A-League Week 1 Finals Preview
Following another exceptional A-League season, it has all come down to the next month of football.
An exhilarating final round of the season has paved the way for what should be an intriguing finals series.
Melbourne Victory will host Sydney FC on Friday and the Central Coast Mariners will face Adelaide United on Saturday in the Elimination Finals of this year’s Hyundai A-League Finals Series.
Melbourne Victory (4th) v Sydney FC (5th) - Etihad Stadium - Friday 18th of April – 7:30 PM Kick Off
Previous encounters this season:
Sydney 3-2 Melbourne
Melbourne 0-5 Sydney
Melbourne 1-1 Sydney
Form (Last 5 Matches)
Melbourne Victory – W L D D W
Sydney FC – D L D W W
The Sky Blues made their fans wait until the final match of the season to confirm a spot in the finals series, yet will nonetheless be raring to go when they take on rivals Melbourne Victory on Friday evening.
Sydney struggled against Perth in attack and seemed to be very nervous in in a match that more than anything was cagey.
However, the poor playing surface at Allianz Stadium certainly played a major role in disrupting the side in transition and maintaining effective possession.
Yet after a constantly vacillating campaign, filled with many tumultuous periods, Sydney FC will go into this elimination final feeling confident they can come away with a win.
Influential captain Alessandro Del Piero is fit and will look to tear the Victory’s shaky backline apart in what could be his last game for Sydney.
The Sky Blues have been superior to the Victory when they have met this season, managing two wins out of three matches.
While the Victory have not looked as dangerous nor been as prolific as in previous seasons, they are still a side that should not be underestimated.
Their suburb 2-0 win in Tuesday night's Asian Champions League match against current title holders Guangzhou Evergrande will give Kevin Muscat's side a huge boost ahead of their clash with Sydney.
However, an injury to Adrian Leijer after 30 minutes put a sour note on one of their most famous ever victories.
The clash of styles will be intriguing on Friday night, as Melbourne’s enthusiasm and desire to attack their opponents will meet a Sydney side who tend to be much more patient and conservative in their approach.
Victory captain Mark Milligan has exemplified in recent weeks why he is in the Socceroos starting line-up with continuous dominant displays in midfield.
Meanwhile for Sydney, promising youngster Terry Antonis continues his terrific form since his return from injury. These two players will play a decisive role in this fixture.
Central Coast (3rd) v Adelaide United (6th) - Central Coast Stadium - Saturday 19ht of April – 4:30 PM Kick Off
Previous encounters this season:
Central Coast 1-0 Adelaide
Adelaide 4-0 Central Coast
Adelaide 2-0 Central Coast
Form (Last 5 Matches)
Central Coast – W W W L W
Adelaide – D W W D L
Like many other sides this season, consistency has been elusive for the Mariners. However, once again, the Mariners have pulled it together and accomplished a remarkable third place finish.
The resilient side has had a far from ideal season – losing Graham Arnold and Michael McGlinchey, and then a season ending injury to star playmaker Marco Flores.
However, Phil Moss and his men have shown just why they are the reigning champions of the league.
Their 2-0 victory over Brisbane on the weekend has given them a substantial boost in morale and the confidence and unity gained from such a significant victory will play a key role as they look to progress in finals series against an Adelaide side who are no easy-beats.
Adelaide's recent performances have not even been close to what they are capable of.
Despite a slight slip in form, the Reds remain the dark horses of the league and their breathtaking attacking style will certainly cause the Mariners some grief.
The Reds' ominous strike-force, led by the likes of Ferreira, Cirio and Carrusca, will be out to terrorise the Mariners midfield and backline and break down their compact defence.
Although United’s current position would suggest they are the underdogs, their performances this season have breathed new life into the players and supporters – they are a side to be feared, no matter where they stand on the ladder.
This game will be a tightly contested affair, yet will not be short of action. While the Mariners will more than likely be cautious in the early stages, Josep Gambou’s side will come out blazing and look to produce a victory with their possession-based game and free-flowing attack.