Today we bring you a match-up that exudes class and international pedigree. It is centre-back versus centre-forward in the third biggest individual battle of the A-League Grand Final.
Key match-up three – Marc Janko vs Matthieu Delpierre
Marc Janko has been the greatest success story of Sydney FC’s first season under Graham Arnold. The Austrian international endured a slow start to his time in the A-League due to his relatively low levels of fitness, but like team-mate Matthew Jurman, used the Asian Cup break to improve his overall conditioning and boy, did it reflect on his subsequent performances!
In the following seven matches Janko plundered an incredible 12 goals to break the record for the amount of matches in which a player has consecutively had their name on an A-League scoresheet. This scintillating run of form ultimately led to the Austrian captain being crowned as the league’s top goalscorer with a 16 goal haul in the regular season. The deadliest forward target in the competition, Janko’s other great strength is his aerial ability. While just two of his 16 goals have come via the head, the rangy Austrian provides Sydney with an important outlet which may prove pivotal in relieving the high pressing game of the Victory, winning 56% of his headed duels so far this season.
The man responsible for ensuring Janko’s current goal-scoring drought continues on Sunday afternoon will be Victory Frenchmen Matthieu Delpierre. At 193cm, Delpierre is unlikely to be bossed by Janko in what will be a supremely physical battle. The former-Stuttgart man was given the dream start to his A-League career scoring on debut as his side crushed the Wanderers but a recurring foot injury kept him out of the side for almost three months.
Arguably the most experienced centre-back in the competition, Kevin Muscat’s side have lost just once when this man has started. Composed on the ball with a tidy 88% passing accuracy, Delpierre will be looking to dominate Janko aerially despite his three centimetre height deficit. Winning an incredible 81% of his headed duels, the Lille youngster may, in combination with the rest of the side’s press, hold the key to truly nullifying Sydney’s build up play.
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This match-up throws up two men of top-quality and class playing in key positions. While a blunder is unlikely from either of our two European imports, do not be surprised if they feature at key moments in the match. Without a goal in five matches, Janko may break his goal drought at the most vital of times, or will it be Delpierre scoring on the first and last days of the season to hand the Victory the championship?
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