The first of Sunday A-League Round 11 matches is between Wellington Phoenix and Sydney FC. The game is set to commence at 5.00pm with the game to be played at Westpac Stadium. Home team Wellington Phoenix go into the match as the favourites in the market. View our preview and teams for the game between Wellington Phoenix and Sydney FC.
Round: Round 11, Sunday December 22 at 5.00pm AEDT.
Stadium: Westpac Stadium
Head to head: Played: 23, Wins: Sydney 11, Wellington 11, Draws: 1
Previous encounter: Sydney FC 2-1 Phoenix, November 23 2013
Wellington Phoenix $2.25 vs Sydney FC $3.00 at Sportsbet Australia get a $250 FREE BET on this match
Wellington Phoenix $2.20 vs Sydney FC $3.10 at Luxbet Australia get a $500 FREE BET on this match
Odds Comparison:
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| Wellington Phoenix | 2.25 | 2.27 | 2.20 | 2.27 | 2.25 | 2.25 |
| Draw | 3.50 | 3.40 | 3.30 | 3.40 | 3.50 | 3.25 |
| Sydney FC | 3.00 | 3.00 | 3.10 | 3.00 | 3.00 | 3.00 |
Teams:
Wellington Phoenix:
1. Glen MOSS (GK), 2. Manny MUSCAT, 5. Michael BOXALL, 7. Leo BERTOS, 8. Paul IFILL, 9. Kenny CUNNINGHAM, 10. Stein HUYSEGEMS, 11. Jeremy BROCKIE, 12. Tyler BOYD, 13. Albert RIERA, 15. Jason HICKS, 16. Louis FENTON, 17. Vince LIA, 18. Ben SIGMUND, 20. Lewis ITALIANO (GK), 21. Carlos HERNANDEZ, 22. Andrew DURANTE (capt), 23. Matthew RIDENTON. (two to be omitted).
Sydney FC:
1.Ivan NECEVSKI (gk), 2.Seb RYALL, 4.Ranko DESPOTOVIC, 5.Matt JURMAN, 6.Nikola PETKOVIC, 7. Brett EMERTON, 8. Pedj BOJIC, 9. Corey GAMEIRO, 10. Alessandro DEL PIERO (c), 11.Richard GARCIA, 15.Terry MCFLYNN, 16.Joel CHIANESE, 19.Nicky CARLE, 20.Vedran JANJETOVIC (gk), 21.Yairo YAU, 22.Ali ABBAS, 27.Christopher NAUMOFF, 28.Matt THOMPSON. (Two to be omitted)
Ins: 9. Corey GAMEIRO (returns from injury), 27.Christopher NAUMOFF (promoted).
Outs: –
Unavailable: Rhyan GRANT (knee – season), Peter TRIANTIS (groin – indefinite), Terry ANTONIS (thigh – indefinite), Tiago CALVANO (Suspended – 5 matches)
Preview:
Form:
Past five matches:
Wellington: LLDLD
Sydney: WLWWW
The Game:
Another game, another semi-promising performance, another defeat – it’s been the same story for the Phoenix all season and it was no different against the Central Coast Mariners at North Sydney Oval last Thursday night. The Kiwis created some good chances early on, but Stein Huysegems missed a penalty and the champions took the points courtesy of Storm Roux’s goal. Sydney laboured to a 2-1 win at home to Melbourne Heart last Sunday thanks largely to some individual brilliance from Alessandro Del Piero just before half-time. When the Italian marquee went off injured at the break, Frank Farina’s side ceded all the momentum to their visitors and were fortunate to hang on. Those accusations of being a one-man team persist, and not without cause. What can the Sky Blues do to change that perception?
The big issue:
Wellington – Who to believe about Carlos Hernandez and Wellington Phoenix? The club claim he didn’t feature in the 1-0 defeat to the Mariners due to a ‘recurrence of a muscle’ injury. Other reports indicate there has been a falling out between NZ side and the Costa Rican playmaker over the club dragging their heels on flying his family out to join him. As a major creative force in the final third, Wellington need to keep the playmaker happy and on the field. If he genuinely was injured, they need to get him back and firing.
Sydney FC – How is skipper Alessandro Del Piero feeling? A back problem forced him off at half-time in the win over Melbourne Heart last time out, and they looked shaky without him, allowing the previously woeful visitors back into the contest. Against a better team, they might have given away the two-goal lead to draw or even lose. Either the physio needs to work his magic or Frank Farina must find a way to make Sydney function without their fragile skipper.
The game breaker:
Nikola Petkovic – the Serbian defender has been a steady figure at the back for Sydney so far in 2013-14. Despite failing from the spot against the Mariners, Huysegems has been a physical presence and a threat for the Phoenix of late, and will need to be well-marshalled if the visitors are to blunt the Kiwi attack and give themselves a chance of claiming the points.
Source: www.footballaustralia.com.au