It’s win or go home time in the 2022/23 A-League season with the first weekend of finals football.
While the premiers Melbourne City and runners up Central Coast have earned the first round bye, the four teams in action face win or go home scenarios this weekend.
Adelaide will have to rebound from their missed opportunity to finish in second spot this weekend when they host Wellington in the first Elimination Final.
However all eyes will be on the Sydney Derby this Saturday night as the Wanderers and Sydney FC meet in a finals setting for the first time.
As we have all season long, we’ve got you covered with our A-League tips and match previews for both Elimination Finals below.
At one point Adelaide United were not only seen as the best placed team to finish as runners up to Melbourne City, but also as the rest of the league’s great hope to challenge the dynasty.
However a poor run of results in April where they picked up just two points from four matches saw them slip to third spot, culminating in arguably their worst showing of the season in Round 26 when a draw would have been enough.
Now the pressure is on Carl Veart to find a way to generate some sort of response from his side with their season on the line.
Wellington broke their poor run of results in Round 26 with a scrappy 1-0 win over Macarthur to seal their finals spot ahead of Western United.
At this time of the season, the results always have to take priority over the performance however neither team has been looking like they are firing on all cylinders.
Working in Adelaide’s favour is the fact they have won their last two home games against the Nix by a four goal margin each time and the crowd at Coopers Stadium does act like a 12th man.
Neither side has been all that strong defensively of late, and both teams to score has been a very successful play with both clubs.
With that in mind, the first A-League Finals play for the 2022/23 season is backing an Adelaide win in 90 minutes and both teams to score in a SGM.
The Reds are just a better team all around and with the impact subs they can make, it should see them home in the second half.
In terms of potential finals matchups, a Sydney Derby is one or two on the list in terms of the best fixtures for the fans and the neutrals alike.
While it might not have its usual buzz with the Cove set to sit this one out over the Grand Final decision, it should still be a raucous atmosphere in CommBank Stadium as the Wanderers play in their first finals match since April 2017 and host their first one since April 2016.
However home field advantage may not be the benefit it is made out to be with the visiting team taking out all three Sydney Derbies this season.
The lone fixture between the two at the Wanderers ground was decided by a Max Burgess goal that gave Sydney FC all three points and handed Western Sydney one of three defeats at home all season.
It is not just the derbies this season which give Sydney FC a chance in this one, their three match winning streak heading into the finals is the longest in the league at the moment.
There is no coincidence that the uptick in form coincides with the return of Adam Le Fondre from injury and they look like a different side with the English marksman leading the line.
Sydney’s defence will face the tough task of shutting down Brandon Borello who is enjoying a resurgence in red and black and with two of the premiere goalscorers in the league, there is not a lot between these sides.
It would be fitting if the first Sydney Derby final needed extra time to decide it and quite frankly, with Sydney in their rich vein of form and the Wanderers always a danger, that’s what we are going to back.