Breanna Holden previews an engrossing matchday 2 of A-League action, with the Melbourne derby the showpiece event on Saturday night.
Adelaide United vs Western Sydney Wanderers
Friday 16 October
Kick-off: 7:40pm AEDT
Football returns to Coopers Stadium on Friday night as the A-League’s Spanish contingent go toe-to-toe in Adelaide’s clash with Western Sydney. Can United maintain their impressive home form, or will Tony Popovic’s exiting new Wanderers steal the points?
After United’s season opened with a gritty and somewhat lackluster 0-0 draw with Melbourne Victory, Reds fans will be hoping to see a more ambitious side against the Wanderers. Although Adelaide’s attack left a lot wanting in round one, their impressive run of scoring against the Wanderers leaves them no excuses for lacking chances up front. However, it remains to be seen how the side’s defence will fair without the host of lucky escapes that salvaged a draw last Friday.
Western Sydney’s new era started on a disappointing note to say the least. The side started strongly, dominating possession and stringing several positive plays together, but three poor defensive lapses saw the Roar gifted a 3-1 win. Heading to Coopers Stadium, the Wanderers will need to have sorted out their communication and understanding at the back as they face a side that has not only beaten them in four of the last five, but has also lost just once in its last nine at home. That said, Popovic’s men certainly looked to have turned a new page in terms of the positive nature to their game and the pace in which they played it. The side must not fall back into the negative mindset of last year, instead it needs to focus on maintaining composure up front, working on the touch of Federico Piovaccari and increasing defensive understanding. Should they manage this there will be no reason for the Wanderers to flounder again this season.
My Tip: Draw
Western Sydney may not have a successful record at Coopers Stadium but the new-look outfit certainly provided its share of entertainment last round and will trouble the Reds defence. However, given United’s resolute effort at the back last Friday and the Wanderers’ inability to finish, this game seems bound for a high-energy, hard-fought draw.
Newcastle Jets vs Sydney FC
Saturday 17 October
Kick-off: 5:15pm AEDT
Newcastle’s tough run of opening fixtures continues as they host a David vs Goliath battle with Sydney FC at the Hunter Stadium. Can Scott Miller continue the magic or will Graham Arnold’s men punish the Jets and go eight undefeated in Newcastle?
Despite having the lowest possession and least passes of any side in round one, the Jets still managed to pull off a win, thanks to a goal and assist from David Carney, combined with stubborn defensive tactics. With the side returning across the ditch with points in hand, hope has returned to Newcastle. The challenge this week will be implementing more positive football, and sustaining defence against a more experienced Sydney side. Newcastle traditionally struggle at home against the Sky Blues and will not be able to maintain their perfect record if they are to let the visitors dominate play and sustain a continual presence in the penalty area.
Sydney may have lost last season’s top goal scorer in the offseason but the Sky Blues will not be looking back now after new marquee man Filip Holosko nabbed a goal in his A-League debut. Although the match did eventually end 1-1, Sydney, for the most part, looked the better side, dominating large periods of the game, particularly across the midfield. Heading into Saturday’s clash, the biggest concern for Sydney will be defensive fragility, with the side at times losing shape. Although the Jets are without a win in their last seven home games against the Sky Blues, confidence will be high after picking up a win last round thanks to an ability to capitalise on the little chances they received. With Sydney showing a lot of potential for a successful campaign, they will need to not only work out their defensive kinks, but put in another strong midfield display and pick up a crucial first win of the season – particularly with a home derby coming up next round.
My tip: Sydney FC
Sydney’s record both on the road, and against Newcastle is hard to look past. The Sky Blues are on the brink of an A-League record 16 regular season away matches without a defeat, and given their exciting display against City last Saturday, Newcastle will need to bring a whole lot more than their round one performance to grab any points off the visitors.
Melbourne Victory vs Melbourne City
Saturday 17 October
Kick-Off: 7:30pm AEDT
The match of the round kicks off in Melbourne as Victorian fans at treated to the first derby of the season. Neither side could pull off a win in round one, leaving Saturday night’s encounter set up for an entertaining mix of an explosive derby environment and unexpected early-season pressure.
Melbourne Victory experienced an unfamiliar inability to score in round one, seeing Besart Berisha fail to notch a single shot on target, while Kosta Barbaruses also fluffed his own share of chances, leaving Muscat’s men to return home with a share of the points. Although the result was frustrating (made even worse by a controversial red card to Leigh Broxham), Victory will be comforted by their dominance in the clash despite missing several key players. With Victory known for starting games with a bang and City struggling to settle last round, Muscat will expect his side to once again dominate proceedings from the get-go, or at the very least look to Berisha’s nifty eye for goal against City, in order to get a maiden win this season.
Round one against Sydney FC replicated that of last season with City returning home from Allianz with a share of the points. Although the side held their own for several periods of the game, the absence of Aaron Mooy in the first half was apparent and when he did enter the fray, he struggled to make his usual impact, replicating his woes at the Wanderers. This round against their hometown rivals, City will be welcoming the starting return of their talisman with open arms, not only for his ability to sync the team’s shape and attack, but also the spark he can provide in the blink of an eye. However, a result here will need more than that, particularly with a horror run of away-form against the Victory, even with Mooy on the field. Indeed, despite Muscat’s men struggling up front last Friday, new City goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen will need to put in another fine performance between the sticks in order to keep a lethal Berisha and co. at bay.
My Tip: Melbourne Victory
Much has been made of City’s plethora of injuries and while the side has plenty of depth, several absences were quite noticeable against Sydney FC and will leave them open against Victory this weekend. Additionally, City’s away form is not one to be envied especially against their local rivals, where they have only managed one win without the home advantage.
Brisbane Roar vs Central Coast Mariners
Sunday 18 October
Kick-Off: 5:00pm AEDT
It will be the battle of the strikers when the Central Coast face off with Brisbane on Sunday afternoon. Will the Roar’s Jamie Maclaren show off in front of his new home fans, or the Mariner’s Roy O’Donovan prove the visiting villain and lead the NSW side to a perfect start?
Brisbane’s season got off to a bang with the side executing tactics perfectly to pick up a win on the road against the Wanderers. New forward Maclaren appears to be loving life under John Aloisi, providing a constant threat and showing off an undeniable instinct for scoring. Back in Queensland this Sunday, the Roar will be bolstered by their first home crowd of the season, as well as the return of captain Matt McKay. Given their recent form against the Mariners, bagging 11 goals and seven points in their last three encounters, the home side will be feeling confident heading into the clash. If the Roar cannot contain the dynamic Mariners midfield, however, they could see themselves hand top spot over to the Gosford club.
Central Coast look to have swiftly moved on from last season with their dispatching of Perth 3-2 on matchday one. The Mariners forced two penalties and saw new striker Roy O’Donovan get off the mark. This weekend, they face an arguably tougher task on the road to Brisbane, where their new fast-paced football will be put to a more definitive test. If the Mariners are to end a run of five consecutive away losses they will need to see a repeat performance from round one’s standouts Storm Roux and Fabio Ferreira, as well as more definitive chances up front. If Tony Walmsley’s men let the Roar in front early, it will be a tough road back, not only due to a poor record when conceding first at Suncorp, but also based on Brisbane’s impenetrable second half last week.
My Tip: Brisbane Roar
Central Coast were much improved in the win over Perth, but were gifted the points by a poor Glory defence. On the road against a Roar outfit that exhibited a resolute defence last week, the Mariners’ front men will likely have a much harder shift this Sunday. On the other hand, boosted by a home crowd and the return of their captain Matt McKay, Brisbane will only be strengthened by the past week and are better positioned to pick up another win.
Perth Glory vs Wellington Phoenix
Sunday 18 October
Kick-Off: 7:00pm AEDT
Round two finishes in Western Australia as Wellington make the longest trip in domestic football, to take on the Glory. After great campaigns last season, both sides suffered frustrating defeats on match day one and will be desperate not to finish another weekend without a point.
Perth travelled back to WA this week after a mixed performance against the Mariners. Despite matching Central Coast’s intensity for much of the clash, Glory’s defence could not deal with the pressure and conceded two penalties and one preventable goal in a 3-2 loss. At nib Stadium this Sunday, Kenny Lowe must see his side brush off the loss and continue to grow in unity and confidence as a largely changed side. If Lowe’s men can maintain the style they implemented on match day one, and eliminate unnecessary mistakes at the back, they could pick up a third win in four matches against the Nix.
While Perth were left frustrated by errors in defence, Wellington’s 2-1 loss to Newcastle had them ruing an incapability to capitalise on relentless possession and pressure in the opposition half. With the question of who will provide goals in Nathan Burns’ absence still unanswered, Ernie Merrick will have had Roy Krishna and Roly Bonevacia fine tuning their finishing and aerial presence this week. If Wellington can finish chances in Perth they could be onto something big again this season, having recorded the most passes and crosses of any side across last round. But if their front men have not improved since the weekend they could potentially finish Sunday evening anchored to the bottom of the table and searching for answers.
My Tip: Draw
Both sides showed great potential as well as some serious issues in their round one losses. Wellington’s domination of possession and constant attack would put them in good heed, particularly facing a questionable Perth defence. But given Glory’s record at home and two goals against the Mariners, it would not be wise to write the home side off.
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