A-League tipping: Round 26 – Corica’s bittersweet homecoming, WSW host Western as action heats up

After a long period at the top of the tipping leaderboard, Mike Tuckerman has been caught by David Shilovsky and the race for the title is on with just over 30 matches remaining in the season.

Round 26 looks exciting on paper and tricky to tip. All eyes will be on the Sky Blues and Auckland on Saturday night, as well as the blockbuster in Western Sydney on Sunday when the Wanderers host Western United.

Outside of those games, Melbourne City, Victory and Adelaide will look to maintain momentum with points against lesser opposition. Good luck with your tips for the round and be sure to enter them in the sheet below to have a say in the voice of the people.

Here is the way the panel sees all of the Round 26 action unfolding.

Mike Tuckerman

City, Victory, Draw, Draw, Adelaide, Western Sydney

Melbourne City ground out a narrow 1-0 home win over Central Coast last weekend, even if Aurelio Vidmar’s outfit was clearly the better side. The former Adelaide United tactician appeared to be on thin ice early doors, but he’s turned things around and has City on course for a potential top-two finish.

Brisbane Roar looked like a proper team for half an hour before being blown away by Macarthur. They should expect the same fate here.

Wellington Phoenix recorded a cathartic 2-1 win over the Jets in Newcastle last weekend, even if it’s all a case of too little, too late for the Kiwi side.

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It’s been a season to forget for Giancarlo Italiano’s outfit and while they’ve had Kosta Barbarouses in form of late, you have to wonder if they’ve got the quality to compete with Victory. Arthur Diles’ side had the week off last weekend, but they should have the quality to secure all three points.

How will Sydney FC pull up after their trip to Singapore in midweek? That’s the biggest question heading into a monumental clash with their former coach, Steve Corica.

The Sky Blues once again needed a last-gasp winner from Adrian Segecic to see off Adelaide, and they go into this game desperately clinging on to sixth spot. With Auckland held at home by Western Sydney Wanderers last weekend, expect the spoils to be shared again.

The Newcastle Jets have confirmed Robbie Stanton will no longer be in charge next season, so he’ll want to end his time in charge on a high. Having gone down 2-1 at home to the Phoenix in a hard-fought contest last time out, the Jets would no doubt love to get back to winning ways against their fiercest rivals.

The season is long gone for a Mariners side that has nevertheless put up a fight in recent weeks. It’s hard to pick a clear winner.

There’s no way David Zdrilic survives Perth Glory’s end-of-season review on the back of what has been one of the worst A-League campaigns in history. He hasn’t been helped by some lacklustre recruiting, but one win this calendar year says it all.

United head coach Carl Veart gives instructions to players during the round 26 A-League match between the Wellington Phoenix and Adelaide United at Bankwest Stadium on July 25, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

Carl Veart also looks to be on his way out of Adelaide United, and he’ll be fuming about the manner of last weekend’s defeat. With a finals spot on the line, the Reds simply must win in the west.

A couple of draws mean Western Sydney’s spot in the finals is still up in the air, even if they’ve been one of the form teams of late. They secured a hard-fought 1-1 draw in Auckland last time out and they won’t fear the visit of their namesakes from Melbourne.

Western United recorded their fifth win in a row with a 3-1 triumph over Perth Glory last weekend. This is a clash with real finals implications, and I reckon the points stay in Parramatta. 

Stuart Thomas

City, Victory, Sydney, Newcastle, Adelaide, United

It should be an easy task for Melbourne City at home against Brisbane Roar on Friday night and the same should apply to Melbourne Victory the following day when Wellington are on the road at AAMI Park.

Things get mighty interesting on Saturday night when Steve Corica returns to Allianz for the clash with Sydney FC. If the Sky Blues win it, a statement will have been made and Auckland will look less likely to win the Premier’s Plate. The locals in a tight one.

The F3 Derby lacks real interest this time around, except for the teams involved. The Jets with mathematical but unrealistic hopes might have a little too much to play for to lose. Adelaide must beat Perth or their season appears shot down after a promising start. They will do the business and have three very winnable matches on the run home.

Western Sydney and Western United looks a mighty affair on paper and the home side will have to manage John Aloisi’s kids who continue to impress. Another tough week for Alen Stajcic’s men. If they are with United at half-time, the grind might see them home, yet the sharpness in the front third for the visitors might be the deciding factor.

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David Shilovsky

City, Victory, Sydney, Newcastle, Adelaide, Wanderers

Andrew Prentice

City, Victory, Auckland, Draw, Draw, Wanderers

After giving the Roar some credit last week, they went out and proved that theory a bomb by being awful in the second half against Macarthur. City did what they do last week – grind out a win. It won’t be as hard this week, even as City continue to battle a long injury list.

Wellington’s rally has come too late for Season 20. They got away from the Jets last week to remain unbeaten since Round 22. Victory had a rest to reflect on their eight goal thriller against Adelaide. The Victory attack is clicking at the right time, with options off the bench as well.

That’s the mirror opposite of the Phoenix, who have found the way to goal this season harder than an Everest ascent. Even at home, Wellington don’t have the attacking crampons to pull this off.

Sydney FC face the league leaders and their former coach just two days after a steamy Singapore trip for the ACL2 semi final. Patryk Klimala looked capable of carnage against Adelaide, but the Black Knights defence is a brick wall in comparison.

Sydney FC Manager Steve Corica. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

And you don’t think Steve Corica won’t be itching to clinch the Premiers Plate at the place he called home for almost 20 years? It’s a fascinating match in prospect, but the fatigue factor and Auckland’s season-long class might conspire against the home side.

Just as the Jets were looking like a bolter for a finals spot, word gets out that highly regarded coach Robbie Stanton was texted the Hunter Street Centrelink details in just about the most puzzlingly-timed announcement of all time.

As far as Newcastle football implosions go, this one just adds to a depressingly long list. They host their neighbours from down the freeway and the F3 derby tends to deliver no matter the circumstances. Too hard to split, so I’m sitting on the McDonald Jones’ fence.

Adelaide’s free-fall is in its parachute-fails-to-open phase. Ordinarily, a trip to Perth would hold no fears, but this side is seeing ghosts in the machine. Glory still want to avoid the spoon and while that might seem less to play for than the finals spot Adelaide still entertain notions of, it’s motivation enough.

Adam Taggert is overdue and the Reds defence have laid out the tea and scones to most strikers this year. We might get an entertaining score draw in the west.

The two form sides of the league round out the action on Sunday. Western (the Tarneit version) last dropped a point in February and are on a tremendous roll. The last time the Wanderers lost was Australia Day. Ironically, both sides last losses were at the hands of Auckland.

Bozhidar Kraev is in sparkling form for the Wanderers and is one of a quartet of attacking options for coach Alen Stajcic. John Aloisi can point to similar assets so I’m hoping for a Sunday goal roast with Western Sydney coming out on top.

Texi Smith

City, Wellington, Sydney, Newcastle, Adelaide, United

City edged the Mariners last weekend while Brisbane were battered by Macarthur, who made goal scoring look easy. Marco Tilio and Medin Memeti to continue their rich form, but this will be no push over for the home side, relying on a rocket from Steven Ugarkovic to settle the game late into the second half.

A flicker of hope for Wellington Phoenix last week as they snuck past the Jets in Newcastle, the return home will have them brimming with confidence. Melbourne Victory’s week off after their exertions against Adelaide last time out was welcome, and this game has ‘classic A-League matches’ written all over it.

Victory storm into the lead through Reno Piscopo and Daniel Arzani, with Phoenix dragging themselves back into it just before the break with a Tim Payne thunderbolt. The game is drifting in the second half before Kazuki Nagasawa back-heels an equaliser and compatriot Hideki Isghige walks in the winner to complete a marvellous turnaround in New Zealand’s capital.

It all comes down to Saturday evening at Allianz Stadium as Sydney FC look to hang on to their finals place and blow the premiership race wide open at the same time. Aiming for revenge for a ridiculous loss in Auckland early in the season, the Sky Blues will be ready for battle, and this could be a watershed moment in their season.

Alex Grant has an ongoing battle with Guillermo May that ends in yellow cards for both, before Joe Lolley finally breaks the deadlock on the hour with a trademark left foot screamer. Douglas Costa is thrust into the game with Adrian Segecic, and Sydney turn the screw to win 3-0 and give themselves a great chance of prolonging their league season.

An F3 derby with so much at stake, the Newcastle Jets have their season on the line while the Central Coast Mariners are running out of games.

With more than pride on the line, the Jets are ruthless; Clayton Taylor firing home from the edge of the area and Kosta Grozos with a second just before half time. A first goal for the exciting Brazilian import Wellissol the icing on the cake.

Adelaide United’s horror run is only eclipsed by Perth Glory’s, but the home fans have hope in abundance as they turn out in force to see if their team can be the latest to plunge a dagger into the Reds’ season.

A simply magnificent display from Stefan Mauk though gives Adelaide much-needed relief and keeps them hot on the tail of those above them in the ladder. Luka Jovanovic bundles home the winner after Perth threaten to steal the points with a second-half equaliser.

The Western Sydney Wanderers have been fantastic of late too, and this game is a fitting finale to the round in front of a decent crowd. United took care of Perth last week, but a fiery Wanderers team are a different proposition.

Nicolas Milanovic is untouchable in the first half but the home team can’t break through, and bringing on Marcus Antonsson and Juan Mata for the final push only leaves the door open for Western United to break away and nick the win with a classic counter attack, Michael Ruhs on the end of Hiroshi Ibusuki’s cut back.

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