A League: Round 14 Preview

Preview of round 14 of the A-League this weekend (all times local).
FRIDAY
ADELAIDE UNITED v WELLINGTON PHOENIX at Hindmarsh Stadium, 7.30pm

Head to head: Adelaide 3, Wellington 0, Drawn 1

Last meeting: Adelaide United 3 bt Wellington Phoenix 0 at Hindmarsh Stadium, Rd 3, Aug 2008

TAB Sportsbet: Adelaide $1.55, Draw $3.60, Wellington $6.00

For the first time in New Zealand's sorry history in Australian soccer competitions, the Phoenix present as a legitimate chance of not only making the top four, but doing some damage when they're there.
The addition of Brazilian whiz Fred has been a masterstroke - two starts, two wins. Last time Fred confronted Adelaide, he shredded them in the 2007 grand final with Melbourne.
The Reds managed a goal at the death last week to nick a point from Newcastle and stay second. Adelaide's Cassio returns to an extended squad from injury.
The Phoenix have Karl Dodd available after suspension, though Andrew Durante will surely stay in central defence after starring in the win over Melbourne last weekend.
Intriguing clash with high stakes - a top four berth for the Phoenix and possible top spot for the Reds with a win.

Key: Phoenix's A-League top scorer Shane Smeltz can't stop scoring. His clash with Reds enforcer Sasa Ognenovski is game-defining.

Tip: Draw

SATURDAY
CENTRAL COAST MARINERS v QUEENSLAND ROAR at Bluetongue Stadium, 6pm

Head to head: Central Coast 2, Queensland 3, Drawn 5

Last meeting: Central Coast Mariners 4 bt Queensland Roar 2 at Suncorp Stadium, Rd 3, Aug 2008

TAB Sportsbet: Central Coast $2.45, Draw $3.30, Queensland $2.65

The Mariners needed a dramatic last-gasp goal to get a point out of Perth last weekend, while the Roar were held to a draw by Sydney FC.
That leaves the Mariners and Roar third and fourth, with the teams behind them closing and the teams in front of them in danger of getting away.
Central Coast will lose defender Nigel Boogaard for at least six weeks with an ankle injury, while the Roar's goalscoring midfielder Charlie Miller is set to try his luck playing with a hernia which apparently needs surgery.
These two teams have a tendency to play out draws, and there doesn't look much between them again.

Key: Mariners striker Sasho Petrovski is back scoring regularly, but faces a difficult and potentially nullifying opponent in Roar centre-half Craig Moore.

Tip: Draw
PERTH GLORY v MELBOURNE VICTORY at Members Equity Stadium, 6pm

Head to head: Perth 2, Melbourne 4, Drawn 4

Last meeting: Melbourne Victory 4 bt Perth Glory 0 at Telstra Dome, Rd 7, Oct 2008

TAB Sportsbet: Perth $3.50, present perfect continuous lesson plan Draw $3.30, Melbourne $2.00

Melbourne crossed the Tasman and lost, flew home, and poder present tense now must head to Perth. But the only points they racked up in Wellington were the frequent flyer kind, deservedly beaten by the Phoenix 2-1.
Despite their loss they remain top of the league. Still no starting spot has opened up for Costa Rican attacker Carlos Hernandez, with the Victory likely to keep faith with Archie Thompson, Danny Allsopp and Ney Fabiano to stretch the Glory's often brittle defence.
It's a real weak spot for Perth and if they don't tighten things up, it's hard the bottom side getting anything out of this even with striker Nikita Rukavytsya in fine form.

Key: How will the Victory cope with two difficult road trips in the space of a week?

Tip: Melbourne
SUNDAY
NEWCASTLE JETS v SYDNEY FC at EnergyAustralia Stadium, 5pm

Head to head: Newcastle 2, Sydney FC 5, Drawn 5

Last meeting: Newcastle Jets 0 drew with Sydney FC 0 at EnergyAustralia Stadium, Rd 4, Sept 2008

TAB Sportsbet: Newcastle $2.85, Draw $3.30, Sydney FC $2.30

The Jets have struggled to make any impact in their title defence, are equal bottom and look every chance to go from champions to wooden spooners inside a year.
They can't score goals and have discipline issues which are the trademark of a frustrated team. Sydney FC have also been struggling and the present spencer the one-time favourites have slid to sixth.
But there were some good signs in their gritty second half effort to grab a draw with Queensland last weekend. Newcastle, who will again be without stars Joel Griffiths and Mark Milligan (suspended) and probably Korean midfielder Jin-Hyung Song (ankle), are just the team to play John Kosmina's men back into form.
Sydney FC also have an excellent record against the Jets.

Key: Heckled by his own fans last weekthe spotlight intensifies on high-priced Sydney FC marquee man John Aloisihis lack of goals. This could be the week he starts scoring.

Tip: Sydney FC