Westerns’ showdown looms as United face first test as league leaders

The A-League’s Western United are set for a showdown with Western Sydney Wanderers in their debut game as public enemy number one.

They face an improved Wanderers’ side, who won their premiere game under new coach Mark Rudan, in one of five A-League encounters scheduled this matchday.

Adelaide hosts Sydney FC in another highly anticipated fixture while Macarthur is looking to reclaim top spot against Wellington.

Melbourne City clashes with Peth Glory, both teams are desperate to bounce back after losses in their latest outings.

Melbourne Victory face Central Coast in the FFA Cup final.

Newcastle Jets-Brisbane Roar 2-1
Newcastle recorded a vital 13th round victory against Brisbane on Thursday evening. It was just their second win of the season.

Greek winger Savvas Siatraivanis played a pivotal role in the Novocastrians’ first goal where his shot from range deflected from the right post and off the back of Roar keeper Macklin Frecke into the net (22’).

Brisbane captain Jay O’Shea fumbled his chance to equalise after missing his penalty (37’) but the Queenslanders drew level after Juan Lescano’s deflected finish (64’).

The Jets found their winner six minutes later courtesy of a long-range bullet from midfielder Angus Thurgate.

In addition to Siatravanis, Newcastle also fielded Kosta Grozos who came on as a substitute for the final minutes.

Rudan’s arrival
Western United will be wary of the travelling Wanderers side on Saturday evening in their round seven catchup fixture, as their new manager, Mark Rudan, has already tasted victory after they defeated Perth 1-0 on Wednesday in their rescheduled ninth round clash.

Greek-Australian midfielder James Troisi recognised Rudan’s immediate impact on the club.

“He’s definitely brought something different. He demands a lot and we’ve got to buy into that as soon as possible and we have. It’s a good start,” Troisi said in a post-match interview to Paramount+.

Adelaide plays Sydney on Friday night (not completed at the time of publication) and both clubs will be confident after they each managed come-from-behind wins last week.

The Sky Blues will be hopeful that star striker Adam Le Fondre makes his return from injury, especially since there is doubt as to whether their Socceroos players will be able to come back to the matchday squad in time, with Reds winger Craig Goodwin also in the same situation.

The South Australians will hope their good form, unbeaten in their past five league bouts, will help carry them past their opponents.

Macarthur plays Wellington at Campbelltown (which will count as the Phoenix’s home game) in Sunday’s first fixture with the Bulls looking to make their way to the top again after a series of postponements halted their momentum.

The New Zealanders will be craving a win after Melbourne Victory inflicted a 4-1 thrashing on them in last week’s FFA Cup semi-final.

Melbourne City competes with Perth at home in the weekend’s final game with the reigning premiers looking for a victory after a disappointing 1-0 loss to Victorian rivals Western United.

Perth’s season has been interrupted far too much for their liking and their players will have to put in an all-might effort to overcome the current champions.

Two matches have been postponed as a result of the FFA Cup final between Melbourne Victory and Central Coast on Saturday: Victory-Western Utd and Wanderers-Mariners.

The FFA Cup final has higher stakes this year wherein the winner will be placed into the AFC Champions League qualifiers.