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Western United FC
1
Match Complete
Wellington Phoenix
3
| A. Diamanti |  | 89' | ||
| 88' |  | S. Taylor | ||
| 80' | | U. DA!vila | ||
| D. Jertec | | 68' | ||
| 55' | | C. McCowatt | ||
| 44' | | R. Piscopo | ||
| 41' | | D. Ball | ||
| C. Pain | | 37' | ||
| J. Skotadis | | 34' | ||
| A. Calver | | 10' |
| 18 | Shots | 14 | ||
| 3 | On Target | 6 | ||
| 12 | Fouls | 12 | ||
| 5 | Corners | 3 | ||
| 0 | Offsides | 1 | ||
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 | ||
| 4 | Yellow Cards | 2 |
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Western United and Wellington Phoenix will be clashing in Round 12 of the A-League season at Mars Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the game, with the game kicking off at 5:00pm (AEDT).
Western United and Wellington Phoenix are very different sides. There is a big difference between the coaches.
Western United have Mark Rudan, who has deployed a very conservative system, and tries to score early and then slowly but surely wind the game down. When they’re ahead, they keep possession between their back five maintaining the ball speed to a minimum, forcing a high press from the opposition team, which tires them out gradually through the game.
Of course, there are also the dreaded time-wasting tactics that happen when the ball is not in play as well.
On the other hand, you have Mark Rudan’s replacement at Wellington Phoenix Ufuk Talay. Talay played a 4-2-3-1 against Sydney FC, a formation that allowed the front four to truly be free. Orchestrated by talisman Ulises Davila, they thoroughly outplayed a solid Sydney defence on the counter, but also look dangerous building the play up from the back line.
This is a massive game for Wellington Phoenix. If they win this comfortably, it would cement their finals position hopes. They sit sixth, level on points with Melbourne Victory in seventh and only one point ahead of Western Sydney Wanderers, who are eighth.
They are three points behind fifth-placed Adelaide United, so this is a huge chance to try and reduce the gap between them and the top five and increase it between the bottom five.
Prediction
It won’t be easy against a very defensive side in Western United, but Wellington have what it takes to grab all three points. I am predicting a 3-1 win for the Phoenix.
Remember to join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, with the game commencing at 5:00pm (AEDT).
Kick-off: 5:00pm (AEDT)
Venue: Mars Stadium, Ballarat
Coverage: Fox Sports
Odds: Western United $2.20, Wellington $3.20, draw $3.30
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