Wellington Phoenix host Melbourne City at Westpac Stadium in Round 21, in a game that should delight the neutral and bolster Melbourne’s title credentials even further.
It is a confusing time for Wellington Phoenix fans. After it was finally confirmed that the club would remain in the league for at least the next four seasons, the team capitulated to a 3-2 loss against the Newcastle Jets in Round 20.
The Nix are in the league next season, but have naught to play for but pride as their playoff hopes are certainly over. Fourth-placed City are still right in the hunt for the Premiership and will look to record what should be a straightforward second victory over the Nix this season.
Striker Hamish Watson summed up the story of the Phoenix in the loss to Newcastle, scoring two goals but then getting himself suspended with a needless second yellow for impeding a free-kick. What should have been a day to remember for the 22-year-old quickly turned on a moment of madness that saw his team relinquish the points minutes after his dismissal.
City’s 3-1 win over the Mariners ensured that they beat the Central Coast side three times this season, despite entering half-time a goal down. A double from Aaron Mooy and goals from Patrick Kisnorbo and Ben Garuccio in the second stanza secured a comfortable win in the end while also breaking a three-match winless run.
Sitting just three points adrift from the top of the table, John van’t Schip’s side will accept nothing but a win from their trip across the Tasman Sea, but perhaps the Phoenix can trigger an upset akin to their 5-2 demolition of Western Sydney a fortnight ago in front of a big home crowd.
Team News
As it has so often this season, suspension once again disrupts Ernie Merrick’s game plan. Hamish Watson is out due to his red card, so expect Blake Powell to lead the line for the New Zealand side at Westpac. In some positive news, the retiring Ben Sigmund returns from injury to once again be available for selection, but expect him to start on the bench as Merrick gives promising Aussie centre-back Dylan Fox another start alongside Andrew Durante.
Wellington Phoenix expected starting XI (4-3-3): Glen Moss, Manny Muscat, Andrew Durante, Dylan Fox, Louis Fenton, Albert Riera, Matthew Ridenton, Roly Bonevacia, Michael McGlinchey, Blake Powell, Joel Stevens.
There are no such headaches for City coach John Van’t Schip, who should choose a very similar side to the one that convincingly dispatched bottom of the table Central Coast Mariners in a clinical four-goal second half display. Of course, the City side will be without their French forward Harry Novillo, who scored two goals last time out against Wellington, as he serves the second of his two-match ban for his highly publicised arrest.
Melbourne City expected starting XI (4-3-3): Thomas Sorenson, Alex Wilkinson, Ivan Franjic, Patrick Kisnorbo, Michael Zullo, Aaron Mooy, Osama Malik, Paulo Retre, Ben Garuccio, Nick Fitzgerald, Bruno Fornaroli.
Key Battle – Aaron Mooy v Blake Powell
You just can’t look past Aaron Mooy’s nine goals and 17 assists. The Socceroo is playing some unbelievable and irresistible football at the moment and was the driving force behind last week’s win against the Mariners with Novillo out and Fornaroli unusually goal-shy. The Nix have Mooy’s fellow Australian Blake Powell, who has been one of the finds of the season, and who’s four-goal haul in Round 19 against the Wanderers was a long time coming.
City’s chances of victory will drop dramatically if Mooy is effectively marked out of the contest, while Powell takes the field as the only recognised goal-threat in Ernie Merrick’s after the alarming drop in form of Michael McGlinchey and Roy Krishna’s injury woes.
Head-to-Head
In 17 games between the two sides, there have been six draws and six wins for the Phoenix. Melbourne City have managed to win five times and will be odds on to make it six this time around and align the sixes in the columns for the statisticians.
Previous Meeting
At AAMI Park in Round 16 City won the first fixture between these two in the 2015/16 with a dominant performance. Fornaroli scored his first against Wellington to ensure he had scored against every other A-League club. Novillo helped himself to a brace, and despite a late Bonevacia consolation, City were well worth their 3-1 win.
Prediction
Phoenix playing for pride and with their first game at home since their licence extension was finally granted, Melbourne oozing class and with the greater desire to win to play for the Premiership prize. This game will have goals and passion galore.
Wellington Phoenix 2 Melbourne City 4
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