Is the race for the premiers plate back on? Auckland’s draw last week leaves them six points clear of Western United, who aren’t letting up, while Melbourne City, Victory and Adelaide aren’t far back either.
Adelaide United v Macarthur Bulls
Friday 14/3 7.35pm (all times in AEDT)
Adelaide have gone from contending for top spot to now worrying about their place in the top six having not seen a win in four games, including a 1-1 draw with Brisbane Roar last weekend.
Coach Carl Veart slammed their performance against the bottom side in sweltering conditions, with the temperature hovering either side of 34 degrees once the game kicked off, and Veart also brought the heat after the game.
He said “too many players went hiding and weren’t prepared to do the work” and that it was unacceptable for a team pushing for a top-two spot.
Veart conceded it was the most frustrated he has been all season, and promised to ring in the changes for United’s home clash against Macarthur on Friday night.
The Bulls on the other hand are out to save their season after suffering a blow to their finals hopes in a 2-0 loss to Melbourne City last week.
Macarthur, who lost Jed Drew and Valere Germain in the transfer window, are six points outside the finals places with six games to go.
Western Sydney Wanderers v Melbourne Victory
Saturday 15/3 7.30pm
This one is massive. It’s a top six matchup with sixth-placed Western Sydney hosting fourth-placed Melbourne Victory.
Wanderers are one of the form teams in the competition right now, having won four of their last five games – the one being a draw.
A win here could see them as high as third depending on the rest of the weekend’s results.
Victory are coming off a four-game unbeaten run (2W, 2D) and have kept two clean sheets in that period, including last week’s 3-0 dismantling of two-time champions Central Coast.
Coach Arthur Diles hailed the “most complete” performance since he took the reins of the club.
But this week they face a whole different ball game with the highest scoring side in the league, the Wanderers (43 goals).
A team that have also won six of the last 10 meetings between the two.
Perth Glory v Brisbane Roar
Sat 15/3 9.45pm
A clash between cellar dwellers Perth and Brisbane that sees the former looking to put some space between them.
The home side Glory are coming off a bye last weekend and hope to avoid a second straight wooden spoon. But to do so they’ll have to improve their poor form that has seen them not win in seven games (4L, 3D).
If Brisbane are to win, they’ll jump Perth on the table and rise from last place due to their much better goal difference of -17 vs -32
Roar have just the one win this season but their recent form has been decent with three draws in their last four games.
Auckland FC v Central Coast Mariners
Sunday 16/3 3pm
League leaders Auckland head into this matchup looking to get back on the winners list after back-to-back draws.
While they are unbeaten in eight games, Steve Corica’s side have seen the gap between them and the rest of the competition get smaller with their two recent draws.
They are now just six points clear of Western United, seven clear of City and eight ahead of Victory and Adelaide.
Usually the Kiwi side are a defensive unit but have conceded five goals in the last two games as well.
Last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Newcastle Jets saw them play the last 20 minutes with 10 men after midfielder Louis Verstraete received a straight red card.
He’ll now miss this week’s match alongside key defender Nando Pijnaker, out for one match after collecting five yellow cards.
Central Coast on the other hand continue to struggle, with the reigning champs sitting 10 points outside the top six and have a league high nine draws this season.
Newcastle Jets v Western United
Sun 16/3 5pm
On Wednesday, plucky Newcastle overcame a lengthy lightning delay and an attacking barrage from Melbourne City to spring a 1-0 upset win and achieve their longest unbeaten run in 20 years.
Just three days after drawing 1-1 with Auckland, the Jets drew within six points of the top-six, going seven games unbeaten (4W and 3D) after a match that had to be paused for more than an hour because of the weather.
The victory, Newcastle’s first over City at AAMI Park in 10 years, also came amid speculation over coach Rob Stanton’s long-term future.
Wasteful City dominated shots 27-5 and corners 14-0, with nine shots on target to Newcastle’s one – Lachie Rose’s goal in the 69th minute – while Jets goalkeeper Noah James made seven saves.
Newcastle return to action against Western United at home on Sunday.
Western are one of the form teams this season and are coming off a big 4-1 win last week that saw them crush Wellington’s finals hopes.
Outscoring their opponents 10 goals to two across a three-game winning run, John Aloisi’s side are second on the table.
“If you make finals, I think any side will believe they can win (the championship),” said Aloisi, who led United to a title in 2021-22.
Sydney FC v Wellington Phoenix
Sun 16/3 7pm
This game could be crucial for Sydney’s push for finals.
The Sky Blues are currently two points off sixth placed in seventh but could be four points if the Wanderers beat Victory ahead of this match.
They’re in decent form too, on a seven-match unbeaten streak in all competitions and have kept three clean sheets in a row.
But this match does come three days after they play K League 1 side Jeonbuk Motors in the AFC Champions League Two quarter-final.
Meanwhile Wellington Phoenix coach Giancarlo Italiano has drawn a line through his side’s finals chances after their 4-1 loss to Western United, conceding that they’re playing to restore some level of pride in their remaining seven games.
Standings
Teams Win Draw Loss Points
1. Auckland FC 12.5.2.41
2. Western Utd 10.5.5.35
3. Melb City 10.4.6.34
4. Melb Victory 9.6.5.33
5. Adelaide Utd 9.6.4.33
6. Western Sydney 9.4.6.31
7. Sydney FC 8.5.6.29
8. Macarthur 7.4.9.25
9. Newcastle Jets 7.4.8.25
10. Central Coast 4.9.7.21
11. Wellington 5.4.10.19
12. Perth Glory 2.5.13.11
13. Brisbane Roar 1.5.12.8
With AAP
