Western Sydney Wanderers and Melbourne City played out a 1-1 draw at Pirtek Stadium in torrential conditions on Friday night, leaving the Melbourne club in the box seat for the sixth and final A-League playoffs position.
The home side took the lead in the first half via a free kick from Yojiro Takahagi, leaving City shot-stopper Tando Velaphi stunned after defender Kew Jaliens gave away a free kick on the edge of the penalty area for a reckless challenge on Western Sydney’s Nikita Rukavytsya, earning a yellow card.
City winger Harry Novillo equalised later in the half when Aaron Mooy played him in for one of the goals of the season, a shot which clipped the crossbar before finding the back of the net.
After a number of tactical substitutions in the second half, neither side was able to find a winner, with City squandering a number of set pieces away from home yet again.
Finals race not over yet
With Melbourne City still in the driver’s seat to claim sixth position, Brisbane Roar made a statement on Thursday at home, thumping the Central Coast Mariners by six goals to one. Although City remain six points clear of the Roar, their fellow finals contenders have a game in hand on the sixth-placed side, and the Melburnians’ final three games should all prove to be difficult (Wellington Phoenix at home, Perth Glory away, Adelaide United away).
John van’t Schip’s team would have been confident in their ability to take all three points away from Parramatta, a win that would have surely sealed their place in this year’s finals series. While there is a mathematical possibility, reigning champions Brisbane will keep on fighting.
Wanderers form too little too late
While fighting amidst a substantial injury list, this season’s under-achieving Wanderers have been a shadow of last year’s premiers and grand finalists. Their draw with City comes after a narrow defeat away to title defenders Perth Glory, and a 4-1 thrashing away to the Roar.
Although head coach Tony Popovic has made it clear in previous interviews that his ninth-placed side are no longer holding their domestic endeavours as a priority for the remainder of the season, Western Sydney has shown signs in recent weeks of the team that won last year’s Asian Champions League. Its recent A-League results will give them confidence for the remainder of their intercontinental title defence, as well as providing high hopes for next season.
Aaron Mooy inclusion vital for City
Arguably the league’s finest player this online slots season and back from international duty for the Melbourne side, the City attacker once again put in a fantastic performance against his former club. Mooy contributed largely to parity being restored in the first half, with his pass to Novillo allowing the Frenchman to find a much-needed City equaliser.
If van’t Schip’s side is going to do damage in this season’s finals series, Mooy’s stellar form will need to continue alongside Novillo and Robi Koren in City’s final third.
Josh Kennedy is underperforming
December marquee signing and Melbourne striker Josh Kennedy has failed to make the impact that City would have been hoping for so far. A tall, looming target up front, Kennedy has only been able to find the net once for his new club, having been provided with ample opportunity from the likes of Mooy, Novillo and Koren.
At this stage the tall marksman is keeping fan-favourite David Williams on the bench with van’t Schip preferring him to the former starting XI regular. Perhaps it’s time Williams was given a starting chance to show his manager that he can still provide a threat up front.
What are your thoughts? Let us know by dropping a comment below via our Facebook comment box. Make sure you follow us on Twitter @Outside90 and like us on Facebook.
