Sydney FC to sweat on the fitness of star winger ahead of sudden-death finals derby with Wanderers
Wins to Sydney FC and Wellington Phoenix have settled the make-up of the A-League’s top six.
Football
Don't miss out on the headlines from Football. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A do-or-die derby between arch-rivals Western Sydney Wanderers and Sydney FC looms as the highlight of the opening weekend of the A-League finals series.
The top six was settled on Saturday when Sydney beat Newcastle 2-0 at Allianz Stadium, and Wellington Phoenix ended a poor run of form with a 1-0 win over wooden spooners Macarthur FC.
The Phoenix’s win secured them sixth spot and a sudden-death date on Friday night with third-placed Adelaide United at Coopers Stadium.
In the other elimination final, the Wanderers, who finished fourth on the ladder, will host fifth-placed Sydney FC at CommBank Stadium on Saturday night.
It will be the first time the teams have met in a finals series.
However, in a potentially massive blow to the Sky Blues’ hopes of beating the Wanderers, star winger Joe Lolley limped off with a hamstring injury in the closing stages of his side’s win over the Jets.
Sydney coach Steve Corica said Lolley would have scans on Sunday to determine the extent of the injury.
“His strength was pretty good, so that’s a good sign but we’ll just wait and see,” Corica told Paramount +.
“It’ll be touch and go maybe for the weekend if it’s a slight strain.”
Sydney – who defeated the Jets thanks to goals from Adam Le Fondre and Patrick Wood – will next weekend definitely be without the services of youngster Jaiden Kucharski, who was sent off late in Saturday night’s match for a second bookable offence.
Premiership winners Melbourne City and second-placed Central Coast Mariners – who both won on Friday night – will have the first weekend of the finals series off.
Meanwhile, City’s neighbours Melbourne Victory’s miserable season has ended on a losing note, with the fallen giants beaten 1-0 by Brisbane Roar at AAMI Park on Saturday night.
The Victory had hoped for a win to avoid a bottom four finish and having to playoff for a spot in the Australia Cup.
However, Roar defender Jordan Courtney-Perkins’ first A-League goal sunk the Victory and condemned them to 11th spot on the A-League ladder.
The Roar’s win instead ensured the Brisbane side avoided a spot in the bottom four and guaranteed themselves an Australia Cup berth.
“We didn’t reach the goals we wanted but to come away with a win on the last day of the season ... it feels good,” Courtney-Perkins said.
Originally published as Sydney FC to sweat on the fitness of star winger ahead of sudden-death finals derby with Wanderers
Aussie trio playing for keeps
Goalkeeper Joe Gauci can’t afford to relax if he wants to hold on to his place in Australia’s starting team.
A-League shock as Central Coast Mariners owner quits
Richard Peil has quit the Central Coast Mariners, with drastic funding cuts made by the governing body making it impossible for him to keep the club afloat from his own pocket.