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Two of the Finals Series contenders face each other on the penultimate matchday of the A-League. The regular season fixture pits seventh-place Wellington Phoenix against the eight-place Perth Glory. Both teams remain within touching distance of a playoff spot and will be hoping to secure a momentum-building win ahead of the last game.
Only two games remain in the 2020/21 A-League regular season, and the stakes for some teams could not be higher. Among those looking to secure their place in the Finals Series are Wellington Phoenix and Perth Glory. The two teams currently occupy the two spots just outside the playoff places. They will face each other in the penultimate round of the competition, hoping that a win boosts their chances of qualifying to the subsequent round.
A win against Western Sydney Wanderers helped Phoenix leapfrog Glory into the seventh position. Former Brighton and Hove forward Tomer Hemed scored the winner in that match, as the Phoenix moved to within two points of sixth-place Macarthur FC. Both Phoenix and Macarthur have played the same number of matches as well, making their remaining two matches all the more important.
Perth, meanwhile, could only draw their latest match against none other than Macarthur. The draw meant that the Glory slipped below Wellington Phoenix in the table, while Macarthur lost the chance to consolidate their position in the table. All three teams are within four points of each other, with Perth having a game in hand over the other two.
Wellington Phoenix have won both their encounters against Perth Glory this season, with an aggregate score of 6-1. Ben Waine was a key feature for Wellington in both of those matches and scored a goal each. Perth have picked up some recent form, though, that could help them beat Wellington for the first time this season. A win would make them favorites to qualify for the finals series, ahead of the Phoenix and Macarthur FC.
Key Players
Tomer Hemed arrived at Wellington Phoenix just in time for the new season. The ex-Israel international has proved to be a shrewd pick-up on a free for the Phoenix, with him scoring nine goals so far this season. He has also provided two assists in 19 appearances and has become a key player in the attack for the New Zealand-based outfit. Hemed found the net in his team’s win over Western Sydney Wanderers in their previous match – a crucial goal that keeps their playoff hopes alive.
The A-League recognizes Ben Waine as one of the up-and-coming talents. As such, they made him a contender for the end-of-season Young Footballer of the Year award. Waine was the nominee for April for the same, with the youngster currently one of four players on the shortlist. Waine has scored six goals this term in 20 matches and is averaging one goal every two matches for the Phoenix.
Bruno Fornaroli’s career never got off the ground in Europe. The Uruguayan forward had lacklustre spells at Sampdoria and Panathinaikos before he decided to try his luck Down Under. It turned out to be an excellent decision, with Fornaroli quickly cementing his place as one of A-League’s most lethal forwards. A successful four-year stint with Melbourne City was brought to a close in 2019, with Fornaroli playing for Perth Glory since. He has scored 11 goals this season and is the league’s joint-third highest goal scorer.
After his career in England came to a standstill, Irishman Andy Keogh decided to head to Asia in search of new opportunities. The forward joined Perth Glory initially in 2014 and has since had three spells with the club. He is currently in his third spell in Perth and is leading the line along with Fornaroli. Keogh has scored four goals this season and also provided six assists as Perth push for a playoff spot.
Prediction
It has been a largely forgettable season for Perth Glory, as they find themselves in eighth place with just two matches to go in the regular season. Despite all their failings, Perth could still qualify for the Finals Series, albeit their fate is not in their own hands. Nevertheless, a win against Wellington Phoenix on the penultimate matchday of the competition will go a long way towards helping them secure a top-six spot, especially with an additional game in hand.
However, beating Wellington won’t be easy. The Phoenix have the psychological advantage going into this match. They have played Perth twice this term and beaten them on both occasions. They scored three goals in both their matches against the Glory and conceded just one in return. Both teams are unbeaten in their last five matches. However, Wellington’s early success over Perth should give them the edge in this match.
