. Even though Newcastle can still mathematically reach the post-season, coach Ernie Merrick has switched his attention to building for 2019/20. That could fall into the hands of a Glory side who have lost just two of their last 22 meetings with the Jets.
Key: Joel Chianese – Still pushing for a place in the Perth forward line for the finals, having bagged a sweet goal in a high-energy display last week against Central Coast.
Tip: Perth
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