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Another frightful week of unpredictability saw Andrew Prentice and the roar of the crowd top the pops in the final round of A-League tipping, as Sydney FC and Wellington Phoenix held on to their spots in the top six.
It loomed as a potentially explosive finish to the season, yet ended in something of an anti-climax, with Perth, Newcastle and Western United all falling short of the finals and lamenting precious points dropped throughout the season.
Now, the finals are upon us and the Reds will host the Phoenix on Friday night, seeking a spot in the last four. A Sydney Derby will explode on Saturday night as the Wanderers host Sydney FC, seeking to continue their recent derby dominance and send Steve Corica’s team home with their tails between their legs.
Good luck with your tips for the elimination finals and be sure to enter them in the sheet below to have a say in the table topping roar of the crowd. Here is the way the panel sees all the action unfolding during the first week of the 2022/23 A-League Finals.
Adelaide, Western Sydney
Wasn’t that a chastening defeat for Adelaide United last weekend? Just when you think the Reds will stamp their championship credentials, they go and get turned over 4-1 by a rampant Central Coast outfit.
I can’t see lightning striking twice here. The Reds will be better for that defeat and should tighten up at the back to grind out a victory against a Wellington side that rarely travels well.
Talk about a blockbuster elimination final! Marco Tilio’s late goal for Melbourne City did the A-League a favour in dropping the Wanderers down to fourth, and they’ll enjoy a battle royale with crosstown rivals Sydney FC.
Western Sydney won’t be too concerned by that loss to City last time out, and with Brandon Borrello in career-best form – and with Sydney FC’s star winger Joe Lolley in doubt – it should be Marko Rudan’s men who march on in front of a parochial home crowd.
Adelaide, Western Sydney
While I am confident that my tally will have the panel covered across the final five matches of the season, the voice of the people has proven to be too good. Well played, especially considering what a tricky season it was in terms of tipping.
The Reds were belted by the Mariners last week but are still a mighty good football team. Wellington have limped into the finals, yet did grab the win they needed against Macarthur in the final round to assure their spot. Frankly, Adelaide at home looks a bridge too far for the Phoenix.
A bumper crowd will have Hindmarsh rocking and the Reds should advance to the final four.
Logic says the Wanderers beat Sydney FC on Saturday night, based on season form and the recent head to head battles. Yet I am not too sure.
Could the Sky Blues, now fit and firing, actually pinch this one? I’m torn. I’m hearing a voice saying the Sky Blues will shock, with another on my opposite shoulder telling me that the Wanderers have the runs on the board. Should I pick a draw? Nope, Western Sydney in one of the games of the season.
Can Mark Rudan lead the Wanderers to an A-League Championship? (Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)
TBC
Adelaide, Sydney
We’re at the pointy end, and this humble correspondent loves finals football and, sacrilegiously according to some football people, I’m perfectly fine with crowning the A League’s champion based on them winning the Grand Final.
Four weeks ago, Adelaide would have been a popular GF winning pick, even allowing for Melbourne City running away with the Premier’s Plate. However, the Reds have hit a form slump at a bad time and come into Friday night’s match with Wellington, on a four-game winless streak.
That number four is a haunting one too – they’ve conceded four goals in each of their last two outings and were trampled by the Mariners last week when second place was up for grabs. However, they face a Wellington side who appear to have very little petrol left in the tank (one day that saying will be amended to read “charge in the battery”).
The Phoenix roused themselves to a win last week – their first in five games. That number five is a haunting one too – the winless streak began with a 5-1 loss to Adelaide. The Reds should have the necessary strike power to outscore the Phoenix, whose reliance on Oskar Zawada leaves them with few scoring options.
A Sydney Derby in the finals should ensure a raucous sell out crowd in Parramatta. “Should” being the operative word. A real rivalry has been pumped up in the last two meetings, with warring coaches and players who have not read from the usual PR script of “respecting all opponents.”
Brandon Borello made his feelings about the Sky Blues clear, after Sydney FC’s 1-0 win at the same venue in Round 16. The Wanderers backed up his words by thrashing their rivals 4-0 in the return clash in Round 21. That’s the last time the Sky Blues lost.
Brandon Borrello will be a key man for the Wanderers in the derby. (Photo by Jeremy Ng/Getty Images)
The Wanderers will start favourites in this mouth-watering clash. However, Sydney bring form and finals experience to the west and won’t be without their own support. It’ll be tight, tense, and may go the whole distance.
Wellington, Sydney
Having shot themselves in the foot last week, Adelaide United will be doing everything they can to put it right against Wellington Phoenix. The visitors know how to travel though, and an away game in the cauldron of Hindmarsh Stadium will be like water off a duck’s back.
Jonny Yull’s early goal will steady the nerves for the hosts, but the fingernails will be worked after Kosta Barbarouses smashes home from a rebound just before the break. The game will appear to be going into extra-time with United all over their Kiwi opponents, but a loose pass in midfield will be snapped up by Yan Sasse and Oskar Zawada will slot home a winner.
Not enough time for Adelaide to rescue their season, and an unlikely win for Phoenix, as a tiny corner of yellow erupts at Coopers.
The mere fact that Sydney FC are in the finals is seen as a bonus by the majority of their fans, but instead of simply making up the numbers, under-fire coach Steve Corica will send them out to win.
Does Steve Corica survive another derby loss? (Photo by Mohamed Farag/Getty Images)
With many teams put to the sword at Commbank Stadium this season, Wanderers will start the game with the swagger and pompous arrogance that seeps through from the top down and it will be difficult to see Andrew Redmayne’s goal remaining intact.
The longer Brandon Borrello is frustrated by the visitors’ defence, the more nervous the home fans will get, and a turning point after half-time will see Marko Rudan push his midfield forward and go for the jugular. Just like that, Sydney FC will slip through the Wanderers’ rearguard, Robert Mak showing composure to finish, right in front of the bank of Sky Blue.
Like a boxer on the front foot, Sydney will follow that up with a delicious ball from Luke Brattan to the unmarked Adrian Segecic, who will calmly roll the ball under Lawrence Thomas for 2-0. A fast-emptying Commbank Stadium barely registers when Amor Layouni slams home a goal with seconds of injury time remaining and Sydney FC complete a dramatic heist.
| Elimination Finals | Mike | Stuart | Blayne | Andrew | Texi | The Crowd |
| ADL vs WEL | ADL | ADL | TBC | ADL | WEL | ? |
| WSW vs SYD | WSW | WSW | TBC | SYD | SYD | ? |
| Last week | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| New total | 50 | 64 | 55 | 61 | 62 | 72 |