Since March 2019, the Unashamed Football Novels by Texi Smith have captured the imagination of readers worldwide. In 2021 Anna Black got us excited for the FIFA Womens World Cup. Jarrod Black returned in December 2022 with another fast-paced adventure in Chasing Pack and in 2024, the focus turned to Abebi, a Matildas star of the future. While we await the next adventure of the Black family, check out Texi's first non-fiction work, an account of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar in 2022, titled 'Metro, this way!' Out now on Amazon.
Welcome to the final A-League tips and predictions for the 2025/26 season. What a season it has been, and based upon the season’s results and form coming into the finals, the least likely of the four semi-finalists made it through to the big one. Auckland FC, fresh from a second-half pasting of Adelaide on their own turf, and this time backed by a raucous full house at Go Media Stadium, take on Sydney FC at 8.10pm local time (6.10pm AEST). Will the late kick-off work against them? Does the extra day of recovery and the lack of extra-time come into play? Will Patrick Kisnorbo taste defeat in his first game in full charge of the Sky Blues? Is the Grand Final the most pointless game ever, with no qualification for continental football and no prize money?
Be somewhere near a TV on Saturday evening. Whether you’re brave enough to head to a venue in Sydney while Vivid is on, you’re watching on at home or you’re at the Altona Magic game, keep an eye on this one. It’s going to be a rip snorter.
Submit your tip and give yourself a shout-out in the comments section underneath. Bid farewell to The Roar’s last remaining feature article here at its temporary home. It has been a pleasure.
No Grand Final but maybe a World Cup berth for Craig Goodwin? Photo : Texi Smith
Stuart Thomas
Auckland
In search of redemption, Auckland FC hosts the 2025/26 A-League Grand Final and will have a booming local voice to cheer them on. Sydney FC have had a wonderful season to get all the way to the decider, something that did not look likely at certain moments during the course of home and away play.
Yet they have advanced and now take on one of the toughest tasks in the league; Auckland away and with just a small number of Sky Blue support to cheer them on. It looks a home win on paper, with extra-time likely. Auckland by a single goal to win its first championship.
Watching Sydney FC with interest in this weekend’s grand final is Ryan Fraser Photo : Texi Smith
Andrew Prentice
Auckland
It’s a crying shame that the best and most entertaining team in the competition won’t be hosting the Grand Final on Saturday. But sometimes winning and entertaining are mutually exclusive concepts – for solid evidence of that look no further than Arsenal’s turgid path to the English title. Still, Newcastle’s season has been exceptional. But they’re not at the big dance because Sydney FC have shown resilience and passion to come from 5th spot to occupy a GF slot in a match that has its own in-built sense of theatre. Steve Corica – an institution at the Sky Blues with back-to-back titles – will be plotting the downfall of his former home castle on Saturday night in front of what is sure to be a jam-packed Mount Smart Stadium. The Black Knights have gone one week further than their remarkable inaugural season while ironically finishing lower on the table. It was the manner of their ruthless dismantling of Adelaide last week that has me leaning towards them. Sydney under Patrick Kisnorbo have been akin to Andre The Giant – an immovable object. However, Auckland have the firepower to be the irresistible force on Saturday night, which will disrupt Sydney’s smash-and-grab tactics. If Auckland lead early, that might be enough to throw the Sky Blue bus off-course. It will be no surprise if this goes to extra time.
Where will Adam Taggart be plying his trade next season? Photo : Texi Smith
Texi Smith
Auckland, Sydney
Unless you’d forked out the $1,000 for the flights and were heading over to Auckland for the grand final, the average Sydneysider wouldn’t even know there was a game on this weekend. But their premier football team has been hard at work. After all the excitement of last weekend’s incredible semi-final showdown in Newcastle that abruptly curtailed the Premiers’ chase for the treble, Sydney FC have captured their interim manager’s signature for the foreseeable future, and the scenes as it was announced to the squad told the story of how well he has done to reunite the dressing room. We don’t have to look back too far to find the last game between these two teams, a game that Sydney had to win to ensure a home elimination final but one where they coughed up the lead late on – the rest is history.
More overseas imports to come next A-League season to join Kazuki Nagasawa? Photo : Texi Smith
Auckland have been dominant in all the games between the two sides this season, their physicality, long throws, height and strike power easily too much for the Sky Blues. However, Saturday night sees a different Sydney FC, one that believes in itself, one that has no fear, no hesitation and one that has an eye for goal. Apostolos Stamatelopoulos is due a starring role, and he will power home a header from a free kick towards the end of the first half to silence the home crowd. Wataru Kamijo and Paul Okon-Engstler are purring in midfield, and Piero Quispe is on hand to poke home at the far post for a second midway through the second period. A surge from the home team sees them reduce the arrears through Jesse Randall and tee up a grand finale, but Harrison Devenish-Meares makes two game-winning stops late on and Sydney FC come away with a thoroughly-deserved Grand Final triumph.
The Crowd has romped to victory this season, but it’s the battle for second that is is capturing the imagination. Smith’s unlikely double last weekend saw him overtake Prentice and Thomas, but he’s putting it all on the line for Sydney FC. What a fool! Let’s see what happens :
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If football fans could choose a single away day experience as the blueprint for every away game, this would be very close to the top. Sydney FC supporters, who have endured some bleak times in an underperforming season, were rewarded with a breathtaking, nerve-wracking and ultimately successful trip to McDonald Jones Stadium as Ben Garuccio steered the final penalty past James Delianov at the home end to tee up a Grand Final showdown in Auckland next weekend. This was something special, a packed stadium of passionate football fans riding the rollercoaster of knock-out football; fellow football codes take note – this is what passion is all about.
Entertainment centre indeed
Arriving on foot
The sign that everyone wanted to see
Fluid lines at the gate
Concourse busy
First game of the season for most of these fans
Another tricky fixture to navigate, with the final whistle of park football sounding at 4.45pm, no time for a shower, but a quick change of clothes and we were on the M1 up to Newcastle with about two and a half hours to get there. Luckily there was no traffic of note, but the next thing was to find a car park, the parking sold out when we booked the tickets and the road next to the stadium at a standstill. A quick change of mind and we went backstreets on the north side, finding a street park a 15-minute walk from our destination. Lots of people were doing the same, this might be an option when the Matildas are here in a few weeks. As we arrived, the ‘Sold Out’ signs were up in the ticket box, this was going to be something special. The concourse inside was a sea of people, people were in party mode, Newcastle had come out to support its all-conquering team in their latest quest for silverware.
After a quick hello with some Jets fans in the home end – honestly, who needs segregation – and a look at the phenomenal queues for a beer, we found our seats under cover at the back of the away bay, the tactical purchase allowing us free rein to stand or sit to watch the game, depending on our level of stress. The bay was full. The Cove broke with tradition at this venue and were in place well before kick-off, the stadium almost full, what a beautiful sight! As was the entrance of the players, well past the allotted kick -off time of 7.40pm, and the sparkles that welcomed the two teams cast a wonderful plume of smoke like a grand entrance on the Eurovision Song Contest. The scene was set for entertainment, the Sydney fans already in full voice, trying to out-sing the stadium PA with We Are Sydney. Sentiment from both sets of fans was of apprehension and anxiety, Sydney FC’s long-suffering supporters just blessed to be here with a sniff at making the Grand Final after the season we’d had, and Newcastle always ready for the good times to come crashing down around them.
Party hats for the party goers
The home end
So that’s why it’s sold out. Not a full house!
Friendly rivals
Packed on the way to our end
Thou shall not get a beer
The toin coss had the teams running the way they should be, the Jets shooting away from their home end, and the game started at an almighty tempo, players slipping and sliding all over the field thanks to the late watering of the turf beforehand. Lachie Rose was back for the Jets, who looked at full strength, Sydney had Joe Lolley as a weapon off the bench and continued with Akol Akon out wide; meanwhile in our section a battle was taking place between the front row of the undercover section and the people standing in the wheelchair area blocking their view, the police having to intervene to move on people, and those remaining playing the part of wounded animal to a tee – the perils of a full stadium, I guess.
What a scene
The famous Sydney FC
Freiburg x Sydney FC
One last pep talk
Friendly police intervention
Full voice from the Cove
The Cove was in fine voice, the acoustics not great in our section, and on the field Paul Okon-Engstler was struggling to find his feet, passes going astray and twice he had a handful of his opponents shirts and escaped punishment. Piero Quispe was infuriating, knowing that he had to keep the ball, trying a low-percentage nutmeg that sent the Jets away on the attack when a simple pass would have maintained possession. Sydney’s flicks and tricks were all working, a back heel and shimmy by Okon wowing the crowd. Jordan Courtney-Perkins was fortunate to win a free kick when he dived head first in front of Rose when the Newcastle striker threatened to get around him into the box.
Clayton Taylor rolled a ball in up the far end that Rose couldn’t turn in, the first great chance of the game falling to the home team. There were some empty seats in the home end at the front, probably due to the fans preferring to stand at the back of the grassy hill area. The game had turned in Jets’ favour, Taylor fizzing a shot just wide, and there was a little bit of spice in the game, Apostolos Stamatelopoulos watching as his close attention on the Jets player shielding the ball sent him to the floor, and then standing over him and seeming to stand on his hand. There was a booking for Max Burgess, and Tiago Quintal stole the ball from Jets’ star defender Mark Natta before stinging the palms of Delianov. The first half would have gone to the hosts on points, but we’d been entertained and Sydney FC were resolute.
Get the fuck in
Toilet seat in the Cove
Giving it to the Newy fans
What a sight – a packed stadium
You’re not made of glass are you?
Draught excluder
The second half was moments old when Akon got away from his man only to be hauled back by his shirt, another yellow for the home side. Rose then smashed a shot just over that Harrison Devenish-Meares watched all the way. The action was coming thick and fast. Sydney had their big chance when Stama raced through on the left, beat his man, but his finish when faced with Delianov was disappointing, the goalkeeper saving easily, and Stama stuffed his pass when the ball came back in; perhaps this was not our night.
Quispe continued to irk, picking up a stupid yellow for a ridiculous kick-out on his player, and then giving away a nonsensical foul. The chant of Newcastle, Newcastle went around the stadium – why on earth they don’t borrow some better chants from their EPL namesakes is beyond me – but the Cove were singing non-stop; the Sydney FC ole ole ole chant seemed to miss a beat, the bays not synching. There was a round of applause in the 57th minute for Jets legend Chris Turner, his photo on the big screens, and that coincided with some dangerous attacking from the home side. Sydney though were bright going forward, and when Okon lifted in a looping ball, Grant appeared to keep the ball in and the ball hit a defender’s arm. We were pretty much in line with it from our position, it wasn’t out, and the referee team appeared to take the easy way out and call it a goal kick instead of enduring an impossible angle for VAR. It could be a pivotal moment though.
The game was there for the taking, and when Akon intercepted a ball by his own corner flag, he offloaded and set off on a run, Stama doing the spade work down in front of us to beat his man and tee up Akon inside. A step to the right and he got a shot away, not the most powerful by any means, but Delianov spilled it and there was Quispe, homing in to slot the rebound home and run across to the Sydney fans who were already bouncing. What a move, what a moment, the unlikely was happening : Sydney FC were winning in Newcastle.
A cheeky push by Stama as he lost the race to a through ball wasn’t punished, the riot cops were being told off for blocking the view after they had congregated to keep an eye on the Sydney fans who were giving it the big one to the Newcastle contingent in the adjacent bay. It was backs to the wall for Sydney, the hosts throwing everything forward, leaving gaps at the back. When Garuccio was freed on the left to hang in a majestic cross, Stama was all alone in front and connected beautifully, the Cove rising as one, but he directed the header straight at Delianov, a disappointing end to a superb move.
Akon was running on empty, Quispe and then Stama hooked instead, as time ticked towards full time. Paddy Wood’s introduction brought exactly what Sydney needed, a bit of shit-stirring, and he was hauled down when darting unexpectedly between the last two Jets defenders, questions of a red card answered with a yellow. Wood was brilliant, he played a one-two soon after with fellow sub Victor Campuzano to go through, his shot under pressure saved and the rebound hit him and rolled towards goal, every Sydney fan praying the ball went the right side of the post, but it rolled agonisingly wide. The Newcastle-centric scoreboard operator was messing with the Sydney fans, failing to show the highlights of the away team’s chances and moments of contention, and the vision was cut before Wood had his shot. The away bays erupted in Forza Sydney FC instead. It was fabulous.
The last few minutes were very similar to the Socceroos v South Korea final of the Asian Cup, every Sydney fan on their feet singing the boys home, only to have their teeth kicked in by a sucker punch. We looked to have survived the onslaught when sub Xavier Bertonello cut inside and smashed a fierce shot an inch past the post and the chanting continued. Some fans had already left from the Newcastle home end. But the sucker punch was to come, well after the allotted time was up, and it was a cross from the left that found Eli Adams in space in the centre and he calmly guided the ball past HDM into the top corner for an equaliser. Cue bedlam. The spice being given by the Cove to the neighbouring bay was returned with interest, beer raining down from the prawn sandwich brigade up above, cans and bottles being launched into the Cove. It was poetic, it was warranted, and it was painful. The agony was complete a minute later with the final whistle condemning us to extra time, the shutters down on the bars and only the water bubbler for refreshment.
Giving it back, fair play
The action continues for another half and hour
How’s the prawn sandwiches up there?
Lolley continues his 0% success rate in penalty shootouts
Get in! The price for SYD-AUK just doubled!
Extra time was exciting. The Jets were on the attack for much of it, Ben Gibson with a free header that HDM made look easy and then the Sydney keeper tipped over a rasping drive. The set pieces were taking forever – it had been a feature of the evening; so much for the eight second rule for goalkeepers, how about something similar for the refs for fannying around so much from free kicks and corners. Such a yawn-fest! There was a sweet moment in the Cove when the fans starting chanting Come On You Boys In Blue, the Newcastle fans in the rest of the stadium clapping in tune with the beat, albeit inadvertently, making it seem like a joint effort. Joe Lolley was introduced, Akon having run his heart out, and Lolley was the right sort of player to keep possession and make things happen on the break.
Wood, Campuzano and Lolley combined in the second period of extra time, Lolley’s cross from the right striking a defender and we all thought it was going in, but it dropped wide of the post again. The referee had a poor moment, trying and failing to get out of the way of a Sydney counter attack, earning jeers from the away bays – he had broken up a promising attack, definitely a card there, ref! Alexandar Popovic had a free header from an exquisite cross from Ahmet Arslan that was well saved, and Campuzano was right in front but couldn’t connect from a Lolley cross. It was hair-rising stuff. The game ended on a lull, Okon Jr letting a ball run out of play and Jets players down on the floor needing treatment – the referee blew for full time and we had penalties.
Up stepped Lolley with the first, the Jets keeper guessed right and pushed it away. Memories of Auckland FC in the Australia Cup were haunting us. Devenish-Meares brought out a Schwarzer-esque save to keep the first Jets penalty out, and we continued through the penalty shootout until Bertoncello had his saved, teeing up a John Aloisi moment for Garuccio, who made no mistake, sending the keeper the wrong way to rifle into the top corner for a thrilling penalty shootout victory in front of the Jets home end.
The players finally make it to the Cove
Such frivolity on the field and in the stands
Wooooooaaaaaahh-ey-ey-ey-ey
Someone getting a kicking from the cops
Now you wouldn’t see Ufuk doing that
Away fans’ buses in the car park – proper football!
The players piled on up the far end. The away bays erupted, plenty of gentle banter for the departing masses in the bays next door. Meanwhile a fan, we couldn’t tell which persuasion but he was in black, was getting a hiding from the police in the concourse behind. The majority of the stadium emptied quickly, quite a disappointment from a Newcastle point of view, this now being the final match of the season and their players and fans denied an appropriate farewell after a brilliant campaign.
For Sydney FC it was extra-sweet. The players eventually made their way to the away bays – no one was going anywhere, the majority were on the buses anyway, who wouldn’t have left without them – and the mood was boistrous. The PA system was playing the part of pantomime villain, blasting unnecessary music out. Paddy Wood got the first chant, all the players joining in, ‘Oooh Sevenish Beers’ was next and the players linked hands and celebrated with the Cove. It was fantastic! Patrick Kisnorbo was now free from his post-match media duties and the players all went to him for a hug. How different the club is now that the negativity has gone – even someone like PK getting hugs; speaks volume about his predecessor.
It was now very late, 11pm or so. We wandered down the ramp past the buses and the packed car park, the traffic stuck in a standstill as we weaved through and onto the main road and up back to the car with the crowds. It was half time in the FA Cup final when we got home, so in the early hours; what a day we’d had, and it conjured up a desire to do it all again as soon as possible. Auckland FC v Sydney FC 6.10pm at Mount Smart; a wet week is coming up, park football may be cancelled in Sydney, but the initial look at flights indicated a severe dent in the FIFA World Cup budget that is probably going to kybosh any thoughts of heading to New Zealand next Saturday morning. Don’t discount one member of the Sydney Royals popping up at Go Media Stadium, if the club was to charter a couple of flights you never know, stranger things have happened. Grand final week, drink it in!
The A-League is reaching its pinnacle, both semi-final ties poised beautifully for maximum second-leg drama, and it’s down to the away teams to remain steadfast to stop the home crowds carrying their heroes to victory. If you’re a neutral, these games are mouth-watering, although even a neutral has a soft spot for the romance associated with Adelaide United and Newcastle Jets. The bling of Sydney FC doesn’t sparkle as it did and Auckland FC’s shiny new bandwagon is mis-firing, so two home wins are almost certainly going to give us the grand final the people want.
Make sure you tune in on Friday and Saturday for some rip-roaring A-League action as we decide who will play in the grand final and cap off the season in style.
The Roar’s A-League tips and predictions’ temporary home is enjoying having you here. This is a safe space for discussion and banter, and you can join in by submitting your tips and giving yourself a shout-out in the comments below. Enjoy this one, it’s going to be special.
Wanted man Mark Natta – another to move abroad? Photo : Texi Smith
Stuart Thomas
Adelaide, Newcastle
Well what a dud of a first leg it was! Two draws and it all comes down to the home teams being good enough to cash in and make the statement that gets them into the grand final.
I think both can do it, with the Reds always good things at home and the Jets the form team and more than capable of knocking off the evil Sydney FC. Let’s hope it plays out that way and we get a grand final in the Hunter between the best two teams in the league across the course of the season.
Hair or no hair? Which version of Ben Gibson is your favourite? Photo : Texi Smith
Andrew Prentice
Adelaide, Newcastle
Two cracking games last week in their respective 1st legs brought us no closer to the eventual Grand Finalists. It seemed that Adelaide picked up the most momentum by coming away from the tough-to-visit Mount Smart all-square as they go into what should be a raucous packed house at Hindmarsh on Friday night. Auckland have – if not hit the skids – then have slid off-course by not registering a regular-time win in any of their last six games. The Reds most pressing issue is when to unleash Craig Goodwin, who has made off-the-bench cameos when needed since returning from injury. They will also have Luka Jovanovic available and the most pressing issue for HIM is keeping his shirt on. Adelaide to edge this, even if it takes them extra time.
The Sydney-Jets clash at the SFS last week reminds us how great the A League can be. An end-to-end classic which could have given either side an advantage with the odd bit of luck but ended up playing right down the middle. Broadmeadow should be heaving for the rematch as the Jets hunt for the Impossible Treble of cup, premiership and championship. The Sky Blues marked attribute since Patrick Kisnorbo’s arrival has been defensive resilience. But this will be by far their sternest test – a packed house of rabid fans in Australia’s great football nursery, and a team that have routinely ploughed irrigation furrows through defences all season. Sydney have the experience and discipline but after the season they’ve had, the Jets deserve a finals place so this pick has a degree of sentimentality to it. Jets to win.
At the World Cup already following his team’s demise in Auckland, it’s Aziz Behich Photo : Texi Smith
Texi Smith
Auckland, Sydney
The weekend kicks off on Friday night with Adelaide United at home in their magnificent amphitheatre to welcome Auckland FC to a duel, winner takes all. The Reds were much the better team in last week’s first leg in New Zealand, they’ll be weighed down by the expectancy though and this will be a free hit for the visitors, looking to topple the bookies’ favourites on the night in their own backyard. The first half is a showcase of intricate football from the hosts, mixed with some outrageous pace down each flank, but there will be no goals. An edgy Coopers Stadium crowd can scarcely believe it when Francis De Vries delivers an in-swinging free kick which deceives Jushua Smits and bounces in without a touch. From there, it’s all-out attack from Adelaide with Auckland relying on brief spells of possession on the counter-attack. No surprises then, when Jesse Randall is played clean through with the Reds’ defence committed to attack and he completes the smash-and-grab, Auckland through to their first grand final.
A fan favourite, Stefan Colacovski, waiting patiently for next season. Photo : Texi Smith
The fleet of buses carrying Sydney FC fans up the M1 is testament to the huge interest in this game as they somehow maintain belief in their team following a season of mediocrity and underachievement. The Newcastle Jets fans are out in force for tonight’s semi-final decider, and there is a sprinkling of magic in the air as the two teams emerge to a raucous crowd at Newcastle’s premier sporting venue. A surprise start for Victor Campuzano has a defence-minded Sydney FC a little off-kilter in the first half, unable to keep possession for any length of time and making this more of a defence v attack training session for the Jets. The lack of opportunities for the home team to run at and expose the Sydney defence is telling and they remain frustrated in an absorbing first half, Harrison Devenish-Meares making a number of saves but never looking like being beaten. A change in personnel midway through the second half has Sydney FC coming out of their shell, Apostolos Stamatelopoulos and Paddy Wood offering a different option, but Clayton Taylor and Eli Adams continue the barrage from the home team. The late introduction of Joe Lolley, with extra time in mind, is a masterstroke, and he has a hand in the late winner that seals a one-goal victory for the Sky Blues, Wood turning Lolley’s mis-hit right-foot cross past James Delianov in injury time to send the Sky Blue travelling army into delirium.
One point separates our tipsters, after all this time. The Crowd has romped to victory, but it’s the battle for second that is as hot as we’ve ever seen. Has Smith thrown caution to the wind in an attempt to overturn Prentice? Or will Thomas storm through to tee up a silver medal showdown next weekend? Let’s see :
Again, click three times to register your tips in support of The Crowd. Your input will help make sure that the tipsters stay far behind in the chasing pack with one game to play…
Your favourite sports debate website is not coming back. The Roar is still up and running, but there is no content now for over four months and there is no one steering the ship. What a sad state of affairs. Tell us where you’ll be hanging out for your fill of football banter when the World Cup and the next A-League season comes around. Comments welcome below…
Sydney FC’s reward for their endeavours in Melbourne last weekend was a home first-leg semi-final against newly crowned premiers Newcastle Jets. What followed gave us no indication of what the final outcome will be, the visitors being awarded time and space on the break, but the hosts having perhaps the bulk of the highlights reel in a sometimes tense draw. All eyes on McDonald Jones Stadium next Saturday when our boys in blue go looking to repeat their early-season demolition of the Jets in their own backyard.
Bit early, but the police were there
The march is on!
Allianz Stadium and its devotees
One last walk up the steps this season
The march reaches its destination
We’re now into bonus game territory, and this one fell on a very busy football day; we battled the heavy traffic through Sydney to get to the Entertainment Centre car park which was as full as we’ve seen it, ending up on the highest level that was open. The concert queue at the Hordern Pavillion didn’t give any indication of the genre of music served up by Mariah The Scientist but we had other plans, the march at the Tibby Cotter bridge, which saw a wall of police officers block the western side of the bridge in preparation for the arriving masses out of the darkness. A superb chant for Tiago Quintal brought smiles to everyone’s faces. The march across to Allianz Stadium was incident free, instructions from authorities making it clear that any flare action would lead to the whole march being denied entry on arrival. Such pettiness, much like the removal of the drum and mega at CommBank Stadium, already suggesting an us vs them confrontation that was totally unnecessary. Luckily the police presence was limited, as it should be.
As a result of being in the march, we were earlier than expected into the stadium, drinks and dinner of champions of sushi and hot chips acquired, and we retreated to our usual seats. Great to be back after the last game when we treated ourselves to the Sydney Arms, but we were surrounded by lots of unfamiliar faces, many of them not in the least bit interested in the what was about to unfold down below. Akol Akon was in the starting line-up, this was positive, but the Jets teamsheet looked menacing and Sydney would need to be on top of their game in this one. The new pre-match experience was much more palatable, no blaring music, and the growing atmosphere and expectation was more than enough to build anticipation for the arrival of the teams. Perhaps those in charge have finally realised that football is the entertainment and we don’t need the razzamatazz shoved down our throats before the game.
There was confusion down below when our fearless capo appeared and then disappeared – luckily he was back for kick off and with his expert drummer by his side, they whipped up a frenzy in the Cove.
The special ticket-holders
Whoosh and the players are out
Us versus them
Ambience at smokey Allianz Stadium
Jostling from corners
The game was off to a flyer early on, Sydney having won the toin coss to shoot towards the Jets fans in the first half, and a goalmouth scramble in the early exchanges almost saw the ball bundled in up the far end. Goal machine Eli Adams warmed the home fans by taking his eye off the ball and letting it run out of play to a chorus of jeers. Alexandar Popovic showed us some silky skills to play his defence out of trouble before playing a suicidal ball across goal that thankfully wasn’t punished. We had the strange sight of Rhyan Grant positioning himself in left midfield, himself and Ben Garuccio having tracked their players to opposite sides, and it took a break in play for them to swap back and restore the balance.
The SFC chant had the drum steaming again, but Sydney should have been a goal behind from a corner that was deflected high into the air and caused a mad scramble right in front of goal, Harrison Devenish-Meares waiting for his moment to pounce on the ball. It was exciting, Sydney looked dangerous, Paul Okon-Engstler was aggrieved to have been booked for his first foul, although it didn’t look too clever on the replay. It was all to play for at half time and the crowd had been thoroughly entertained.
The Cove in great voice
The real half time heroes
View from the away bays
The Jets playing mind games
Half time is always a good time to have a walk around the stadium concourse to see the sights, the Jets fans still confident of a result, and bemoaning Okon Jr’s inclusion in the Socceroos ahead of former Sydney FC fan favourite Max Burgess. Sydney FC were out on time for kick off, the referee team was out, but there was no sign of the Newcastle Jets; perhaps this was mind games, perhaps they were getting a roasting from Mark Milligan.
After Quintal had shown some sublime skills, Sydney FC had the lead quickly and it was a controversial goal; a deflected ball high in the air seeing the excellent Mark Natta and Apostolos Stamatelopoulos challenge for the ball. From our angle, it looked an obvious foul from the Sydney striker, nudging the Jets defender as he rose, but the ball broke perfectly for Stama, who bravely connected with the header ahead of goalkeeper James Delianov and sent the ball into the net for 1-0. There was doubt about the validity of the goal, the referee was happy to award it, and the nervous few seconds before the resumption of play gave way to cheers as the goal stood.
The lead wouldn’t last long. Quintal fired in a fierce shot that was punched away and all of a sudden the Jets were on the break on the left, Clayton Taylor taking advantage of some generous defending to break clear, and his excellent cross-field pass found Adams who lashed the ball past the advancing HDM for 1-1. Attack to defence in five seconds, and Sydney’s defence was ripped wide open. Stama took a touch and curled one just around the post right in front of us, so close to a second. Delianov’s number on his shirt didn’t seem to be painted on correctly, but he was in good form.
Paddy Wood appeared and everyone shifted in their seats in anticipation, but it was Jordan Courtney-Perkins who went close from a corner, the replay on the screen perhaps justifying his appeal to the referee for the corner. Wood was free in the box waiting for someone to pass to for the tap-in and somehow emulated Eli Adams by letting the ball run out of play unchallenged, looking to the skies and the assistant referee in dismay. Sydney were building, but the Jets looked dangerous every time they ventured forward. Joe Lolley came on to great applause, Akol Akon’s injury perhaps well timed, and his trademark runs down the right started to give Sydney an edge. The players were too eager to pass to him, choosing him as the wrong option at times, but his skill on the ball was undeniable.
There was some ping pong in the penalty area up the far end, as danger man Xavier Bertoncello teed up a series of shots that were cleared; it was exciting, it was frustrating, it was everything you could hope for from a semi-final first leg. Okon Jr played a dodgy ball across field which alomst opened up the Sydney backline for a counter attack, but the Jets gave it straight back. There was a late shout for a penalty as Wood teed up fellow sub Ahmet Arslan, but he took an extra touch which invited the contact and it would have been harsh. There was further drama as Victor Campuzano was adjudged to have fouled his defender and was clean through, but the referee decided it was a foul; swap that with the Stama penalty appeal and you have two very similar situations.
It’s a goal!
The last home game of the season
Lo lo lo! Rubbish collection.
Applause for the fans
That was enough for one night, and the referee brought the game to a close. There was no big celebration after the game to mark the final home game, there was a quick walk around by some of the players to acknowledge the crowd and then some signatures. Joe Lolley was doing his warm-down all by himself until the Jets subs joined him; he was very available for selfies and signatures afterwards, suggesting that it could be his final appearance for Sydney FC here tonight. What a shame if it is!
We filtered out into the night, u-turning to go for a quick drink when we saw the queue to get out of the car park, and were back in the north west suburbs of our fair city around 11.30pm, exhausted but happy after a positive football day and a real chance at getting something in Newcastle on Saturday.
I urge everyone who can get up to McDonald Jones Stadium next weekend to do so. The lack of trains is poorly timed, but there are buses being laid on by Sydney FC – I’m sure they’re not free. It will be a big rush after a 3pm kick off to get there in time for kick off and in time to get a car spot, but we’re in. See you next Saturday for the biggest game of the season at what will surely be a full-house in Newcastle, and if the scintillating form of Wataru Kamijo and Paul Okon-Engstler continues, we’re in with a huge shot. Forza Sydney FC!
I wish I got a better photo of this. There’s some sort of metaphor, allegory or something in here. You can almost hear the police officer saying “You went to watch this shit?” while pointing at the Football Australia sign.
Super Saturday is back again! Last week we had a feast of football as Auckland FC and Sydney FC both squeezed into the semi-final stage, and we now have guaranteed excitement over two weekends as the A-League’s best team looks to wrap up their swashbuckling season in style. Do the Jets have what it takes up against a resilient, unbeaten Patrick Kisnorbo side who last lost in March in the corresponding fixture at Allianz Stadium on the eve of his appointment? Centre stage will first be taken by Auckland FC v Adelaide United, the Reds having forced their opponents to walk the tightrope of the elimination final that they only just survived. Two rocking stadiums for the second legs may prove the difference, but these first-leg ties could write a different script for next weekend.
Get amongst it! Saturday is football day.
We hope you’re enjoying The Roar’s A-League tips and predictions, here at its temporary home. Everyone is welcome here, and you can all comment and judge the tipsters’ selections as The Crowd increases its healthy margin of victory in the final few games of the 2025/26 season.
Eli Adams looking for another medal this season Photo : Texi Smith
Stuart Thomas
Auckland, Newcastle
And so we reach the most competitive fortnight of the A-League finals. The two legged semi-finals that promise to bring plenty of action. At home, Auckland will take a one goal advantage away from the first leg and head to Adelaide, that will be a perfect set-up for the second match.
Sydney have gotten better throughout the course of the season and are currently proving very difficult to beat. The Jets have the weapons to do so and will take a lead back to Newcastle in the hope of sealing a spot in the decider next weekend.
Craig Goodwin a late bolter for a Socceroos spot in North America? Photo : Texi Smith
Andrew Prentice
Auckland, Draw.
Sometimes the week off is a momentum-killer. Sometimes, it’s a godsend for a battered or tired squad. For Luka Jovanovic, it gave him an extra week to think about when it is appropriate to disrobe in ecstasy, which is not a couple of minutes after you receive a yellow card. Get a room, Luka! The striker’s absence in the first leg in Auckland swings the momentum ever so slightly towards the home side, who survived an epic against City last week at the same venue. The Black Knights will be keen to prove the point that THEY should have been the team coming second by getting the jump on Adelaide, though I think they’ll only be a one goal margin for them to take to Adelaide next weekend.
Saturday night’s game at the SFS pits the best attack in the league against the best defence. Sydney have looked resolute under Patrick Kisnorbo and were able to withstand the Victory attack last week and snatch a late winner through Patrick Wood. Whether they try the same smash-and-grab tactics at home against the Jets might well depend on Joe Lolley. An unused sub last week, you’d have to think that at some point in this first leg he’ll see game time. No lead is safe against Newcastle, who have made a habit of comebacks to go with their scoring prowess. I fancy Mark Milligan’s side will go for the win and settle for the draw, ensuring the second leg encounter will have everything to play for.
Sydney FC fans shocked at getting through their big blue test Photo : Texi Smith
Texi Smith
Adelaide, Sydney
Auckland FC don’t look like the dominant force they once were. It’s as though the Corica effect is wearing off, much in the same way it did when he took over Graham Arnold’s super Sydney FC. They scraped through to the semi-finals after looking nailed-on for most of the season, surviving a penalty shoot-out against a valiant Melbourne City side here last weekend. They owe their semi-final opponents a dig in the ribs after the Reds sent them into that elimination final, and they set about dismantling their South Australian visitors from the opening whistle. Once again, the home team struggle to convert their possession into goals, Sam Cosgrove a non-playing character for most of the game, and as the contest enters the last fifteen minutes, there is genuine concern at the lack of goal action in Joshua Smits’ six-yard box. That anxiety creeps into the players and a crunching tackle by Ryan White catches the usually reliable Jake Girwood-Reich in possession and the ball rolls to substitute Craig Goodwin to sweep the ball home for a stunning upset in the first leg.
The elder statesman imparts his knowledge of Sydney FC to the Jets’ players Photo : Texi Smith
So, which idiot backed Sydney FC to get the win last week? PK will set his side up to grind out a result in the first leg of the semi-final at Allianz Stadium against the all-conquering Newcastle Jets. A meagre crowd at Moore Park will urge their team forward, but the brakes will definitely be on, possession valued more than penetration. It makes for an uneasy watch, Sydney thinking they know how to play out from the back, the Jets sniffing around for mistakes, and when Kosta Grozos fires home at the end of the first half, the tie looks to be going only one way. Sydney FC take off their civilian clothes and don their capes in an incredible second-half turnaround, a scintillating performance of attacking football bringing them level on the hour, and the Jets are completely helpless as Joe Lolley is thrown on for the final twenty minutes to play the ultimate decoy man, allowing Apostolos Stamatelopoulos to fire home a winner against his old club as the clock ticks towards the 90. An incredible save by Harrison Devenish-Meares preserves that slender lead, Eli Adams already wheeling away in celebration as the Sydney keeper tips a shot around the post in front of the visiting fans. It’s all set up for a thrilling second leg in Newy!
Look at that tipping ladder. The Crowd strides away to victory in first place, needing just one tip to secure the title, but the tipsters are locked together at this late stage of the season. Anything can happen, especially with those selections :
Again it’s only three clicks to register your tips for The Crowd. Make sure you help this year’s winners increase their lead over the hapless also-rans behind…
The Roar has been off air for months now. Is it safe to say it’s not coming back? What on earth could they be fighting over in court? Let’s finish the season with a flourish and fool ourselves into thinking we’re back on our favourite sports website with a comments bonanza. Unleash below…
The reward for making the top two of the A-League ladder is a week off, but that can be a poisoned chalice; any momentum built up is gone, although the extra seven days can help get players fit from their end of season fatigue and injuries. This Saturday sees two juicy games on the agenda, with out-of-form Auckland FC first up against Melbourne City, whose stellar run to the finals was finally blunted by Adelaide. Then the glamour Saturday night Big Blue at AAMI Park between old foes Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC takes centre-stage, the home team surely favourites to advance to the two-legged semi-finals next week.
Cancel all plans for Saturday.
The Roar’s A-League tips and predictions continues at its temporary home. We love to see you here, and we do notice that people still visit from The Roar after all this time! Keep reading to see what your genial tipsters tipped for the elimination finals – looks like at least one tipster has gone for broke, and the boxing gloves are on at Tips & Predictions HQ!
Wesley counting the empty seats at Wanderers’ final home game Photo : Texi Smith
Stuart Thomas
Auckland, Victory
It promises to be an outstanding weekend of Elimination Finals in the A-League and the crashing and burning taking place at the top of the tipping ladder has me in stitches. Prentice should stick to wrestling and Smith has too much Sky Blue in his head. Here are the winners this weekend.
Auckland have been good all season and should confirm their credentials with a win against City on Saturday afternoon. The visitors have had little luck with injury this season, yet the home side will be better for longer and get the win to advance to the final four.
Victory have been an improving beast late in the season and a win will have them close to another decider. I think they beat Sydney FC in what will certainly be a fiery and classic encounter. Red cards, streakers, fights in the bleachers and a heavy police presence all assured.
Alex Robinson ending the season with a clean sheet Photo : Texi Smith
Andrew Prentice
Auckland, Victory
The Black Knights will take to Mount Smart in a filthy mood, having safely nestled in the top two until literally the last seconds of the regular season. They’ll want to take that frustration out on a City side who inexplicably collapsed in injury time last week to let Adelaide sneak into second spot after a 97th minute winner from Luka Jovanovic (who then did the maddest, dumbest thing ever to get himself red-carded – the goalkeepers’ union is taking out an injunction as they feel they’ve cornered the madness market). ANYWAY, Auckland to win here backed by a big home crowd and the attacking prowess of any number of options from May to Cosgrove (if fit).
An Elimination final Big Blue, a coach returning to the place he walked out of, the possible return of two very big names… if you like your play-off games with added spice then this one is the vindaloo of matches. While Patrick Kisnorbo has steadied a Sky Blue ship that was listing badly, they still haven’t look world-beaters as they scrapped and clawed their way to narrow, obstinate wins and draws. Rumours of a Joe Lolley return might lift that stock considerably but you’d hardly expect him to be fit for a full game. Juan Mata on the other hand (or elbow) is poised to return as the game conductor for the Victory. A crowd fired up by Evangeline the violinist should back the home side to a result fitting its name.
Tim Payne of Wellington Phoenix – not in the finals Photo : Texi Smith
Texi Smith
Auckland, Sydney
Following their last-gasp equaliser in Sydney, and the denial of a VAR check on the final whistle, Auckland FC may feel aggrieved to have dropped out of the top two in the last round after dominating and then pursuing the Jets all the way this season. Melbourne City fluffed their lines late on against Adelaide United to finish in sixth, and that was a reality check ahead of the finals series. Roared on by a raucous home crowd at Mount Smart, Auckland set about dismantling their opponents with a display from the top drawer, Jesse Randall making a nuisance of himself from the opening minute. Their one-goal lead at half-time is scant reward for their dominance. City strike unexpectedly on the hour as Medin Mehmeti scores with his first touch after coming on as a sub, the Port watches on anxiously until a winner finally arrives from hit-man Guillermo May for the slenderest of wins for the home team.
Clarismario Santos showing a cool head to score at CommBank Stadium Photo : Texi Smith
Only a total fool would back Sydney FC at AAMI Park to get the job done. They have now proven under Patrick Kisnorbo that the same issues persist – a lack of a proven goalscorer, an absence of offensive thinking when in possession going forward, and players that are simply not up to the task. Melbourne Victory’s smash-and-grab win at Western Sydney Wanderers may though be a false positive – they were lacking ideas in that game and will struggle to compete against the dynamic midfield duo of Wataru Kamijo and Paul Okon-Engstler as the home crowd grows restless. A performance for the ages from captain Rhyan Grant sees him pop up all over the field, and he’s there to nod a deep corner back in for Jordan Courtney-Perkins to head home and send the Sydney FC fans into raptures. It’s all about defence from then on, Clarismario Santos shackled by Alexandar Popovic, and Harrison Devenish-Meares in Socceroos form. A single goal wins it, and Victory are cursing that their finals series is over before it really began.
All change in the tipping ladder. While The Crowd can still be caught in theory, it’s a light jog to the finsh line, while the also-rans jostle for position behind. Thomas and Prentice neck and neck, with Smith still in the hunt. Ooh it’s exciting :
Three clicks to register your tips for The Crowd. Click one, click two and submit. Don’t leave without putting your tips in…
The Roar is unlikely to be coming back. We have to get used to it, and we have to get past it. But we can pretend we’re still there by cooking up a comments frenzy ahead of Saturday’s two blockbuster fixtures; who knows we may be back next season if that’s what the public wants!
A late equaliser from Guillermo May saw Sydney FC throw away a home final after Alexandar Popovic had struck what looked like the winner, the result and performance a perfect allegory for the Sky Blues’ faltering season. A goalless first half didn’t inspire, but once the teams were shooting towards their own fans, Ben Garuccio’s opener was certainly coming. What we didn’t foresee was Patrick Kisnorbo’s air-tight defence breached so soon when May was left all alone at the back post to head home, and the action was building up to its dramatic end that saw any chance of a home finals match evaporate. Luckily we had chosen to upgrade our tickets to the Sydney Arms; the pain was eased by free-flowing Stone and Wood for three hours.
Easy journey
Busy on the light rail
This is not an artist’s impression
Dominating the skyline
Wait, people queue to get in?
Exclusive signing opportunity
What seemed like an awkward time for a game turned out to be perfect timing, the 11am kick off for West Ryde Rovers Over 40 Women Division 2 giving us a window to make the journey from the north west suburbs in time for gates opening, something that we haven’t experienced for years. Our usual gate had a long line waiting to get in, and our gate for today around the back was awash with half-time heroes and their families trying to work out where they were meant to go. We had treated ourselves to a membership upgrade to celebrate the conclusion of our birthday month, the new concept of The Sydney Arms giving us an opportunity to get loose while watching from a padded half-way line seat on the sunny side of the stadium.
Long line to see the Sky Blues
A summary of what we were about to see
Picture perfect day at the SFS
More queues
Shirts of yesteryear
Feeling posh
The warm-ups were happening on the field, but the real warm-up was happening on level 2 as we took full advantage of the beers, burgers and pies before heading out to see the Anzac Day ceremony. That was very well done, the two national anthems of New Zealand and Australia warmly applauded at the conclusion. Ducking back for one more frothy brew, it was time to settle in for the first half, Sydney missing their striker Apostolos Stamatelopoulos, sitting in the stands alongside us, and employing Ahmet Arslan as the central marksman, perhaps sending mixed messages to Victor Campuzano and Paddy Wood on the bench.
We got to see the frustrating side of Al Hassan Toure early in the game, setting off on his runs too early, but he almost caught out Auckland goalkeeper Michael Woud who came out of his box and thought twice about picking up the ball. Garuccio on the other side was having a barnstorming start to the game, and that culminated in a weaving bulldozing run through the visitors’ defence that saw his fierce shot ping off the corner of post and crossbar, Tiago Quintal unable to find a way to goal from the rebound. There were meaty challenges, Wataru Kamijo and Piero Quispe on the receiving end, but the referee kept play going as much as possible. There was also a penalty appeal, the crowd adamant that Quintal had been brought down until the replay showed he had fabricated contact and ‘play on’ was the right decision. Harrison Devenish-Meares was almost caught with the ball right in front of goal as Sydney laboured to play the ball out from the back, but the defence looked solid, Popovic and Jordan Courtney-Perkins winning everything in the air.
Fair enough, just like a pub
Anzac Day celebrations
Pomp and ceremony
Action from up high
Far out – they have cup-holders!
Different view of the Cove
Beaming in the sunshine
The score at the break was unsurprising, the excellent Paul Okon-Engstler having gone close with a low shot, but Sydney FC were blunt in attack, Stamatelopoulos retreating with his family from the beaming sun into the cool dark ‘pub’ to enjoy some half-time food and entertainment. It was tough going in the sun, but it was soon to go behind the opposite stand and we’d have a perfect view of the second half. The toddler race grand final was a close affair, and after collecting yet another cloudy beer from inside, I took my spot for the second half, one of only a handful of people to make it back to my seat to see the start of the second half; it’s a common sight at high-profile games, the swathe of empty seats while the occupants take advantage of the unlimited food and beverage – I don’t think I belong here.
Half time entertainment
Toddlers, are you ready?
At the going down of the sun…
Typical scene after half-time in the posh seats
Draught excluder
Uh oh, couldn’t have done that if you tried
The game was soon to come to life, HDM plucking a corner out of the air right in front of goal. Now that Piero Quispe was on our side we could see exactly what was happening. Maybe it’s an instruction from PK, maybe it’s the players deciding to do it themselves, but nobody passes to Quispe. He was often the obvious ball, and the player in possession would turn and go the other way. When he did receive a ball after heading back inside to find a touch, he strode forward and brought a good save from Woud, the rebound just out of reach of Arslan. Toure flashed a ball in front of Arslan soon after, having picked up a loose ball out wide. The goal was coming, and when it did it was Quispe with the shimmy on the edge of the area before off-loading to Garuccio. The in-form defender shaped to shoot with his left before turning inside and slotting a low shot into the net before racing into the corner as the crowd rose as one. We thought it had taken a deflection, such was the non-reaction from goalkeeper Woud, but on replay it seemed to just deceive everyone.
Wood for Quintal was an odd move, the young winger having offered so much more than the insipid Toure, and he hadn’t been on the field for five seconds when Auckland equalised – a long throw saw the Sydney defence completely switch off, the marking non-existent as Auckland players were allowed to move untracked, Popovic was forced to abandon his man and May was left in acres of space to head the ball home. What a horrible way to concede. Akol Akon and Campuzano were brought on, the utterly uninspiring Toure and the hard-working but ineffectual Arslan making way. Frustratingly Akon would be unwilling to take on his man, choosing to go back to Rhyan Grant instead – we know what he can do, he just has to take the risk.
Courtney-Perkins had a good header flash by the near post, the game was opening up now with the visitors breaking at speed. Quispe caught Auckland napping with a quick corner that almost paid dividends, and it was his corner soon after, flicked on by Campuzano, that found Popovic stealing in behind, and he prodded the ball into the roof of the net before wheeling away in celebration. Fantastic! Surely Sydney had got the win they needed and thoughts turned to getting further late goals to lift us up into second spot. Instead it was Auckland who attacked, Sam Cosgrove a millimetre away from connecting at the far post, and while Akon did wow the crowd with a sweet turn and cross at the other end, it was no shock when the visitors struck. Again it was horrible defending in the box, the unmarked player at the far post lifting the ball back in for May to power in a header unchallenged. The Auckland fans went crazy behind HDM’s goal. There was still time, but the game could go either way, the excellent Kamijo firing over with a hopeful effort, before one of the game’s stupider moments as Paddy Wood kicked the ball out of Woud’s control as the Auckland keeper went to kick the ball upfield – that’s been outlawed for so long, every single fan in the stadium was asking why, Patrick, why?
The game ended with the Auckland players surrounding the referee – it looked like captain Grant had handled in the area – it was on our side – as he went in for a tussle just before the final whistle; now what are the rules in that scenario? Can play be brought back for VAR even if the final whistle has sounded? The boos echoed around the stadium, there was little love between the players and the fans, the home support having endured so much disappointment in a lacklustre season that has somehow still yielded a finals berth.
The action heats up
Michelle makes an Olympian friend
See you next year?
Akol Akon, already a fan favourite
There was time for a final beer as the party moved back indoors, the blackout curtains allowing us to forget that there had even been a game on, and a strange re-run of a Man Utd v Forest EPL game on the big screens. We were ushered out onto the stadium precinct, and headed off to the Dove and Olive on the light rail to take in the final game of the A-League season to see who we’d play next week.
As partygoers headed off, we took the train back to our local area, enjoying one last beer in the two local pubs before finally getting back home around midnight. A huge day, thankfully no boozy plans made to head to next Saturday’s Big Blue elimination final, and a fitting way to probably farewell the 2025/26 season as a Sydney FC member, barring a miracle. The Sydney Arms? Well that was kinda fun. An evening game would have worked better, having the sun in our eyes in the first half was a real shit, but the concept was good, the food was splendid and the execution very professional. The mood was very upbeat despite the final score, and the sprinkling of familiar faces in the throng gave it quite a celebratory feel. Would I go again? I think I would, maybe once a season, but it was certainly a diversion from the football experience and I’m definitely more at home in Cove Heights amongst the atmosphere without the lure of unlimited food and drinks.
If this is the last home game of the season, thanks for being part of 2025/26 and reading along. It hasn’t been smooth sailing this season in the men’s or women’s competitions, but we’ll be back for more when the new season rolls around again in October. Bring. It. On!
How typical that Newcastle Jets got to celebrate their A-League premiership plate on a day when they didn’t play, and how their arch-rivals the Central Coast Mariners must feel having handed them the title and then following it up by joining in the celebrations this weekend at McDonald Jones Stadium in the F3 derby. The top six is decided, but the Asian Champions League spot(s) are not, nor is the configuration of the upcoming finals. This is where the excitement comes for the final round, so get amongst it and get along to an A-League game this weekend.
Thank you for stopping by at The Roar’s A-League tips and predictions at its temporary home. Always a pleasure to have you here! The Crowd will soon be crowned as the rightful winners of the tipping competition, and it is thanks to you that the expert tipsters have been floundering behind. Keep reading to see what they think after weighing up this final round of the regular season.
Let the good times roll for the 2026 Premiers Photo : Texi Smith
It is something of a dud of a final round of tipping for the current season, with the top six decided and just positions to fight for at the top of the ladder.
Macarthur and Wellington are out and the Bulls will at least end the campaign on the right note. The Jets are focused, whilst the Mariners are ready for a trip away. The result seems certain in the Hunter. Melbourne Victory could finish as high as third and must beat the Wanderers well to do so. They will.
Perth Glory and Brisbane means nothing, and let’s face it, both have been a little disappointing after promising more earlier in the season. Perth to end things well and start yet another reboot to their roster. Sydney FC and Auckland is the blockbuster and the home side will win but not do enough to move past the visitors.
The final match of the round is the pick of the bunch in my view. City could fall to as low as sixth and the Reds can jump to second with a win and if things play out well for them. The visitors with three points and the Auckland v Sydney match to decide second as a result.
When was the last time we saw this many fans in the home end in Gosford? Photo : Texi Smith
Andrew Prentice
Wellington, Newcastle, Victory, Perth, Sydney, City
Given the way the table was shaping just a few weeks ago, it’s a letdown that the main issues are resolved before the last round starts (a bit like skipping the post-coital cigarette in a noir film). There are however, some significant issues to settle within the top six. None of them will be on show in the Friday night dead rubber at Campbelltown, where the home team will be rueing a form dip some weeks back that resembled the Young Ones bus going over the cliff in the last episode. Wellington have looked a different side since their coaching change and should beat the dispirited home team.
Once again, the TV powers-that-be have reamed proper football fans by not having this match in the prime slot. Sure, there’s nothing to play for, but it’s an F3 derby and a chance for the Jets to celebrate a historic Premiers Plate triumph. They have looked a team under pressure in recent weeks and maybe with the pressure valve relieved (courtesy of their opponents on Saturday), they’ll return to their swashbuckling best. The Mariners won’t be whipping boys though. With everything the club overcomes, they are never to be written off. The Jets in a party.
Instead, the horrendous Wanderers get their umpteenth prime time slot for the visit of the Victory, who could rise as high as 4th (with a lucrative home final as reward) if they beat the wooden spooners as expected. It’s no lie to say the A League needs a healthy, well-supported Wanderers, who so lit up the league over a decade ago that it seemed nothing would stand in the way of them becoming a mighty force. Perhaps the preparations for a revival have begun, but I can’t see it being enough to upset Victory on Saturday.
Perth are unbeaten in four. The Roar are winless in twelve. There’s nothing to suggest either of these streaks will change, except for the glimmer of Brisbane hope that their last win was at this venue against the Glory in January. Josh Risdon hangs ’em up after a stellar career – this should be motivation enough for a Perth win.
In a perfect world, THIS would be the game of the round, but Allianz Stadium hosts the traditional ANZAC Day NRL match on Saturday afternoon, so Sydney-Auckland is a Sunday game on a surface that will have been chewed up by rugby league less than 24 hours previously. Given the way Patrick Kisnorbo has set up the Sky Blues, this could suit them. Auckland blew a chance at the top spot with a loss to the Mariners and it might be a wholly unsatisfying homecoming for former FC coach Steve Corica. Another loss will see them tumble from a coveted top two position if Sydney win by 3 goals (or if Sydney and Adelaide both win) The 3 goals seems unlikely given a paucity of Sky Blue goals of late, but a win is on the cards for the home side.
That result would give Adelaide a boost before they take on City in the last game of the round. However, the reigning champions have found their form and will be looking to secure a home final after looking more likely to secure an ignominious lower table spot not long ago. Marcus Younis has become the most sought-after asset in A League fantasy teams in the last month, scoring for fun and running amok against opposition defences. Defence hasn’t been the Reds foundation stone this season and it might be the difference between the two sides as the curtain comes down on the home and away rounds.
Getting his hand on the Premiers plate, Clayton Taylor of the Newcastle Jets. Photo : Texi Smith
Texi Smith
Macarthur, Newcastle, Western Sydney, Perth, Sydney, City
What an underwhelming way to start the final round; the spectre of the Darwin play-off roulette is no longer a thing, finishing 7th or 9th makes absolutely no difference and we were just fortunate this season that the wooden spoon and finals spots took so long to be decided. Macarthur could and should have got something in Adelaide last week, while Wellington Phoenix confirmed Wanderers’ unwanted prize in Christchurch. Without the suspended Alex Rufer, Wellington are all at sea in the first half in Campbelltown here, in front of a meagre crowd, Anthony Caceres with an early goal. When Phoenix are reduced to ten on the hour, there is only one winner, Harry Sawyer’s towering header in the dying stages putting some gloss on a tough watch in Sydney’s South West. The season is over for both of these teams and all the early-season promise never really looked like lasting the distance.
Denied the joy of winning the premiership on a game day, Newcastle Jets entertain Central Coast Mariners for a party at McDonald Jones Stadium. The Mariners did the job in Auckland, could they do it again against their old foes and neighbours and spoil the celebrations for the Asian Champions League elect. With finals football coming up, Newcastle will be keen to go into their enforced break with a win, and to extend their lead at the top to make it look like they did it easy. That first goal against Victory was how far offside in the build-up? An expectant home crowd grows impatient as the Mariners continually catch the Jets on the break, the game remaining goalless at half time but with plenty of action. The Mariners pour forward as the gaps start to appear, but it’s that man Ben Gibson who finds himself all alone in the box and fires home under Andrew Redmayne for the winning goal. Cue the celebrations.
Anzac Day at CommBank Stadium, Melbourne Victory are the only ones tonight who are up for the battle. Hosts Western Sydney Wanderers are a club in total disarray, as demonstrated by their fan forum earlier in the week, and the players have done nothing to suggest that things will change between now and next season. Ryan Fraser must be wondering what he walked into in Parramatta, scoring valuable goals early on and making it all look easy, but watching as it all crumbled around him in a team that is not even bang average. Tonight’s visitors have it all to play for in the quest for a home elimination final, but it somehow all goes wrong and Wanderers come up with one of those unlikely results as Bozhidar Kraev scores twice in the first half. The second half is as exciting a game as Wanderers have been part of this season, Victory drawing level late on only for Brandon Borrello to poke in the winner with the last kick of the game. A-League, eh?
Ben Gibson set to lift the plate in front of the Mariners. Photo : Texi Smith
Perth Glory take on Brisbane Roar at HBF Park on Saturday night. The early-season promise from the Roar gave way to a non-stop slide down the ladder, while Perth Glory took a while to get started, had us entertained for a brief period around Christmas and then fell away badly in the latter stages. A club that has such passionate fans, boasts a quality attack and has a maverick head coach deserves more and for long periods of this game, they look the goods without delivering anything resembling a shot on goal. That all changes when Seb Despotovski shows great skill on the edge of the box to tee up Jaiden Kucharski for a tap in. Brisbane go on the attack, giving this a real knock-out feel, but when they waste their golden chance from the penalty spot, Perth go on to score twice more to seal the game in the dying stages. A great advert for A-League football, the perfect scoreline to attract fans back next year, and Brisbane play the role of fall guy to perfection.
The equation is simple at Allianz Stadium. A Sydney win will guarantee them a home elimination final. Anything else after that is an absolute bonus. The Anzac Day pomp and ceremony is a distraction as the players are forced off the field early in their warm-ups. Auckland FC are a wounded animal, ready to fight to the death to secure that second-place finish now that the premiership is out of reach. Their capitulation against the Central Coast Mariners was surprising and the buzz surrounding the club following their win in Newcastle in March has now completely disappeared. Sydney FC are yet to deliver the football that their attacking talent suggests, and their position in the A-League ladder has felt completely false all season. Time to deliver. Apostolos Stamatelopoulos scores in the opening minutes, Piero Quispe bamboozles his defender to fire in a second, and Sydney are looking on course for second spot. A wobble after half-time is nipped in the bud with some astute substitutions, and further goals from Paddy Wood and Jordan Courtney-Perkins send Steve Corica on his way with the label of one-season wonders firmly planted on their backs.
Saving the best til last, Melbourne City entertain Adelaide United in a shoot-out for a home elimination final. Four wins on the bounce for the home team and a two-month unbeaten run for the visitors suggests a world of entertainment for the AAMI Park crowd today, and they are treated to a fast, open game of exciting football to bring the regular season to a close. Ryan White has been a sensation for United, and it’s his tackle that sees the ball pop out to Yaya Dukuly to thrash home the opening goal on the half-hour. Aziz Behich squares things up just before half-time and City step up the pace in the second half, Zane Schrieber with a curling shot to take the lead, and Andreas Kuen with a marauding third. There’s time for Marcus Younis to further embellish his reputation with a fourth as Adelaide go all out. A breathtaking, swashbuckling end to the A-League season as City overtake the Reds and tee up a replay of this very game next week back at Melbourne’s premier rectangular stadium.
Look at the tipping scoreboard – it’s all change behind the leaders. The Crowd’s lead is safe, and with only a round’s worth of games in the finals, the people’s voice surely wins again. Let’s see who’s the best of the rest though :
Hoy your tips in the google doc below. Click, click, click, click, boom! Five seconds it’ll take you and your job is done. Don’t skip over this without doing it, right?
The comments section is slowly beginning to feel like The Roar used to be. Feel free to pop your tips and score predictions below where they will be ripped apart and scoffed at by your peers. Fire away…
For the third straight game of Patrick Kisnorbo’s tenure, Sydney FC shut out their opposition, but again couldn’t find a way through to get the all-important winner to cement the top-three finish. Captain Rhyan Grant was deemed fortunate not to receive a red card for a rash challenge as the first half wound down, that moment igniting a game that didn’t seem to be going anywhere. The second half was fun, there were opportunities for both teams, but the application was woeful and the crowd left Allianz Stadium still convinced that Sydney FC’s position in the A-League ladder is totally false. The highlight of the evening was Jaiden Kucharski’s warm reception and the hugs he received from his former teammates, a lovely way to spread warmth as winter starts to kick in.
Defacing your own car park, minus three points.
Box Office Sky Blues
The DJ playing to no one
Aren’t the Bunnies here too now
The call-up that no one wanted
Still selling tickets last minute
This time of year is tricky when it comes to getting to games on time, and with the West Ryde Rovers Over 45 division 5 game ending just before five and having to swing back to Sydney Royals HQ for my queen, we didn’t set off until after 6pm. Any pregame plans were already out of the window, so we took the road of least resistance to the Entertainment Quarter car park, the lack of cars in the official stadium grass car park telling us that we might not get a big crowd tonight. We were in the stadium quite early, around 7pm; that’s early for us, but the stadium precinct was busy and the concourse was filled with people once we scanned through the gate. Taking our seats, there was an interview happening in the stands, as usual the muffled PA system not allowing us to understand anything that was being said.
A lap of honour with no context
Busy field for warm-ups
Get your sports socks, three pairs for a fiver
Flag-bearers left waiting
Mood lighting gets us excited
The flag bearers were in place, the guard of honour was ready, the lights dimmed, it was already five minutes past kick off time and it was getting a little chilly now after a beautiful autumnal day in Sydney. We were caught out by the starting line-ups, expecting the starting eleven to be read out first, so the announcement of Gus Hoefsloot in goal, Joel King starting, Akol Akon in there, we were a little confused. It was only when the announcer moved onto the starting line-up that we realised that they’d done it backwards, something of an April’s Fool; it had us perplexed for a moment at least. The emergence of the players from the tunnel was different. There was no drowning music. The Cove led us with We Are Sydney. This was what proper football atmosphere was all about. A young boy with a police officer did the toin coss, with no context to tell us what it was all about, and a quick google search found that it was a survivor of the Bondi shooting who was being treated to a night at the football, a lovely touch. They got the toss right, Sydney shooting away from the Cove in the first half, hoping to come home strong in the second half.
Action at the wrong end
Extra pumped up for this one
Sydney aggro
The opening moves of the first half saw a back-heel from Nicholas Pennington wrong-foot three Sydney defenders as Perth came looking for weaknesses. The surface seemed slippery, and indeed was a little chopped up in the corner of the field; there was a lot more interest than usual from the media, the bank of photographers much bigger than we’d usually see. The Cove was bouncing, our fearless capo high on life and our drummer extraordinaire giving the quickest SFC drumroll ever – there was almost smoke coming from the drum. We were encouraged to see Wataru Kamijo starting again, and there was no sign of Victor Campuzano, Piero Quispe making another start. Quispe gave us a trick that left his opponent on the floor, his skill is undeniable, his decision-making not so. Al Hassan Toure raced through up the other end but seemed to take an age to fire in the shot which was pushed away by Sam Sutton. Alex Popovic put the ball over the bar from close range from the corner, and all of a sudden, Sydney looked like they were going to over run their lowly visitors.
But it wasn’t to be, and we held our breath every time Kucharski got the ball. His free kick from a long way out was way over, but he was mightily close just before half time with a searing shot that whistled past the post. It would be poetic if he scored tonight, and no one would begrudge him. A moment of madness looked to have changed the game as half-time approached, a stray ball leaving Rhyan Grant no option but to commit to the tackle. He did so with the crunch of a captain, but his raised feet didn’t look good on the replay after an all-in ensued, the local referee standing back to admire the melee before consulting with his assistant and issuing a pair of yellow cards. We feared the worst on seeing the replay, the feet were over the ball, but VAR didn’t see it as reckless and we escaped the red card. Goalless at half-time, and time for a walk around Allianz Stadium to see who was in the away end, and to grab something to eat, a dinner of champions of sushi and hot chips to go with my bottle of water. The queue at the club shop was baffling, kick off looming for the second half and a long line of people trying to get in to take advantage of the end of season sell-off.
A shirt that represents poor decisions
Would rather queue than watch the game
Apostolos Stamatelopoulos had two goes at scoring as the second half started with a bang, Quispe eventually firing over in front of the Cove, looking disgusted with himself. Toure was doing his usual waving of his arms every time he didn’t get the pass, like a spoilt kid who strops when things don’t go his way. Paul Okon Engstler was flattened but got up to test Sutton with a long range effort. The introduction of Adam Taggart spelled danger for Sydney, and when he was involved in a move up the far end, the ball squirmed out to Charbel Shamoon, he had to score but fluffed his lines and the ball was hit straight at Harrison Devenish-Meares. What a let off!
When Toure was eventually substituted, he was asked to go off on the far side, but ignored the referee, trotting past him to head straight to the bench. If he could have taken the ball with him, he would have. Popovic played an absolutely shocking ball out from the back and even Okon Jr was guilty of playing some careless passes, one in particular allowing a shot from the edge of the area that sailed over when it could have been a killer blow. The watching Socceroos coach in the stands might have already gone by now. The introduction of Tiago Quintal and Akol Akon had no effect whatsoever, Perth slowing the game down at the right time and frustrating the suffering fans. Quintal did look lively though and seemed to be the one player who could prise open the Perth defence, Akon wasn’t interested in taking on his player at all and kept heading back to Grant, although he did run all the way across the field looking for a shooting opportunity at one point, unable to find the space he needed. Playing out from the back was perilous for Sydney, and the attack was missing the final pass altogether. It was a little bit Corica, a little bit Talay, the pendulum from left to right and back again fools no one. Quintal cracked in a shot with time running out, but Sydney frustrated their fans to the nth degree, playing keep ball and running out of time to get a killer cross in for one last chance. There were boos at the end. Not surprising, but in reality this had been poor from both teams, good chances wasted by Perth and just a lack of cutting edge as always from the Sky Blues.
Game over
A big hug for Jaiden
Who are these people?
Kucharski got the chant when he came to the Cove to applaud the fans. His embrace with HDM was heart-warming, the best moment of the night. The fans drifted away, not taking anything of note from the game whatsoever, and looking down at the fans on the fence as we left, it was difficult to see why they were waiting. The Sydney players had all gone, the Perth players all still chatting with their twenty or thirty fans at the far end, and there were just a load of randoms on the field. Time to go.
The car park at the entertainment quarter does take a bit of time to get moving, despite parking next to the ramp, but we were out of there and on the road back to the North West suburbs of our beautiful city before long, landing back around 11pm but too tired to take any more disappointment from the English Premier League. This had been an enjoyable night to cap off another football-filled day, despite the goalless game. There was plenty of incident, a card that may have been the wrong colour, love for a former player and it’s hard not to have a soft spot for Perth Glory and their maverick coach. We move on now, a vital Anzac Day fixture with former premiers Auckland FC, who have gone completely off the boil and a three-goal win could see us snatch an unlikely second spot. Or, we could end up in sixth. Anything can happen! You’d better be there just in case!
For a league that has been so close all season, by the end of round 25 everything could be decided – Newcastle Jets the premiers, the top six all done and the Wanderers stirring their cauldron with the wooden spoon. Let’s hope it doesn’t get to that; without the Australia Cup play-offs as a disincentive for the bottom four teams, there is very little to make the final round exciting for the also-rans.
Thankfully this is the A-League, the most unpredictable, unforgiving, daft football league in the world, and all manner of weird and unexpected results can happen. Macarthur FC for the championship? Perth Glory to finish last? Sydney FC to end up in sixth? It looks so unlikely, but any one of those is still mathematically possible.
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Paulo Retre of Wellington Phoenix in that lovely training top Photo : Texi Smith
Stuart Thomas
Victory, Wellington, City, Sydney, Auckland, Adelaide
Things will tighten at the top when the Vuck beat the Jets on Friday and Auckland beat Central Coast on Sunday. It is going to be a cracking final week of action should Round 25 play out as many are predicting.
The Phoenix are good for all three points against a disgraceful Wanderers that have, like many of the so-called fans that started with the club all those years ago, given up the ghost. Melbourne City with a win on the road against an unconvincing Roar.
Sydney will put six on Perth in the harbour city and remain in third place. The final match of the round sees the Reds on a home deck against Macarthur, who seem to play and not play well, whenever the opposite is expected. The home crowd cheers after 90.
Stefan Colakovski of Perth Glory – is the spoon still in sight? Photo : Texi Smith
Andrew Prentice
Draw, Wellington, City, Sydney FC, Auckland, Adelaide
Newcastle hang on to top spot by their fingernails and face a daunting test on Friday night in Melbourne. Victory looked the most likely to disrupt the top a couple of weeks ago but this A League season doesn’t run on normal, linear lines. A lack of Juan Mata has dented the home side’s creativity but they still have danger men like Vellupillay and Jelacic to torment the Jets out wide. Of course, the leaders have plenty of firepower to respond with and I fancy a score draw to open the round.
Wellington will take advantage of a Wanderers side in next-season-prep mode. Western Sydney’s only motivation now is to avoid a wooden spoon and play for 2027 contracts. They were in the derby last week for the most part but their season-long Achilles heel of a lack of goals held them back again. Wellington have been hard to break down these last few rounds and a clean sheet win looks a good call for the hosts.
City have mustered a late-season defence of their title, and a third-placed finish is still not beyond them. They visit a Roar side who dragged a point out of the fire last week but still can’t seem to put together a cohesive 90 minutes – something they were doing so well in the early rounds. City are looking clinical and while the Roar have the ability to play spoilers, their season ambitions are done and I see City doing enough to win this.
Sydney will be hoping for another Central Coast miracle on Sunday in New Zealand to set up a mouth-watering last round match against Auckland. But first, they need to do the business on Saturday night against the unpredictable Glory. The Sky Blues defence has looked more resolute under interim coach Patrick Kisnorbo and that should be the platform that ensures they put the pressure on Auckland the next day, giving the Glory only the in-flight entertainment on the flight home to look forward to.
If the aforementioned result happens, Steve Corica’s Black Knights will feel the hot craft-beer-smelling breath of Corica’s old team on their necks as they face the Mariners. Conversely, if Sydney slip up, Corica still won’t have the luxury of resting players because Adelaide will also be Mariners fans for 2 hours and ready to pounce. The pressure is on Auckland from all sides but they may just have struck the Mariners at a good time. The little club that could (and has) are all but out of the finals race and the air might have gone out of a dogged last stand. Like many of us around the country, the Mariners tanks may be empty. Auckland to win and stay in the race for top spot.
An Auckland win will dash Adelaide’s hopes of a top two finish but they will have too much on board to fall to the Bulls, who have flattered to deceive. By the time this match happens, Macarthur will probably know they are out of the finals race. They might relax and play expansive, free-flowing football, and the Strait of Hormuz might also become a Club Med destination.
Happier times at CommBank Stadium. Certainly not this season. Photo : Texi Smith
The penultimate round of the A-League season gets underway with a proper blockbuster, a Friday night at AAMI Park, where Newcastle Jets can almost snatch the premiership. They will have to do so against a dogged Melbourne Victory, who dented Auckland FC’s chances last week and seem to have what it takes without Juan Mata to pull the strings. The Jets got out of jail at home to Adelaide last week, thanks to a farcical VAR decision, but they have a depth in their squad that can turn games when the ball is not running their way. Nishan Velupillay’s World Cup hopes are done no harm with a superb performance to lead his team into a half-time lead, but when Clayton Taylor equalises on the hour, it’s all to play for. The Jets pour forward but are caught on the break late in the game when Reno Piscopo pops up at the far post to tap in with the visiting defence all up the other end. It’s going down to the wire!
The chances of Wellington Phoenix making the top six are next to nought, thanks to their disappointing loss in the six-pointer against Melbourne City last weekend. They have as much chance of making the finals as Western Sydney Wanderers have of avoiding the wooden spoon, the derby defeat last week a bitter pill to swallow after creating a host of chances. This the sort of game where the Wanderers pull a crazy result out of the bag; they did it earlier in the season in Campbelltown, and their talented bunch of individuals will finally gel and give the Phoenix a hammering. Hiroshi Ibusuki is back to his best, and Brandon Borrello looks like a fresh-faced newcomer as he torments the Wellington defence with his skill and pace. Three goals is barely enough reward for the battering they hand out; the Talay turnaround has started, next season is when it all comes together.
Brisbane Roar’s horrible run in 2026 has taken them to within one place of the basement, but a couple of draws will see them safe. Melbourne City just need to win one more and they’re in the finals; what an opportunity this is to make next week’s visit of Adelaide United immaterial. City are just purring in the first half here, expecting to score every time they venture forward, but this is the final home game of the season and the home team will be fired up. What a game for the neutral, as City lead 2-1 at the break, but Brisbane do love a draw and they level things up with Henry Hore’s equaliser. Just as the inevitable share of the points looks nailed on, hard-man German Ferreyra swipes away Hore’s legs and Jay O’Shea finishes the job from the spot for a surprise winner. All to play for in the final round!
Angry man Nathaniel Atkinson ready for finals football? Photo : Texi Smith
Somehow sneaking into the glamour Saturday night spot, it’s Perth Glory’s visit to Allianz Stadium to face Sydney FC. The new era is upon us after the Sky Blues weathered the storm to snatch the win in Parramatta last Saturday night, and Patrick Kisnorbo will remind us all that his Sydney team are unbeaten with two clean sheets in his tenure. Two workmanlike performances have steered the ship away from danger when the season looked rocky, and this will be no different, the grit of Wataru Kamijo continuing in midfield in front of a changed back four; the prospect of Jaiden Kucharski scoring against the club that treated him so poorly is not lost on the home fans, so when it comes true with a bullet from the edge of the area, there is applause all round. But Sydney dig deep, and have the scores level at half time through an Apostolos Stamatelopoulos header, and when the terrible twins Paddy Wood and Akol Akon are sent on with ten minutes to go, they cause mayhem, Tiago Quintal and Piero Quispe finishing the job to briefly close the gap on second spot.
Auckland FC have everything to play for; Central Coast Mariners have proven themselves reliable wreckers over the years, and they will be looking to avoid slipping any further down the table following a terrible run of results. The Port will be tearing their hair out watching the first half here, it’s more of the same from last week where they looked sluggish, and the Mariners toy with their insecurity, pressing for the ball constantly and drawing mistakes from the home defence. The half-time team talk from the manager-less home side changes everything and a rejuvenated Auckland go on to score three times in ten minutes midway through the second period, Jesse Randall back amongst the goals to keep the dream alive.
Such a poor performance from Macarthur FC last week in Perth, but having beaten both of the top two teams on the road this season, there’s no reason why they can’t beat Adelaide United at Coopers Stadium on Sunday afternoon. This Adelaide United team is still reeling from seeing a goal chalked off in Newcastle last week and denied a wonder goal by Anselmo by the tightest of margins; they were the better team then and they will be this afternoon as the Dads Army of the Bulls is caught in possession by the fizzing Adelaide midfield and made to pay for their static and uninteresting football. Mitch Duke is a constant threat but he has no support, and when Brody Burkitt is thrown on with twenty minutes remaining, his verve wins the game for the home side, scoring one and setting up the other for Luka Jovanovic as finals football becomes a reality in South Australia.
Look at the tipping scoreboard – what on earth is Smith thinking tipping Wanderers and Brisbane? The Crowd’s lead is surely unassailable, and with your help they should get across the line in first place :
Tip now, you crazy young fools. Click, click, click, click, click click and click and you’re done. What are you waiting for?
Please keep the comments coming. We can see how many people are visiting this article on a weekly basis and it is heart-warming that a lot of you are from The Roar. See you for the final round!
