Match preview: Wellington Phoenix v Sydney FC

A massive Wednesday night triple-header starts with a blockbuster between the Phoenix and Sky Blues, two teams emerging as genuine title contenders in 2018/19.

Wellington – coached by former Sydney FC favourite son Mark Rudan – are enjoying a nine-game unbeaten run, including Sunday’s thrilling 3-3 draw at Melbourne Victory.

They also beat the Sky Blues 3-1 in Sydney during this run and will be looking to make it back-to-back wins against Sydney FC for the first time in more than six years.

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But it should prove a tough ask, especially considering Sydney’s strong patch of form since the last meeting between the two sides at Jubilee Stadium.

Since that match, Corica’s troops have lost just one of their last seven games and know they will leapfrog Victory into second spot if they can take maximum points in this one.

The match-up also sees the competition’s two leading strikers go head-to-head.

Phoenix striker Roy Krishna has joined Sydney FC’s Adam Le Fondre at the top of the scoring charts on 11 goals, thanks mainly to his hat-trick of braces in his last three outings.

Key Opta stats

Sydney FC are undefeated in their last six visits to Westpac Stadium to face Wellington Phoenix in the Hyundai A-League (W4, D2), including a 4-1 triumph in their most recent such fixture.

The Phoenix have scored three or more goals in five of their last eight games and remain one of just two teams (Perth Glory) yet to lose a Hyundai A-League game in 2019.

The Sky Blues have won three games this season after having conceded the opening goal of the game on the day, more than any other team in the Hyundai A-League.

Ins and outs

Wellington Phoenix squad: 1.Filip KURTO (gk), 4.Mandi SOSA, 6.Dylan FOX, 7.Cillian SHERIDAN, 9.Nathan BURNS, 11.David WILLIAMS, 13.Liberato CACACE, 14.Alex Rufer, 15.Michal KOPZCYNSKI, 16.Louis FENTON, 18.Sarpreet SINGH, 19.Tom DOYLE, 20.Oliver SAIL (gk), 21.Roy KRISHNA, 22.Andrew DURANTE (c), 23.Max BURGESS, 27.Steven TAYLOR

**one to be omitted**

Ins: 9.Nathan BURNS (promoted)

Outs: Nil

Unavailable: Nil



Sydney FC squad: 1.Andrew REDMAYNE (gk), 2.Aaron CALVER, 3.Ben WARLAND, 4.Alex WILKINSON, 6.Josh BRILLANTE, 7.Michael ZULLO, 8.Paulo RETRE, 9.Adam LE FONDRE, 10.Milos NINKOVIC, 11.Daniel DE SILVA, 13.Brandon O’NEILL, 14.Alex BROSQUE (c), 17.Anthony CACERES, 20.Alex CISAK (gk), 21.Charles LOKOLI-NGOY, 22.Siem DE JONG, 24.Cam DEVLIN, 31.Luke IVANOVIC

**two to be omitted**

Ins: 6.Josh BRILLANTE (return from suspension), 8.Paulo RETRE (return from injury), 10.Milos NINKOVIC (return from illness).

Outs: 18.Jacob TRATT (groin – 2 weeks)

Unavailable: 5.Jop van der LINDEN (hamstring – 1 week), 12.Trent BUHAGIAR (ACL – indefinite), 19.Chris ZUVELA (knee – indefinite), 23.Rhyan GRANT (International Duty)

How to watch

See how it all unfolds on FOX SPORTS 505 from 5:35pm (AEDT) on Wednesday.

Tickets

CLICK HERE to be there when the Phoenix aim to make it 10 games unbeaten against defending Premiers Sydney FC.

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