A do-or-die derby between arch-rivals Western Sydney Wanderers and Sydney FC looms because the spotlight of the opening weekend of the A-League finals collection.
The high six was settled on Saturday when Sydney beat Newcastle 2-0 at Allianz Stadium, and Wellington Phoenix ended a poor run of kind with a 1-0 win over wood spooners Macarthur FC.
The Phoenix’s win secured them sixth spot and a sudden-death date on Friday night time with third-placed Adelaide United at Coopers Stadium.
In the opposite elimination last, the Wanderers, who completed fourth on the ladder, will host fifth-placed Sydney FC at CommBank Stadium on Saturday night time.
It would be the first time the groups have met in a finals collection.
However, in a doubtlessly large blow to the Sky Blues’ hopes of beating the Wanderers, star winger Joe Lolley limped off with a hamstring damage within the closing levels of his aspect’s win over the Jets.
Sydney coach Steve Corica mentioned Lolley would have scans on Sunday to find out the extent of the damage
“His strength was pretty good, so that’s a good sign but we’ll just wait and see,” Corica informed Paramount +.
“It’ll be touch and go maybe for the weekend if it’s a slight strain.”
Sydney – who defeated the Jets because of objectives from Adam Le Fondre and Patrick Wood – will subsequent weekend undoubtedly be with out the providers of teenager Jaiden Kucharski, who was despatched off late in Saturday night time’s match for a second bookable offence.
Premiership winners Melbourne City and second-placed Central Coast Mariners – who each received on Friday night time – may have the primary weekend of the finals collection off.
Originally revealed as Sydney FC to sweat on the health of star winger forward of sudden-death finals derby with Wanderers
Source: www.dailytelegraph.com.au
