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Phoenix defender Ben Sigmund. - Source: Photosport
Game-by-game preview of A-League round 19 (all times NZT):
Friday, February 10
Melbourne Victory v Central Coast Mariners at AAMI Park,
10pm
Head-to-head: Victory 8 Drawn 5 Mariners 7
Last meeting: Midweek round, 2011-12: Mariners 2 bt Victory 0 at
Bluetongue Stadium
TAB Sportsbet: Victory $2.60 Draw $3.30 Mariners $2.50
Finals aside, this could be the most important match Melbourne Victory has played. Defeat could be the death of the A-League's first superpower. A win, and their season could be kick-started into action. Take out the Mariners and Roar whose dominance has been long-term, and every other club has had a four to six-week period of menace with the exception of the Victory, who have played like mid-table battlers all season. Coach Jim Magilton still hasn't had a win. The Victory can still make the top six, and their late-season draw is kind. But they must beat the competition leaders - who are in a comfortable space well clear of their rivals - to stay in touch with the top six. The Mariners are without marauding fullback Pedj Bojic and their Olyroos stars. Victory will give Spanish centre-half Ubay Luzardo a debut, though skipper Adrian Leijer is in doubt with a groin injury.
Key: Should Leijer play, Mark Milligan will move into a
holding midfield role - the problem for the Victory all season. Can
he be the man to efficiently move the ball from defence to
attack?
Tip: Victory
Saturday, February 11
Newcastle Jets v Melbourne Heart At Ausgrid Stadium,
7.30pm
Head-to-head: Jets 2 Drawn 1 Heart 2
Last meeting: Round 6, 2011-12: Heart 3 bt Jets 0 at AAMI
Park
TAB Sportsbet: Jets $2.25 Draw $3.35 Heart $2.90
Massive game for both clubs. The Jets are on a tear, climbing to sixth and capable of climbing higher if they get over the fifth-placed Heart. The visitors haven't won in seven matches, and have picked up most of their points in an eight-match run. Important midfielder Fred is on the cusp of a return for the Heart, though he may be held back one more week. The Jets appear to have got to grips with coach Gary van Egmond's high-pressing game if their 5-2 thumping of Sydney FC is any guide. They also have excellent home form. Heart's main problem is lack of cut in the front third.
Key: Jets wing-back Tarek Elrich is having an outstanding
season and his battle with Heart's newly-unearthed youngster Craig
Goodwin - who debuted in style last weekend - shapes as a
highlight.
Tip: Draw
Sydney FC v Perth Glory at Sydney Football Stadium,
9.45pm
Head-to-head: SydFC 9 Drawn 7 Glory 4
Last meeting: Regional round, 2011-12: SydFC 1 drew with Glory 1 at
Campbelltown
TAB Sportsbet: SydFC $2.25 Draw $3.35 Glory $2.90
Suddenly the Glory have gone from underachievers to buzz team on the strength of several excellent wins - the latest a 4-0 hammering of Gold Coast. They have 11 goals in their past three games, not easy in the closely-contested A-League. Sydney FC are coming off a hammering by the Jets. Any feelgood factor about seeing departing coach Vitezslav Lavicka off in style faded dramatically with that 5-2 loss. The Sky Blues need maximum points to remain in the finals hunt. If Glory keep winning, a top two spot is not out of the question. Sydney FC lose Mark Bridge (ankle) and skipper Terry McFlynn (suspended) but Brett Emerton is back, and Lavicka hopefully will roll the dice with youth.
Key: Sydney FC could do with some youthful exuberance,
and could do far worse than roll the dice with either highly-rated
Joel Chianese or Mitch Mallia.
Tip: Draw
Sunday, February 12
Wellington Phoenix v Brisbane Roar at Westpac Stadium,
5pm
Head-to-head: Phoenix 4 Drawn 2 Roar 8
Last meeting: Regional round, 2011-12: Phoenix 2 bt Roar 0 at
Dunedin
TAB Sportsbet: Phoenix $2.45 Draw $3.30 Roar $2.65
A match which could ultimately decide a top two spot. Welcome back, Brisbane Roar. The 2-0 win over Central Coast away last weekend showed the champions are far from a spent force. The Phoenix have been in a rich vein of Paul Ifill-inspired form, and are the competition's form team with four successive wins. Brisbane have worked returning stars like Thomas Broich back into form, and it's a good time for them to be getting on a roll. Wellington have created a formidable unit, with defender Ben Sigmund in career-best form and Tim Brown always a threat. But defender Manny Muscat - another who is producing best-ever form - is suspended. Roar are unchanged.
Key: If the Roar can keep Ifill and Brown off the
scoresheet, they can win.
Tip: Draw
Gold Coast United v Adelaide United at Skilled Park,
7.30pm
Head-to-head: GCUtd 3 Draw 4 AdUtd 2
Last meeting: Round 11, 2011-12: GCUtd 3 bt AdUtd 0 at Hindmarsh
Stadium
TAB Sportsbet: GCUtd $2.10 Draw $3.35 AdUtd $3.20
Battle for the wooden spoon, and Gold Coast's heavy defeat in Perth earlier this week suggests they may have run out of steam. Adelaide United's resurgence under John Kosmina appears to have petered out, so it sets the tone for an intriguing battle. Adelaide United have the better personnel without question, with Gold Coast's young outfit clearly feeling the effects of a tough season without luck. Goalkeeper Jerrad Tyson returns from a wrist injury and is likely to return straight to the United starting side. The Reds can name an unchanged line-up from the one beaten by Wellington last weekend should they choose to.
Key: The Reds' strike force of Bruce Djite, Sergio van
Dijk and unsettled Dario Vidosic must fire, and will fancy
themselves against the Gold Coast on the strength of their
defensive frailties against Perth.
Tip: AdUtd
