1st – Melbourne Victory
Next match: Lowest ranked Winner from Elimination finals
(8/5)
Most Valuable Player – Fahid Ben Khalfallah (Left Wing)
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| Fahid Ben Khalfallah |
Last week Melbourne Victory manager Kevin Muscat was no
doubt licking his lips at the sight of the Tunisian creative midfielder signing
on with the club until the end of the 2016/17 season.
As one of the contenders for
the Johnny Warren Medal, the A-League’s best player, the 32-year-old has bagged
five goals along with nine assists in 25 matches for the competition front
runners.
The 2015 minor premiers will go into this final series as
outright favourites after consistently playing the best football all season
backing it up with solid defence.
Victory has the best home record in the
A-League with nine wins out of 14 possible games, which inclines me to think
that with one of the most fierce fan bases behind them for their major
semi-final, likely to be against Wellington Phoenix, next week, it is difficult
to see them not progress into the decider.
2nd – Sydney FC
Next match: Highest ranked Winner from Elimination finals
(9/5)
Most Valuable Player – Marc Janko (Striker)
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| Marc Janko |
The Austrian International is the Golden Boot winner with a
tally of 16 goals for the Sky Blues.
Still recovering from a minor injury, the
Sky Blues striker must feature in this final series if Sydney is to be of any
chance of taking the premiership.
He records on average a league high of 3.7
shots per game, which is a statistic not to be ignored.
Sydney FC has finished the regular season strongly recording
three straight wins, only matched by Victory, against Perth Glory, wooden spoon
Newcastle Jets, and a tough fixture away in Wellington.
It’s likely that
Adelaide United will be there next opponents, which I’m tipping to be a cracker
of a semi-final at Sydney Football Stadium.
The key to their success is not
scoring goals, but keeping them out as well which has been the downfall for
them at times.
Being undefeated away from home all season, the Sky Blues will
have an advantage no matter where the grand final is to be played if they make
it.
3rd – Adelaide United
Next match: Brisbane Roar at Home (1/5)
Most Valuable Player – Marcelo Carrusca (Centre midfield)
 |
| Marcelo Carrusca |
Adelaide playmaker Marcelo Carrusca will return from injury
for the elimination final to his teammate’s relief.
The Reds has lost five out
of eight games that the Argentine midfielder has missed this season, which
speaks volumes of his importance to the line-up.
Carrusca may be a bit rusty coming
into this game but his quality on the ball is near second to none with seven
goals and three assists to boast for 19 games.
It is extremely difficult to go past Adelaide at Hindmarsh
Stadium, in one of the most hostile environments in the A-League.
The
wing attack of the home side will be busy for the full 90 minutes which will be
too much for the Roar defence to handle.
Adelaide to continue on their
impressive result last week and win 2-1 in a thrilling tie.
4th – Wellington Phoenix
Next match: Melbourne City at Home (3/5)
Most Valuable Player – Nathan Burns (Striker)
 |
| Nathan Burns |
The Socceroos striker has been a revelation for Phoenix this
season and credit must be given to manager Ernie Merrick, who has got the best
out of the former Adelaide United and Jets player.
Tied second for the Golden
Boot, Burns has proved lethal in front of goal forming a notable partnership
with Kenny Cunningham.
Just over a month ago Wellington Phoenix was at the summit
of the A-League.
But unfortunately the Kiwi-based side dropped out of the rat
race due to some inconsistent performances.
The results have been a bit up and
down lately for the fourth placed side but I’m still tipping them to get up
comfortably over Melbourne City courtesy of the formidable striking power up
front that consists of Roly Bonevacia, Roy Krishna, and Michael McGlinchey.
Phoenix to win 2-0.
5th – Melbourne City
Next match: At Wellington Phoenix (3/5)
Most Valuable Player – Aaron Mooy (Centre midfield)
 |
| Aaron Mooy |
The central midfielder, who has the fourth highest tally of
passes in the league, has been a stand out performer in what really has been a
under achieving Melbourne City side.
The young Socceroo has played every game
but two this season due to international duty.
With seven goals and assists
apiece, Mooy needs to fire and continue his support up front in a game where
I’m giving the Melburnians little hope.
With all the hype of Manchester City buying the club and the
exhibition signing of Spanish superstar David Villa, there seems to have been
less concentration on results in the Melbourne camp this season.
Somehow they
find themselves in the finals, and I do give them a glimmer of hope due to the
late mid-season signing of former Socceroo Josh Kennedy, who still boasts
plenty of talent.
6th – Brisbane Roar
Next match: At Adelaide United
Most Valuable Player – Thomas Broich
 |
| Thomas Broich |
The German star has arguably been the best player the
A-League has seen in history but this season has been blighted by injury.
Recently named in the A-League Team of the Decade, Broich has made just 16
appearances yet still has seven assists to his name.
The bottom line is that
Broich, who was recently named in A-League Team of the Decade, needs to fire if Roar is to move further in the competition.
Last year’s premiers find themselves in the final series
this year at the expense of Perth Glory, who was effectively evicted from the
finals series regardless of finishing in third place.
The Brisbane club still
hasn’t dealt with the loss of former leading goal scorer and Melbourne Victory
striker Besart Berisha, which makes it hard to pick where the goals will come
from for the 2014 minor premiers.
The experienced midfield pair of Matt McKay
and Thomas Broich has a huge task ahead in a game where the Roar should only be
capable of scraping out a gutsy win at most.
Grand final prediction: Melbourne Victory 1-1 Sydney FC (Melbourne
Victory win in Extra Time)
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