KEEPUP previews all the Round 20 action, thanks to Neds.
It is now or never for Tony Popovic’s Melbourne Victory in their desperate fight to reach the finals as a Monday night clash against Western United awaits.
Semi-finalists last season, Victory are rooted to the bottom of the table and languish nine points behind sixth-placed Sydney. And while they have a game in hand, time is running out.
Victory will take confidence from the fact they are unbeaten in their last three A-League Men games at AAMI Park (W2 D1) after having lost six of their seven games at the venue prior to that term (W1). But Western have won their last two matches against Victory having picked up just a point from their five meetings prior.
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Western enter the Labour Day contest on the back of two big announcements – the re-signing of head coach John Aloisi and the renewal of rising star Noah Botic.
Botic has scored four goals in his last four games for the defending champions, including three goals in his last two games. His form, which has kept Aleksandar Prijovic out of the line-up, has helped Western stay within five points of the top six.
Opta stat: Western (24%) and Victory (20%) are two of three teams to have scored at least one-fifth of their total goals from outside the box this season (Newcastle Jets – 23%).
MATCH DETAILS
Melbourne Victory v Western United
Monday, March 13 2023
AAMI Park
Kick-off: 6.00pm AEDT
Broadcast: Paramount+
Odds: Victory $1.90, Draw $3.50, Western $3.60
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Can Perth Glory do something they haven’t done in three years and record back-to-back Isuzu UTE A-League wins over Western Sydney Wanderers in a single season?
Perth have not defeated Western Sydney twice in a campaign since 2019-20, but the Glory have the chance to end that drought when they host the high-flying Wanderers on Friday night.
It will be a special occasion for the Glory, who are back at HBF Park for the first time this season, having been based at make-shift home Macedonia Park during stadium upgrades.
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But form is against Perth, who are winless in their past six A-League Men matches – conceding multiple goals in each of those fixtures. Their last win came against Melbourne Victory on January 21 as the Glory have slipped to 11th and seven points adrift of the finals spots.
As for the Wanderers, they are second in the standings and six points behind league-leading Melbourne City thanks to back-to-back wins over Macarthur FC and Central Coast Mariners, and the form of February’s Player of the Month Brandon Borrello.
Borrello has scored four goals in his last three games, scoring at least once in each of those fixtures; however, he has scored only one goal from 11 previous appearances against Perth.
Opta stat: Western Sydney have won their last two games in the A-League Men; the last time
they won more in succession in the competition was a three-game streak in March 2021 which
included a 3-0 win over Perth.
MATCH DETAILS
Perth Glory v Western Sydney Wanderers
Friday, March 10 2023
HBF Park
Kick-off: 10.00pm AEDT
Broadcast: Paramount+
Odds: Glory $2.85, Draw $3.30, Wanderers $2.30
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Three games without a win has seen Central Coast Mariners go from second in the table, to fourth and just three points clear of sixth-placed Sydney FC.
It has been a bumpy ride for Nick Montgomery’s Mariners, who have often dazzled this season but they need a response against finals-chasing Macarthur FC on Saturday evening.
This will be the third A-League Men game played at Glen Willow Sporting Field; the Mariners defeated Macarthur FC 4-2 in the only games either they or Macarthur FC have previously played there.
Central Coast have actually only won one of their past seven matches but their form in the second half of games should provide confidence. The Mariners have scored 23 goals in the second period this term – the most of any team, while only Adelaide United (20) have conceded more in this period than Macarthur (19).
Mile Sterjovski’s Macarthur head into the contest buoyed by their last-gasp win over Brisbane Roar in Round 19, which moved the Bulls to within just three points of the finals positions.
However, Macarthur have lost their last four straight games away from Campbelltown Stadium, conceding four or more goals in three of those four games.
Opta stat: The Mariners have been awarded seven penalties in 2022-23, the second-most of any team in the competition, while no team has conceded more penalties this campaign than Macarthur (nine).
MATCH DETAILS
Central Coast Mariners v Macarthur FC
Saturday, March 11 2023
Glen Willow Regional Sporting Complex
Kick-off: 5.00pm AEDT
Broadcast: Paramount+
Odds: Mariners $1.58, Draw $4.00, Macarthur $4.75
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Newcastle Jets have the chance to achieve a six-year first against Adelaide United at McDonald Jones Stadium on Saturday night.
Not since December 2017 have the Jets logged back-to-back wins over Adelaide, but that could change under the lights in the Hunter Valley.
Led by February’s Coach of the Month Arthur Papas, finals hopefuls Newcastle have moved within a win of sixth-placed Sydney. However, the Jets have lost their last two fixtures in a slight wobble having gone six matches without defeat prior to that.
The Jets have won only two of their last seven games at McDonald Jones Stadium in the A-League Men (D1 L4), despite trailing at half-time only twice in that term. They will be relying on the impact of Beka Mikeltadze, who has been directly involved in four of Newcastle’s last five goals when playing as the home team on the day (three goals, one assist), including each of their last three (two goals, one assist).
But they face a red-hot Adelaide side only adrift of the Wanderers on goal difference having taken down reigning premiers Melbourne City 4-2 last time out.
Craig Goodwin’s Adelaide are eight games unbeaten, while teenage sensation Nestory Irankunda continues to star off the bench. The 17-year-old has been directly involved in four goals in his last five appearances (three goals, one assist), including one goal in each of his last two games.
The Reds, though, have won only one of their last six fixtures outside of South Australia (D3, L2).
Opta stat: Adelaide have scored 10 goals in the 76th minute or later this A-League Men season, the joint-most of any team in the competition, while no team has scored fewer than the Jets (four) in this span.
MATCH DETAILS
Newcastle Jets v Adelaide United
Saturday, March 11 2023
McDonald Jones Stadium
Kick-off: 7.45pm AEDT
Broadcast: 10 BOLD & Paramount+
Odds: Jets $2.60, Draw $3.50, Adelaide $2.40
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Wellington Phoenix are one win away from a milestone victory in the Isuzu UTE A-League.
If the soaring ‘Nix top Sydney at Eden Park on Sunday afternoon, it will be their 150th victory in the competition. It would also be the first time they have registered consecutive wins over the Sky Blues in the A-Leagues since winning five in a row between November 2011 and October 2012.
For some more context, among active teams, only the Jets (33%), and Central Coast (34%) have lower win rates than the Phoenix (35%).
Wellington could be without their leading goalscorer Oskar Zawada, who is on baby watch with his partner due to give birth to their first child. The Polish striker has scored one goal in eight of his last nine appearances in the A-League Men.
His form has catapulted Ufuk Talay’s Phoenix up to fifth in the standings – four points clear in the top-six race and just three points off second spot.
Sydney’s form is also strong on the back of their narrow 1-0 win over rivals Melbourne Victory in last week’s ‘Big Blue’.
Having struggled for form and consistency earlier in the season, the Sky Blues are now in the top six amid a run of just one loss in six matches.
Sydney (14) have gained the most points from losing positions this season, while the Phoenix (20) have dropped more points from winning positions than any other team.
Opta stat: The Phoenix have never previously lost at Eden Park in the A-League Men, picking up five wins and four draws since their first game at the venue in November 2011 despite never scoring more than two goals in a game in that period.
MATCH DETAILS
Wellington Phoenix v Sydney FC
Sunday, March 12 2023
Eden Park
Kick-off: 1.00pm AEDT
Broadcast: Paramount+
Odds: Phoenix $2.55, Draw $3.35, Sydney $2.50
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Like Wellington, Melbourne City have the chance to celebrate a milestone triumph when they host Brisbane Roar at AAMI Park on Sunday afternoon.
The pacesetters are one win away from their 150th in the A-League Men and against no team have they won more games than they have against the Roar (19).
Without injured star Mathew Leckie, City are coming off a shock loss away to Adelaide. The reigning premiers have lost two of their past three matches.
Rado Vidosic’s City, however, have won six of their last eight league fixtures against Brisbane (D1, L1), keeping clean sheets in each of their last two meetings.
And they will be relying on the brilliance of Socceroo Marco Tilio once more. He has been directly involved in three goals in his last two appearances (two goals, one assist) and will be looking to score a goal in three straight games in the competition for the first time in his career.
The visiting Roar overturned a two-goal deficit last week, only to concede a 95th-minute winner against Macarthur – a result that left them seven points shy of the finals places.
Brisbane, though, will be looking to win back-to-back A-League Men games in Victoria for the first time ever after picking up 1-0 win over the Melbourne Victory in their last game in the state.
Opta stat: Melbourne City have trailed at half-time only twice this A-League Men season and are the only team to remain undefeated when they’ve trailed at the break on the day (D2).
MATCH DETAILS
Melbourne City v Brisbane Roar
Sunday, March 12 2023
AAMI Park
Kick-off: 3.00pm AEDT
Broadcast: 10 BOLD & Paramount+
Odds: City $1.45, Draw $4.10, Roar $6.25
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