Jump to content

  • Semi-Final Preview

    This is the second week of the A-League Finals Series. These semi-finals determine who will play in the Grand Final.

     

    wsw.png
    br.png

    Western Sydney Wanderers vs Brisbane Roar - Friday 7:30PM - Parramatta Stadium, Parramatta.

    • Team & Ladder Ranking: Western Sydney Wanderers finished 1st. 18W 3D 6L. 57 Points.
    • Last Result: 3-0 Win, away against Newcastle Jets.
    • Keep Up The Good Work: The Wanderers systematically took apart a pathetic Newcastle side even as Newcastle knew they needed a win to have a hope of qualifying for the semi-finals.
    • Things They Could Have Done Better Last Week: They did everything well, so this is more about the recovery of their star players. Several were missing due to injury, to have the best chance of making their first ever Grand Final they will want the likes of Mooy & Ono fit and firing. Popa doesn't like risking player due to the injury but in a one-off do or die clash he might take that chance.

    • Team & Ladder Ranking: Brisbane Roar finished 5th. 10W 5D 12L. 35 Points.
    • Last Result: 2-1 Win, away against Adelaide United.
    • Keep Up The Good Work: Adelaide were worse than woeful, Brisbane had total control for the vast majority of the match and capitalised by putting shots on target and getting balls into dangerous areas. Adelaide faltered and weren't able to repel Brisbane.
    • Things They Could Have Done Better Last Week: The first goal to Brattan was a massive error from Adelaide's Cassio, failing to make a relatively simple clearance off the line. He was then caught ball watching for the second goal. The thing to take out of that is that Brisbane weren't especially good up front and were gifted their goals. Brisbane were punished in the latter stages with their concentration lapsing, although not badly enough to send the game to Extra Time.

    Prediction: Brisbane flattered to deceive against the imploding Adelaide, while the Wanderers went from strength to strength. It will be cagey but Western Sydney will come out well on top. 3-1.

     

    ccm.png
    mv.png

    Central Coast Mariners vs Melbourne Victory - Sunday 5:00PM EDT - Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford.

    • Team & Ladder Ranking: Central Coast Mariners finished 2nd. 16W 6D 5L. 54 Points.
    • Last Result: 2-1 Loss, away against Guizhou Renhe (China, In ACL).
    • Keep Up The Good Work: Some of the lesser lights of the Central Coast took centre stage and for 84 minutes they appeared to be well up to the job. The first eleven cannot capitulate again. If they do, the chokers tag will be placed yet again around the neck of Graham Arnold and his men.
    • Things They Could Have Done Better Last Week: They may have lead until the 84th minute but their goal was a soft penalty and they weren't very threatening. They will still pose a huge problem to the Victory.

    • Team & Ladder Ranking: Melbourne Victory finished 3rd. 13W 5D 9L. 44 Points.
    • Last Result: 2-1 Win (After Extra Time), home against Perth Glory.
    • Keep Up The Good Work: Grit and determination forced their way back into the match against Perth with a late penalty, then killed the Glory off with an early extra time goal while a man up. They were extremely lucky however, with a number of ref calls going their way.
    • Things They Could Have Done Better Last Week: When Shane Smeltz stepped up to take his late penalty the Victory looked dead and buried. Alistair Edwards out-coached Ange, and Perth were a shave of the woodwork away from sealing the win. Those refs calls, if they went another way, could easily have seen them knocked out. They didn't play as well as their win suggests.

    Prediction: This could go to penalties. I'm thinking 1-1 after extra time and a Victory shoot-out triumph.



×
×
  • Create New...