Run to the A-League finals: Why Wanderers must win if they want a spot in the top two
Socceroos great Robbie Slater and Marco Monteverde discuss one of the most important weekends of the season, as the contenders eye a run to the finals.
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Socceroos great Robbie Slater and Marco Monteverde discuss the biggest issues across the A-League, ahead of a crucial weekend in the run to the finals.
Chance to close gap
With second-placed Western United having a bye, it’s a crucial weekend for a handful of A-League teams not only chasing a place in the top six, but also a top-two spot that has the potential to bring with it an AFC Champions League Elite berth.
United is on 38 points, four clear of Western Sydney Wanderers and Melbourne City, five ahead of Melbourne Victory and Adelaide United, and eight better than seventh-placed Sydney FC.
What makes an even more enticing Round 24 is the four of those five chasing teams are involved in matches against each other on Saturday.
Sydney hosts Melbourne City at Allianz Stadium, and the Victory meets Adelaide in an “Original Rivalry” battle at AAMI Park.
The Wanderers are also in action on Saturday against the struggling Wellington Phoenix at Sky Stadium.
While winning in New Zealand is never an easy task, this game is a huge opportunity for the in-form Wanderers – who are chasing a fifth successive win - to move to within a point of Western United.
Wanderers coach Alen Stajcic is understood to be concerned about the amount of travel facing seven of his players who have been on international duty since last week.
They are Brandon Borrello (Socceroos), Bozhidar Kraev (Bulgaria), Mohamed Al-Taay (Iraq), and Australian under-23 representatives Aydan Hammond, Aidan Simmons, Oscar Priestman and Anthony Pantazopoulos.
Of the seven, five of them started in the Wanderers’ most recent A-League clash – a 4-2 win over the Victory – on March 15, so they are obviously important players,
However, the Wanderers should have the necessary depth to cope with a Phoenix outfit that has picked up just three points from its past seven games.
This is a chance Stajcic’s men can ill-afford to waste.
The Wanderers’ crosstown rivals, Sydney, are in a position where they must string some wins together to play finals football.
The Sky Blues should be a lot higher than seventh on the ladder and far better off than three points outside the top six when you consider the talent in their squad, including the A-League’s best player Douglas Costa, English winger Joe Lolley, Polish striker Patryk Klimala and Socceroos midfielder Anthony Caceres.
A home win over Melbourne City on Saturday is crucial for a Sydney outfit that dropped points at Allianz Stadium against Wellington in its most recent A-League game on March 16.
City will be just as eager to win considering a victory would move them to just a point behind second-placed United.
Like Sydney, City is also seeking redemption after a disappointing last-start 1-0 home loss to the Newcastle Jets.
A City win would not only keep them well and truly in the mix for a top-two spot, but would also put a dent in Sydney’s hopes of finishing in the top six, which would be appreciated by many teams who wouldn’t fancy the thought of stopping the threat of Costa, Lolley and Klimala during the finals series.
Those teams include the Victory and Adelaide, who both desperately need to find some form, particularly the Reds, who are well and truly on the slide.
Adelaide has dropped to sixth on the ladder, having won just one of its past eight games.
The Reds defence has been shocking, with only competition cellar dwellers Perth Glory having conceded more goals than Adelaide this season.
The Victory have also hardly been inspiring of late as they continue to struggle to find the form they had under previous coach Patrick Kisnorbo.
This weekend would be the perfect time to find it because if the Victory lose to Adelaide, and Sydney beats Melbourne City, the Victory will fall out of the top six.
It’s exactly the same scenario for the Reds. If they lose to the Victory, and Sydney wins, they will drop out of the top six.
However a win for either Adelaide or the Victory will push them right back into the mix for a top-two spot.
Second spot has the potential to have some extra meaning this season because if current leaders Auckland FC finish the season in first place, they won’t be eligible to play in the AFC Champions League Elite competition due to them being from New Zealand, a nation that is part of the Oceania Football Confederation.
The Champions League Elite spot would then go to the club that finishes second on the table.
In saying that, Auckland still has some work to do to secure top spot.
Three successive draws has resulted in the Black Knights lead at the top reduced to four points, which is why they will be keen to make the most of their game on Sunday at Suncorp Stadium against a Brisbane Roar team that is second last on the ladder.
Special night looms
The Socceroos have put themselves in a great position to secure a FIFA World Cup spot in June’s international window after two good wins over Indonesia and China.
And wouldn’t it be fitting if the Australians can seal their World Cup berth by beating Japan in Perth on June 5.
The Socceroos haven’t beaten the Samurai Blue in 16 years, which is far too long.
To end that drought, and qualify for the World Cup at the same time – which could happen – would make it one of the most memorable nights in the recent history of Australian football.
It’s no wonder that Socceroos coach Tony Popovic suggested this week that it would be a “special” occasion at Optus Stadium.
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