Round 27: Melbourne Heart v Western Sydney Wanderers

 

The final page of Harry Kewell’s illustrious professional football career, the day Western Sydney secure the double chance or the final game played by the club known as Melbourne Heart. Saturday’s game brings more questions than answers at this stage, but one thing is for sure; we are in for a great 90 minutes of football.

On form Western Sydney should win this game, and win easy but sadly for my betting account that’s not how the A-League works.  Tony Popovic’s men have a tough task ahead of them, Heart technically are playing for nothing but the reality it they will play for everything on Saturday afternoon.  Heart (who may not be Heart next season) have one last chance to show their fans what the season could’ve been, and the fans have one last chance to show new owners Manchester City their true colours; Red and White.

Kewell has been declared fit and a certain started for his #ThankYouHarry match, I’m sure the coaching staff have given him a pretty light week on the track and I expect him to be subbed for one final standing ovation of his illustrious career.  Heart will be relying on one last piece of Kewell magic, or some defensive steel shown by Paddy Kisnorbo who recently signed a 12 month extension at the club.  This could also be the final game of Oooh Ahhh Engelaar, a fan favourite in his short marquee stint.  The club looked a lot better when Engelaar controlled the tempo against Adelaide last week before he was subbed off as a precaution.  The form of Stefan Mauk was rewarded by a place in Bozza’s team of the week, and he has been one of the shining lights of this season.

For Western Sydney the game presents itself as an opportunity for a ticket straight through to a home semi final, something I’m sure the FFA would enjoy.  Team rotation, mixed form and various RBB protests have marred the season of the Wanderers, but the team have somehow managed to find themselves in a box seat position.  Expect Tom Juric to start this week as Popovic searches for an early goal to take the home crowd out of the equation.  Last week the Wanderers paid special tribute to Shinji Ono and must be congratulated.  The importance of the home crowd cannot be underestimated.

It will be interesting to see the reaction Aaron Mooy receives with word now out about his transfer to Melbourne.  Will his new crowd cheer his name during the player announcements or will is just be business as usual for an opposition player.

Squads

1.Andrew REDMAYNE (GK), 3.Robbie WIELAERT, 4.Orlando ENGELAAR, 6.Patrick GERHARDT, 7.Iain RAMSAY, 8.Massimo MURDOCCA, 10.Harry KEWELL (C), 13.Jonatan GERMANO, 15.David WILLIAMS, 16. Aziz BEHICH, 17.Jason HOFFMAN, 19.Benjamin GARUCCIO, 20.Tando VELAPHI (GK), 21.Stefan MAUK, 22.Nicholas KALMAR, 23.Mate DUGANDZIC, 24.Patrick KISNORBO – One to be omitted

1.Ante COVIC (GK), 2.Shannon COLE, 3.Adam D’APUZZO, 4.Nikolai TOPOR-STANLEY, 6.Jerome POLENZ, 7.Labinot HALITI, 8.Mateo POLJAK, 9.Tomi JURIC, 10.Aaron MOOY, 11.Brendon SANTALAB, 13.Matthew SPIRANOVIC, 14.Kwabena APPIAH, 17.Youssouf HERSI, 18.Iacopo LA ROCCA, 19.Mark BRIDGE, 20.Jerrad TYSON (GK), 21.Shinji ONO, 22. Dean HEFFERNAN – Two to be omitted

Head to Head

Played 5 Melbourne Heart 0 Draws 1 Western Sydney 4

Last Five games

Heart – LDLLD (2 points)

Wanderers – LDWLD (5 points)

Previous meetings this season

Western Sydney 1 drew with Melbourne Heart 1 at Pirtek Stadium (07/12/2013)

Melbourne Heart 0 lost to Western Sydney at AAMI Park (08/11/2013)

Eyes on…

Harry Kewell, who else… Playing in his final match, sure he will be nervous walking out for the last time but Kewell is the ultimate professional.  Heart fans will be keen Harry finishes his career with a bang finding the back of the net to put his team in front.  Heart fans will be keen to keep an eye on Stefan Mauk and Ben Garrucio with an eye to next season.  Tando Velaphi should start between the sticks again, but it could be the final appearance for a few Heart players.

Aaron Mooy will be calling AAMI home, but he’s not the one to watch this week.  During the week reports were around about the contract status of Jerome Polenz and the Wanderers not offering him a contract for next season.  It will be interesting to see how he reacts to his media attention during the week with his performance on the pitch.

FTSAUS Facts

• Harry Kewell plays his final match at the same venue he scored his final international goal at (vs. Saudi Arabia)
• WSW 80% winning ratio isn’t their highest, that is 83% against Perth.
• Shannon Cole has scored three times against Melbourne Heart.  Making his ration 0.60 goals per game, as opposed from this normal ratio of 0.07 gpg

Prediction – Western Sydney 3-1 Crowd, 9,023

Predictions from the stands (via our twitter followers)

@LouisBravos Heart 5-3 Williams to earn the golden boot

@McWanderer WSW 4-1 #tomigun with a brace

@aidenbay18 0-0 A game with high expectations that will lead to nothing special

@dcox23 3-2 Heart, Harry with the winner

@Artfuldodger36 3-1 Western Sydney

 

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