Sydney FC will face Wellington Phoenix in the fifth round of the 2021/22 A-League season this Sunday.
Venue: Jubilee Oval (Sydney)
Key Statistics
Sydney FC have scored just two goals in four league games this season. only Brisbane Roar (one) have scored fewer.
The hosts are winless in the league this season (D2, L2). They are one of the three sides yet to win a league this season (Adelaide as Brisbane Roar being the other two).
Wellington Phoenix have the worst defensive record in the league this season, having conceded eight goals in four games.
They have lost just one of their last eleven away games in all competitions (W5, D5).
Head to head
Sydney FC have enjoyed success over Wellington Phoenix in recent times as they have won six of their last seven meetings (D1). Over the last 15 competitive meetings, Sydney FC have recorded 11 wins against Wellington Phoenix’s two wins and two draws.
Latest Performances in all competitions
Sydney FC: L-W-D-L-W
Wellington Phoenix: W-L-W-L-W
Sydney FC
Troubled Sydney FC will look to get their first win of the new A-League season when they welcome Wellington Phoenix to the Jubilee Oval this Sunday.
The hosts have taken just two points from their opening four games so far this season having lost two of those games (D2).
Their last outing saw them lose 2-0 to Central Coast Mariners, leaving them rooted in 11th place.
It is still early days in the season though and Steve Corica’s side still have a lot of time to turn around their season and perhaps finish within the top six.
However, Corica will know that they cannot continue to drop points in the early stage of the season if they want to finish high up. The 48-year-old will be desperate to get his first win this season and can take courage in their dominant head-to-head history in this tie. The hosts are currently on a run of three consecutive wins over Wellington and will fancy their chances of extending that record in this game.
Possible Sydney FC starting line-ups
Andrew Redmayne; Ryhan Grant, Alex Wilkinson; Ben Warland, Joel King; Elvis Kamsoba, Anthony Caceres, Paulo Retre, Milos Ninkovic, Trent Buhagiar, Adam Le Fondre.
Injured: Luke Brattan
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Wellington Phoenix
Wellington Phoenix will look to make it back-to-back wins in all competitions when they travel to Sydney this weekend.
The visitors have shown great signs of inconsistency this season, failing to put two wins together in sequence. Each of their wins this season have followed a loss.
After ending last season with an eleven-game unbeaten run, they will look to begin another unbeaten run by taking points from the game. Their record so far in the league this season stands at one win, one draw and one defeat, leaving them in ninth, one point off the playoff places.
Although they are not so far off and should be able to cover up the gap with a win in this game, their defensive record has to be a source of worry for them.
However, with a 4-0 win over Avondale in the FFA Cup last time out, Ufuk Talay’s men proved that they can keep clean sheets in a game.
The 45-year-old will hope for a repeat performance from his side.
Possible Wellington Phoenix starting line-ups
Oliver Sail; Callan Elliot, Tim Payne, Josh Laws, James McGarry; David Ball, Alex Rufer, Clayton Lewis, Reno Piscopo; Jaushua Sotirio, Gary Hooper.
Injured: None
Suspended: None
Prediction
Sydney FC 1-2 Wellington Phoenix
