Just two rounds left meaning these that couple of matches have big implications for teams vying for those elusive Finals Series spots.
The top four teams are all looking to hold tight to their position or even move up in the order. This round feels a little different than the rest making it more about the teams than the individual matchups.
Brisbane Roar vs Canberra United
Canberra sits one point too short for the postseason to be possible. The Roar are holding onto a thread for a chance at the Finals Series.
Canberra was sitting in the top four through the first six rounds. Coincidentally that is when Brisbane started making appearances in the top four. These teams faced off in round four with Brisbane winning, the team’s first win of the year.
Their 2019-20 seasons have been intertwined with one another and this game will continue the saga.
Survival vs Revenge
Technically not a must win for Brisbane to stay in the hunt for the postseason, but for all intents and purposes this is a must win for the Roar. Brisbane plays Melbourne City next week so looking at the odds this is the better matchup for a win.
One could make the argument that the Roar started the unraveling of Canberra. If Canberra could have avoided their loss in round four they could be eligible for postseason still. When a team can’t move on in the season the next best thing is stopping your opponent from going as well.
Score Prediction
1-1 Tie
Both teams will come out amped up and ready to go for this game. These fifth and sixth place teams will tire each other out and in the end show how truly evenly matched they are to one another. The 1-1 tie will somewhat avenge the 2-1 loss that Canberra faced earlier this season.
Sydney FC vs Perth Glory
Sydney is still competing for the number one spot in the league and Perth is trying to stay out of last place. But no matter how this game ends Sydney is guaranteed a spot in the Series Final while Perth is guaranteed a spot in the bottom three.
Key Matchup
Productivity vs Pride
If Sydney can win their remaining two games and City lose theirs than they will tie in points, but City has the upper hand in goal differential with 17 while Sydney has 11. Sydney plays Melbourne Victory next week so their chance at catching the goal mark is this game against Perth.
Perth has given up just about as many goals at Sydney has scored this season. Glory knows their season will be over next week no matter their final results. But the team is riding a two game winning streak and to finish the year off winning four games would have to be a momentum and confidence booster of what they could accomplish next season.
Score Prediction
2-0 Sydney
Despite the best efforts of Perth Sydney will win this game, but not in total dominating fashion. Both teams will more from their result and that is exactly why it will be a close game. Sydney expects to score goals and Perth expects to keep winning.
Newcastle Jets vs Melbourne Victory
The last five games have given completely different results for these two teams. Newcastle finds themselves 1-4 while Victory have gone 4-1. The Jets want to keep themselves out of last place and Victory wants to keep moving up in the standings.
Key Matchup
Persistence vs Patience
Melbourne Victory started the season slow far from their undefeated team through the first five rounds a season ago. Instead of building upon last year it looked like they had peaked and were falling from their 2018-19 regular season championship.
And yet they find themselves in fourth place able to move into second place in a best case scenario. They pushed through adversity and seem to be once again heading towards their peak. Victory did lose last week so could they have reached a plateau?
The Jets had a promising start, tying City in the opening round 1-1. Even in the midst of their losses Newcastle has impressed viewers. They do not look like a team frustrated, often times they look calculated. The Jets are a young team and they know they have to weather the storm of opposing offence most games.
But has their patience worn off from too many storms? Can the Jets be resilient for just two more matches?
Score Prediction
2-0 Melbourne Victory
Victory is on the rise while the Jets are on the decline. Perhaps if these teams had met at the beginning than the opposite could have been said. Victory will prove to be too much for the Jets who have one of the lowest goal totals of any W-League team.
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