Ahead of Week One of the Isuzu UTE A-League Finals Series, KEEPUP provides a lowdown on everything you need to know ahead of the action kicking off tonight.
The first week of the Isuzu UTE A-League Finals Series is upon us, after an enthralling regular season came to a close last weekend.
Six teams remain in the hunt for the Championship and soon, that number will become four with two Elimination Finals to take place this weekend.
First up, Adelaide United welcome Wellington Phoenix to town on Friday night, before Western Sydney Wanderers and Sydney FC renew hostilities the following evening in the first ever finals iteration of a Sydney Derby.
Top-two sides Melbourne City and Central Coast Mariners await the winners in two-legged semi-final ties, that will commence next weekend.
Before the action kicks off, here’s everything you need to know.
MORE ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE NEWS
TOP SIX CONFIRMED: All set for historic Sydney Derby as week one Finals Series fixtures locked in
TALKING POINTS: Moment that earned a standing ovation from rival fans
AWARD SEASON: Every A-Leagues club’s end of season award winners
HOW DOES THE FINALS SERIES WORK?
The winner of the Isuzu UTE A-League Championship is determined in a five-week Finals Series.
In the first week, the top two sides (Melbourne City and Central Coast Mariners) won’t be in action as they have advanced to the two-legged Semi Finals already, while third hosts sixth and fourth entertains fifth in Elimination Finals this weekend on Friday, May 5 and Saturday, May 6.
The winners of those games face City and Central Coast in two-legged Semi Finals, with the lowest-ranked Elimination Final winner to take on City and the higher-ranked team to play the Mariners.
READ: Isuzu UTE A-League Men Competition Rules Summary
The first leg is hosted by the lower-ranked team on the weekend of Friday, May 12, before the return leg takes place the following week at AAMI Park on Friday, May 19 and Industree Group Stadium on Saturday, May 20.
The Away Goals rule will not be used in the Semi Finals.
The winners of each two-legged Semi Final on an aggregate score over the two legs, advance to the Grand Final which will take place on Saturday, June 3 at CommBank Stadium.
FINALS FIXTURES
WEEK ONE
Elimination Final One: Adelaide United v Wellington Phoenix
Date: Friday, May 5
Venue: Coopers Stadium
Kick-off: 7:45 PM (AEST) (7:15 PM ACST)
BUY TICKETS
Elimination Final Two: Western Sydney Wanderers v Sydney FC
Date: Saturday, May 6
Venue: CommBank Stadium
Kick-off: 7:45pm (AEST)
BUY TICKETS
WEEK TWO – Weekend of Friday May 12-14
Semi Final One – first leg: Lowest ranked Elimination Final winner vs Melbourne City
Date: TBC
Venue: TBC
Kick-off: TBC
Semi Final Two – first leg: Highest ranked Elimination Final winner vs Central Coast Mariners
Date: TBC
Venue: TBC
Kick-off: TBC
WEEK THREE
Semi Final One – second leg: Melbourne City FC v Elimination Final winner
Date: Friday, May 19
Venue: AAMI Park
Kick-off: 7:45pm (AEST)
BUY TICKETS
Semi Final Two – second leg: Central Coast Mariners v Elimination Final winner
Date: Saturday, May 20
Venue: Industree Group Stadium
Kick-off: 7:45 PM (AEST)
BUY TICKETS
WEEK FOUR – WEEK OFF
WEEK FIVE
Grand Final: Winner of Semi Final One v Winner of Semi Final Two
Date: Saturday, June 3
Venue: CommBank Stadium
Kick-off: 7:45 PM (AEST)
BUY TICKETS
WHERE DO I BUY TICKETS?
Tickets for the Elimination Finals went on sale at 12.00pm (local time) on Monday, May 1 for members, and will go on sale at 4.00pm (local time) on Tuesday 2 May for the general public via Ticketek.
Tickets for the Second Leg Semi Finals went on sale at 11.00am (local time) today for members, and will go on sale at 4.00pm (local time) for the general public via Ticketek.
Tickets for the Isuzu UTE A-League Grand Final at CommBank Stadium went on sale to the general public 1.00pm AEST on Tuesday, May 2 via Ticketek, with a 20% ticket discount for all club members.
TRAVEL PACKAGES
A-Leagues official accommodation partner IHG is offering hotel discounts for travelling fans across the finals.
From May 22, Qantas are offering an exclusive discount code travel offer for participating team fans travelling to Sydney for the Grand Final.
There will also be special offers in partnership with participating Grand Final teams to support travelling fans.
HOW DO I WATCH THE FINALS?
Every match of the Isuzu UTE A-League Final Series will be broadcast live and free on 10 Bold, 10 Play, and live on Paramount+.
ELIMINATION FINAL PREVIEWS
Adelaide United v Wellington Phoenix
The finals series kicks off in Adelaide, as the Reds welcome Wellington Phoenix to Coopers Stadium on Friday night.
Adelaide come into finals off the back of four games without a win, surrendering second spot on the table in their 4-1 defeat at the hands of Central Coast Mariners – who leaped them on the table in the final round.
Despite Carl Veart’s side’s incredible scoring form, they haven’t kept a clean sheet in 13 games, stretching all the way back to their 1-0 win over Macarthur on January 20.
All eyes will be on the Reds to see if they can stem the tide of their recent form slump and return to the imperious form shown during a 12 game unbeaten run.
They welcome a Wellington side who scraped into finals on the last day of the season, courtesy of a 1-0 win over wooden spooners Macarthur FC.
It was only a matter of weeks ago that Wellington were contending for a home Elimination Final, but five successive defeats, including a 5-1 loss to the Reds at Coopers Stadium saw them just scrape into the top six.
This could be the final time Ufuk Talay coaches the ‘Nix too, after announcing he will be leaving at the end of this campaign when his contract expires, while goalkeeper Oliver Sail and midfielder Clayton Lewis will also depart.
BUY TICKETS TO ADELAIDE V WELLINGTON
HEAD TO HEAD
Adelaide United 5-1 Wellington Phoenix – March 17 2023
In the most recent meeting between the two sides, Adelaide demolished Wellington at Coopers Stadium, which in fact kicked off the ‘Nix’s recent dip in form.
The Reds opened up a three-goal lead courtesy of a Scott Wootton own-goal and strikes from Luka Jovanovic and Lachlan Barr. Alex Rufer pulled one back from the spot, but goals from Hiroshi Ibusuki and Craig Goodwin ensured there would be no comeback.
Incredibly, Wellington actually had the better of the chances, but lacked cutting edge in the final third – with Kosta Barbarouses missing a glorious chance early to get the Phoenix back in the game.
Wellington Phoenix 3-1 Adelaide United – December 17 2022
In Wellington’s first game in New Zealand after the FIFA World Cup break, the ‘Nix put on a show against the Reds, coming away with a convincing 3-1 win.
Oskar Zawada opened the scoring, before a stunning Craig Goodwin free-kick brought Adelaide level.
Goals from Bozhidar Kraev and Yan Sasse either side of a Ben Halloran red card help wrap up the three points for Ufuk Talay’s side.
Wellington Phoenix 1-1 Adelaide United – October 9 2022
Wellington and Adelaide met for the first time this season all the way back in round one at the cake tin.
The ‘Nix went down to ten men early when Yan Sasse was sent off on debut, but they looked to be on their way to an incredible victory when Ben Waine gave them the lead with 15 minutes to go.
However, Ben Halloran would strike with time expiring to snatch a point for the Reds.
Western Sydney Wanderers v Sydney FC
For the first time ever, Western Sydney Wanderers and Sydney FC will lock horns in a final.
The 35th iteration of the Sydney Derby – and the fourth in this season alone – promises to be one of the biggest of all time, with both teams looking to keep their dreams of silverware alive.
Western Sydney – who will play their first final in six years – finished in fourth place after falling to a 3-2 defeat at the hands of premiers Melbourne City in Round 26, narrowly missing the chance to secure a top two spot.
Marko Rudan’s team, however, come into this contest with bragging rights on their side, winning two of the three derbies already this season, including a 4-0 win in the most recent iteration.
Their opponents, Sydney FC, come into the finals as the form team of the four sides in action this weekend, going unbeaten in their last five games heading into finals and haven’t lost since the aforementioned derby defeat.
Steve Corica’s side wrapped up a finals berth in the second-last weekend of the season, before securing fifth place with a 2-0 win over Newcastle Jets.
Despite being on the end of two defeats at the hands of Western Sydney this season, the Sky Blues won the only derby to take place at CommBank Stadium, coming away with a 1-0 victory in February. Incredibly, the home side in all three derbies this season has lost.
Sydney are set to regain Robert Mak and Jack Rodwell this weekend, but will be sweating on the fitness of Joe Lolley after he sustained a hamstring injury against the Jets.
BUY TICKETS TO WESTERN SYDNEY V SYDNEY FC
HEAD TO HEAD
Sydney FC 0-4 Western Sydney Wanderers – March 18 2023
In the last meeting between the two sides, Western Sydney sent an almighty statement.
The Wanderers demolished the Sky Blues on their home turf, putting together one of their best showings of the season to date from start to finish. Kusini Yengi opened the scoring at Allianz again, before Amor Layouni added two goals either side of half-time to put the result beyond doubt.
Former Sydney midfielder Calem Nieuwenhof added some icing on the cake with a stunning long range goal to wrap up the 4-0 win.
Western Sydney Wanderers 0-1 Sydney FC – February 11 2023
After losing the first Derby of the season, Sydney FC evened the ledger in a spicy 1-0 win at Wanderland.
Max Burgess opened the scoring with a delightful solo goal to give Sydney an early advantage. Western Sydney went down to ten early in the second-half, after Yeni Ngbakoto was given his marching orders after collecting Paulo Retre with a stray hand to the face.
Marko Rudan’s side had the ball in the net through Tom Beadling, but the goal was rubbed out due to offside, as Sydney came away with all three points.
The February iteration also saw sparks fly off the pitch, as both Rudan and Steve Corica engaged in a war of words after the full-time whistle, while Wanderers attacker Brandon Borrello infamously called the Sky Blues “bang average” in his post-game interview.
Both sides came out of the game banged up with Marcelo and Adam Le Fondre both going down injured in the first-half.
Sydney FC 0-1 Western Sydney Wanderers – November 12 2022
The first Sydney Derby at the new Allianz lived up to all the hype and some, as the Wanderers came away with a dramatic 1-0 victory.
In front of over 34,000 people, Western Sydney’s early season bounce continued when Kusini Yengi wrote his name into derby folklore with a tremendous second-half goal to win his side the game.
It was also the first time Milos Ninkovic came up against his former club and before Yengi’s winner, he came within inches of opening the scoring, but was denied by Andrew Redmayne at the last second.
