We’ve reached the pointy end of the Hyundai A-League 2018/19 Season and what better way to start than with a Trans-Tasman clash between two of the competition’s most entertaining sides.
Reigning champions Melbourne Victory host Wellington Phoenix at AAMI Park on Friday night (kick-off 7.50pm AEST) in a match-up that is equally as exciting as it is hard to predict.
All three clashes between these two clubs this season have been edge-of-your-seat thrillers, and each one has ended all square. Kevin Muscat’s Victory find themselves in a similar position to this time last season. Melbourne timed their run to perfection, winning two sudden-death games to reach the decider before beating Newcastle Jets to claim the title. Ominously for their rivals, Victory look to be in much better shape this season than they were 12 months ago.
While Saturday night’s 1-0 win over the Wanderers was far from a vintage display, this Victory squad is full of experienced, big-game players. Unlike their hosts, Phoenix stumbled into the finals on the back of a 5-0 drubbing at the hands of premiers Perth. Coach Mark Rudan rested a host of his stars – including skipper Andrew Durante, while leading scorer Roy Krishna made a bench cameo – with one eye on this fixture.
The Phoenix will start outsiders in Melbourne but they matched up well against Victory this season and won’t be overawed about playing at AAMI Park.
Although, Wellington have never won a finals match away from home, with their last win in the post-season coming way back in 2012 against Sydney FC.
Expect the star strikers in each side to have a huge say in the outcome of this one.
Adelaide United take on Melbourne City
Adelaide United and Melbourne City are outsiders heading into the Hyundai A-League 2018/19 Finals Series. But there’s plenty to suggest both the Reds and City can turn into competition dark horses if they can win Sunday’s Elimination Final at Coopers Stadium (kick-off 7:00pm AEST).Adelaide United have every right to feel confident. Not only will they have a boisterous home crowd behind them but they also enter the finals in impressive nick.
Marco Kurz’s men are unbeaten in their last five games, including a 5-3 thrashing of Brisbane Roar on ANZAC Day. Warren Joyce’s City were also amongst the goals in their last outing, crushing the woeful Central Coast Mariners 5-0 at AAMI Park on Friday night.
Whether that performance is a true reflection of City’s title credentials as they head to the City of Churches remains to be seen. They can at least draw on a fairly good record at Coopers Stadium of late, winning four of their last seven games on the Reds’ home ground (D1, L2).
But that is in contrast to City’s away form this season. Joyce’s side have just one win in their last eight matches away from AAMI Park.
Given these two sides build their success on the back of a solid, defensive game-plan (they are the two lowest-scoring teams in the top six), this should be a tight and tense 90 – or even 120 – minutes on Sunday evening.
