Round 21 sees four of the top seven teams clash which could have huge consequences on the league table at the end of the weekend.
Western Sydney Wanderes host Perth Glory, while Adelaide United entertain Brisbane Roar with both games looking even tastier as a result of recent form. Likewise, Melbourne Victory’s game with Sydney FC will be a clash of two sides desperate for some relief – especially as the F3 Derby opens up the possibility of Newcastle Jets moving within three points of either side as a result and get back into contention.
The last A-League round offered confirmation, highlighted by the Sydney Derby and Perth Glory’s 6-3 win over Brisbane Roar, that this season is one of the strongest and to be the most fiercely contested in the league’s 11-year history.
Coupled with the ascendancy of Adelaide United and Melbourne City, after both teams picked up wins in this round, the last seven rounds of the A-League are poised to deliver a new level of excitement in Australian football.
Last Saturday, the third Sydney Derby of the season saw Western Sydney Wanderers draw 1-1 with Sydney FC away, ending a three-game losing streak in derbies and placing them back on top of the League on goal difference by virtue of Perth’s win. The draw was a fair result on the balance of play, but highlighted the deficiencies of both teams in critical areas. For Western Sydney, the debut of Liam Reddy and the return of Brendan Hamill were definite positives.
However, the Wanderers continue to be dogged by the lack of a spearhead in attack to make the most of the play. In this game, like many others, they have failed to put away chances that would decisively kill off games. For all that, Mark Bridge and Mitch Nichols have nine goals apiece this season, while the ever-popular Brendon Santalab and Dario Vidosic follow with five and three respectively.
Sydney FC, on the other hand, have been under fire for recent insipid performances and have in fact not won a game since the second derby of the season, though in fairness they had their fair share of chances especially in the second half. Their defensive record is the best in the League, while only Newcastle Jets have scored fewer goals and their tally of 26 so far – the same amount as bottom side Central Coast Mariners – is seven less than the Wanderers.
For scoring, nobody comes close to Melbourne City on 50 goals in their 20 games (which would translate to 95 goals in a 38-game Premier League, La Liga or Serie A season) and 35 of those have been scored by three players – Bruno Fornaroli (17), Harry Novillo (9) and Aaron Mooy (9). Thirty-five is the amount of goals scored by both Brisbane Roar and Perth Glory, the next highest scorers in the League.
In their win over Brisbane Roar, Perth Glory look like the team that they were before last season’s salary cap punishment. The returning Andy Keogh is supported by Gyorgy Sandor, Nebojsa Marinkovic, Chris Harold and Diego Castro, while Shane Lowry has returned to Australia. Perth’s current five-game winning streak includes two games where they have scored six goals, and their rise is already making the faltering Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory more than a little worried, especially as the exigencies of the Asian Champions League have already dawned on those two clubs.
Similarly questions are already being asked of a Brisbane Roar team that have performed well thus far. They had suffered heavy defeats at the hands of Adelaide United and Melbourne Victory, yet also had good wins over Sydney FC and Central Coast. While Jamie MacLaren has fired and both Henrique and Brandon Borello have also contributed, it is generally observed that Brisbane suffer when Thomas Broich is either absent or out of form.
While it would seem like having a firing striker like Fornaroli, Berisha or Maclaren would make all the difference, Adelaide have not had any player in double figures yet, despite which they have been the league’s current form team with 12 games unbeaten after failing to win their first eight games.
Their most recent win was over Melbourne Victory, their first away triumph over them in five years. Stefan Mauk has joined the excellent Marcelo Carrusca and Isaias in midfield, while Sergio Cirio and Pablo Sanchez still provide the attacking options and youngsters like George Mells and Jordan Elsey continue to get a go.
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