Sydney FC - Wellington Phoenix Preview

John Greco

Sydney FC - Wellington Phoenix Preview image

Sydney FC’s inexorable charge to the A-League premiership shows no signs of abating ahead of their Thursday night clash with Wellington Phoenix.

SQUADS

Sydney FC squad: 1.Andrew REDMAYNE (gk), 4.Alex WILKINSON, 5.Jordy BUIJS, 6.Joshua BRILLANTE, 7.Michael ZULLO, 8.Milos DIMITRIJEVIC, 9.BOBÔ, 10.Milos NINKOVIC, 11.Bernie IBINI, 12.Aaron CALVER, 14.Alex BROSQUE (c), 17.David CARNEY, 18.Matt SIMON, 19.George BLACKWOOD, 20.Danny VUKOVIC (gk), 21.Filip HOLOSKO, 23.Rhyan GRANT

**one to be omitted**

Ins: 7.Michael ZULLO (returns from suspension), 12.Aaron CALVER (promoted), 19.George BLACKWOOD (promoted)

Outs: 13.Brandon O'NEILL (suspended – 1 match), 25.George TIMOTHEOU (return to youth squad)

Unavailable: 22.Seb RYALL (hamstring – indefinite)

Wellington Phoenix squad: 1.Glen MOSS (gk), 2.Jacob TRATT, 4.Roly BONEVACIA, 5.Ryan LOWRY, 6.Dylan FOX, 7.Gui FINKLER, 8.Alex RODRIGUEZ, 9.Kosta BARBAROUSES, 10.Michael McGLNCHEY, 11.Hamish WATSON, 12.Adam PARKHOUSE, 13.Marco ROSSI, 17.Vince LIA, 19.Tom DOYLE, 20.Lewis ITALIANO (gk), 21.Roy KRISHNA, 22.Andrew DURANTE (c), 23.Matthew RIDENTON

**two to be omitted**

Ins: 6.Dylan FOX (promoted), 11.Hamish WATSON (returns from injury), 12.Adam PARKHOUSE (promoted)

Outs: 99.Shane SMELTZ (suspended – 1 match)

Unavailable: Nil

BLUFFER'S GUIDE

The Sky Blues are nine points clear at the top of the league, possess a concrete defence lead by a superb goalkeeper, and are hungry to break a stack of records in the 2016-17 season.

In contrast, the Phoenix have been frustratingly inconsistent, struggle to score goals and have striker Shane Smeltz missing through suspension.

It all points to a comfortable win for Sydney but rarely is anything certain in the A-League.

Sydney are without midfielder Brandon O'Neill through suspension with Milos Dimitrijevic set to step in again. 

Left-back Michael Zullo will also return to the home side's starting XI after serving a one-game ban.

It will also be interesting to see how the Allianz Stadium surface looks after a full weekend of rugby. 

Last time out, Wellington were beaten 3-1 at home by Western Sydney Wanderers to lose ground in the race for the top six.

While they are only two points outside the finals positions in eighth spot, they need more regularly wins if they are serious about playing finals.

The Phoenix do have a decent recent record at Allianz Stadium as well, unbeaten in their last three trips to play the Sky Blues, including two victories. 

ROUTE TO GOAL

The goals have been flowing all season for the Sky Blues.

Only an exceptional performance from Brisbane Roar gloveman Michael Theo stopped them last weekend but they rarely draw a blank twice. 

Meanwhile, the goals have been hard to come by for Wellington this season – 21 in 18 games – they did cause the Sky Blues plenty of issues when they met back in Round 3.

Only a brilliant performance from Sydney goalkeeper Danny Vukovic stopped them that day, before Ninkovic decided the match late on. 

Smeltz's suspension means the Phoenix will need to re-jig their attack, with Roy Krishna and Hamish Watson the two main options to play centrally, while Michael McGlinchey and Gui Finkler could also earn recalls.

WHO'S BEEN IN THE SPOTLIGHT THIS WEEK

Filip Holosko. Sydney's marquee winger, who has six goals this term, has vowed to better his goal return from last season, where he scored 10.

FORM LINES

Sydney FC: WDWWD

Wellington Phoenix: WWLDL

PREDICTION

Sydney FC 3-1 Wellington Phoenix

 

John Greco

John Greco Photo