The last game on Sunday for A-League Round 26 is between Sydney FC and Wellington Phoenix. The opening kick-off is set to commence at 5pm AEDT with the game to be played at Allianz Stadium. The favourite for the match is home team Wellington Phoenix. View our preview and teams for the game between Sydney FC and Wellington Phoenix.
Round: Round 26, Sunday April 6 at 5pm AEDT.
Stadium: Allianz Stadium
Head to head: Played: 22, Wins: Sky Blues 11, Phoenix 10, Draws: 1
Previous encounter: Phoenix 1-0 Sky Blues, December 22 2013
Sydney FC $1.75 vs Wellington Phoenix $4.40 at Sportsbet Australia get a $250 FREE BET on this match
Sydney FC $1.79 vs Wellington Phoenix $4.10 at Luxbet Australia get a $500 FREE BET on this match
Odds Comparison:
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| Sydney FC | 1.75 | 1.77 | 1.79 | 1.77 | 1.75 | 1.80 |
| Draw | 3.75 | 3.60 | 3.60 | 3.60 | 3.75 | 3.60 |
| Wellington Phoenix | 4.40 | 1.77 | 4.10 | 4.50 | 4.40 | 4.00 |
All odds are subject to change. Odds listed are correct at the time of the latest update.
Teams:
Sydney FC squad:
1.Ivan NECEVSKI (gk), 2.Seb RYALL, 5.Matt JURMAN, 6.Nikola PETKOVIC, 9.Corey GAMEIRO, 10.Alessandro DEL PIERO (c), 11.Richard GARCIA, 13.Sasa OGNENOVSKI,16.Joel CHIANESE, 17.Terry ANTONIS, 18.Peter TRIANTIS, 20.Vedran JANJETOVIC (gk), 21.Milos DIMITRIJEVIC, 22.Ali ABBAS, 24.Hagi GLIGOR, 28.Matt THOMPSON, 29.Alec UROSEVSKI, 34.Aaron CALVER
**Two to be omitted**
Ins: 24.Hagi GLIGOR , 29.Alec UROSEVSKI,
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: Rhyan GRANT (knee – season), Pedj BOJIC (back – season), Ranko DESPOTOVIC (knee – 1 week), Terry McFLYNN (thigh – 1 week)
Wellington Phoenix squad:
1.Glen Moss (GK), 5.Michael Boxall, 9.Kenny Cunningham, 10.Stein Huysegems, 11.Jeremy Brockie, 12.Tyler Boyd, 14.Alex Rufer, 15.Jason Hicks, 17.Vince Lia, 18.Ben Sigmund, 19.Hamish Watson, 21.Carlos Hernandez, 22.Andrew Durante (c), 23.Matthew Ridenton, 24.Roy Krishna, 25.Shaun Timmins, 26.Justin Gulley, 30 Jacob Spoonley (GK)
**two to be omitted**
Ins: 14.Alex Rufer (promoted), 19.Hamish Watson (promoted), 26.Justin Gulley (promoted), 30.Jacob Spoonley (injury replacement)
Outs: 2.Manny Muscat (suspended – 1 week), 20.Lewis Italiano (thumb injury – 4 to 5 weeks).
Unavailable: Reece Caira (fractured cheekbone 6-8 weeks), 6.Josh Brindell-South (ankle injury 4-6 weeks), 7.Leo Bertos (groin injury 2 to 3 weeks), 8.Paul Ifill (ruptured Achilles, season), 13.Albert Riera (groin injury, season), 16.Louis Fenton (shoulder injury, season)
Preview:
Form:
Past five matches:
Sky Blues: DLDWL
Phoenix: LLDDL
The Game:
Out-of-form Wellington are somehow still in the finals race, but Sydney can officially end the Phoenix’s chances on Sunday. The Sky Blues also desperately need a win as they cling onto sixth spot, largely thanks to Perth’s shock win over the Newcastle Jets in round 25. Frank Farina’s men are winless in three matches, but did manage to take a point from both premiers Brisbane Roar and fifth-placed Melbourne Victory. They look in fine form compared to the injury-hit Phoenix, who are without a win since February and need a bit of help if they are to secure an unlikely finals appearance.
The big issue:
Sky Blues – can Sydney deliver for Farina at home? The former Socceroos coach expects his team to make the finals and said finishing the season with two games in front of their home fans should help them seal a top-six spot. With seven wins from 12 home matches this season, the Sky Blues appear good enough to grant Farina his wish. A win is needed against the Phoenix or the pressure will be on come Perth’s trip to Sydney in round 27.
Phoenix – can the Phoenix recapture the goalscoring form needed for them to have any chance of playing finals? Ernie Merrick’s men are without a goal in their past two matches and rarely looked likely in a 1-0 loss to Adelaide. Stein Huysegems had a glorious chance just before half-time but it was otherwise a struggle at Westpac Stadium. A likely start for Carlos Hernandez should help, and they need to start attacking.
The game breaker:
Alessandro Del Piero – with so much talk around the veteran Italian’s future, the 39-year-old has been unable to produce the match-winning form he is capable of. Del Piero has gone almost five-and-a-half hours without a goal – that effort a penalty against Newcastle in February. Much has been made of the Juventus great’s fewer defensive responsibilities, but his set-piece ability and class still make him capable of deciding matches.
Source: www.footballaustralia.com.au
