Wellington Phoenix has moved closer to second spot in the A-League after withstanding a late surge to beat Perth Glory 2-1 at Sydney’s Bankwest Stadium on Wednesday night.

Goals to imports Gary Hooper and Ulises Davila moved the third-placed Nix to within one point of second-placed Melbourne City, which has played a game more.

The result also meant Wellington remained the only team with a mathematical chance of pipping leaders Sydney for the Premiers Plate, though the Sky Blues need just a point from its remaining four games.

Perth pulled back a goal through Dane Ingham just after the hour and laid siege to the Phoenix goal in the latter stages, but Wellington held on to secure the win.

Didn't take long for @uli_davila to get involved in the action ⏳

: @FOXFOOTBALL 507
My Football Live: https://t.co/zPCBXtSWH2#ALeague #PERvWEL #DistanceDerby #FootballReturns #OneGlory #StandUpWithYourNix pic.twitter.com/2gpLZfBzZ9

— Hyundai A-League (@ALeague) July 22, 2020

Neither team produced a decent opportunity in a dull first half hour, but the game perked up after Phoenix hit the front.

Wellington looked dangerous on the counter-attack in the first half and executed one in perfect fashion to open the scoring in the 32nd minute.

Impressive youngster Callum McCowatt lofted a ball over the top and Englishman Hooper brushed off Alex Grant and slotted the ball past an onrushing Liam Reddy for his seventh goal of the campaign.

Perth had the majority of first-half possession but struggled to create chances apart from a fierce drive by Bruno Fornaroli, palmed away by Nix goalkeeper Stefan Marinovic.

That's three first half goals in his last four appearances for @HOOP588

: @FOXFOOTBALL 507
: My Football Live: https://t.co/zPCBXtSWH2#PERvWEL #DistanceDerby #FootballReturns #OneGlory #StandUpWithYourNix pic.twitter.com/CKtdB028jD

— Hyundai A-League (@ALeague) July 22, 2020

Phoenix doubled its advantage in the 48th minute when Davila notched his 12th goal of the season after half-time substitute Jacob Tratt fouled David Ball in the penalty area.

Davila’s spot kick was too precise and powerful for Reddy, who went in the right direction but couldn’t prevent the Mexican from making it five from five this season.

Fornaroli, who had scored nine times in 10 previous games against Wellington, had two chances to equalise.

He curled one shot straight at Marinovic and had another attempt deflected over the bar.

That's 2⃣ goals in 2⃣ weeks for Dane Ingham

: @FOXFOOTBALL 507
My Football Live: https://t.co/zPCBXtSWH2#ALeague #PERvWEL #DistanceDerby #FootballReturns #OneGlory #StandUpWithYourNix pic.twitter.com/43TwHfPFdf

— Hyundai A-League (@ALeague) July 22, 2020

Perth remains in fifth spot.

-AAP

The post Wellington Phoenix closes in on second spot in the A-League after overcoming Perth appeared first on The New Daily.

https://thenewdaily.com.au/sport/2020/07/22/wellington-phoenix-a-league-perth/

Little more than three years away from hosting the FIFA Women’s World Cup, Football Federation Australia has a major decision to make to replace Ante Milicic as Matildas coach.

Milicic, 46, confirmed on Sunday he was quitting as coach to focus on his position as the inaugural boss of A-League expansion club Macarthur FC.

The ex-Socceroos striker was appointed Matildas mentor in early 2019 after the controversial sacking of Alen Stajcic, despite having no experience coaching in women’s football.

He took the Matildas to the round of 16 of at the Women’s World Cup in France last year and then successfully qualified for the Tokyo Olympics earlier this year.

His future, however, has been in doubt ever since the Olympics were postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, having already accepted to take charge of Macarthur for its debut A-League campaign in 2020-21.

.@FFA today announced Ante Milicic has stepped down from the role of Head Coach of the Westfield @TheMatildas, and will honour his pre-existing three-year contract with incoming Hyundai @ALeague club @mfcbulls. https://t.co/Z6AjNCWVZX

— Football Federation Australia (@FFA) July 19, 2020

Milicic was forced to choose with the FFA not keen on having someone with split roles at the helm before a crucial period for the Matildas, which includes next year’s Olympics, the 2022 Asian Cup and then the potentially financially rewarding World Cup on home soil in 2023.

Former Matildas midfielder Alicia Ferguson-Cook believes the FFA may well have to look outside the women’s game to find the best person to replace Milicic.

Ferguson-Cook, who made 66 appearances for Australia from 1997 to 2007, can see no issue appointing a new coach without women’s football experience due to a dearth of obvious candidates from within the game.

“There’s just not that many at that level,” Ferguson-Cook said.

“If you are going to get someone else it’s probably going to be from the men’s game like they did with Ante, or it’s going to be someone with less experience.

“That’s another risk … they have to think about whether they want to take it or not.”

The leading candidate for the position is Arsenal boss Joe Montemurro, but it remains unclear if he would be willing to give up his role at the English giants for an national-team position.

After significant W-League success at Melbourne City, Montemurro won the English WSL title with the Gunners in 2018-19 and has recently recruited Matildas stars Caitlin Foord, Steph Catley and Lydia Williams to London.

An intriguing option for the FFA would be to tempt American Jill Ellis to Australia.

Ellis won two World Cups with the United States in a five-year stint, but is available after stepping down from the American role after last year’s tournament in France.

Ellis would be a huge acquisition in a similar vein to luring Guus Hiddink as Socceroos coach for the 2006 World Cup if FFA chief James Johnson could manage it.

Locally, W-League premiership winner Mel Andreatta and W-League grand final winner Ante Juric are potential candidates.

Andreatta, as the former Brisbane Roar head coach, worked as an assistant to Milicic at last year’s World Cup.

Andreatta is a long shot for the role but knows the national team set-up and almost all of the squad’s senior players.

Juric is a former Young Matildas coach who led Sydney FC to a W-League grand final victory last year against a Sam Kerr-inspired Perth Glory.

Juric has a long history of coaching in women’s football but his experience at the highest level is limited.

The Milicic exit has wiped the slate clean in terms of coaching teams, with his assistant Ivan Jolic and technical analyst Kate Cohen also joining him at Macarthur.

FFA has confirmed the process to find a new coach would start immediately.

“We expect there will be no shortage of interest in this prestigious role, particularly given all that the team has on the horizon,” Johnson said.

-with AAP

The post ‘No shortage of interest’: Exit of Ante Milicic sparks worldwide hunt for new Matildas coach appeared first on The New Daily.

https://thenewdaily.com.au/sport/2020/07/19/ante-milicic-exits-matildas-coach/

Football Federation Australia intends to push on and play out the 2019-20 A-League season in New South Wales despite the latest COVID-19 outbreak in Sydney.

The Queensland government declared the Campbelltown and Liverpool areas in south-west Sydney as COVID-19 hotspots in the wake of the outbreak.

The declaration has prompted A-League organisers to prepare a ‘Plan B’ option where all 11 clubs will be located in Queensland to play out the remainder of the season.

Under the plan, from Saturday at the earliest, seven clubs would join Brisbane Roar in Queensland.

The Hyundai @ALeague is BACK on Friday night!

Catch every second of the action via the My Football Live app.

Download it here: https://t.co/h9QAJ4KW2f pic.twitter.com/27GmwPa9Sy

— Football Federation Australia (@FFA) July 14, 2020

The league’s three Victorian clubs, currently in quarantine in NSW after their departure from Melbourne last week, would join them at the end of their isolation period.

FFA head of leagues Greg O’Rourke was hopeful that option won’t have to become reality.

“We’ve been speaking to government today at many levels, many different departments in New South Wales about the current restrictions and what they feel the impact would be at this point in time,” O’Rourke said.

“Knowing that these things can change quite dramatically … our position would be that we would continue to play all our games here and that we would be able to operate as a workplace.

“We would continue to do that until we were advised otherwise.”

Increasing coronavirus numbers in Sydney could force A-League bosses to abandon the NSW hub before a match is played.https://t.co/rmG2r1E1y2

— SBS – The World Game (@TheWorldGame) July 14, 2020

It means the league will resume as anticipated, with Sydney FC taking on Wellington Phoenix at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium on Friday.

Sunday’s match between Roar and Adelaide United on the Gold Coast is the only fixture to be played outside NSW under the current schedule.

The COVID-19 situation does mean that Perth Glory will finish its season without captain Diego Castro.

The Spanish marquee has opted not to travel to Sydney with his teammates on Thursday, saying the NSW hub is an “unacceptable health risk” for himself and his family.

The 2015-16 Johnny Warren Medal winner is one of several international players who have opted not to play out the season, including Western United’s marquee Panagiotis Kone and Melbourne City winger Markel Susaeta.

A-League organisers have begun to draw up back-up plans to relocate to Queensland if the spread of coronavirus in Sydney makes it staging it in New South Wales too hard. [Ftbl]https://t.co/zRdW2qp9Ye

— A-League Hub (@AleagueHub) July 14, 2020

 

O’Rourke said players had a right under a revised collective bargaining agreement not to continue with the season if they did not want to and he wasn’t surprised by the withdrawals.

“Players could make their own conscious decision about whether or not they wanted to relocate and join in the hub model,” he said.

“That trigger, if you like, that was in the extended CBA was always there. I’m not surprised at all that a few players have chosen to exercise that.”‘

O’Rourke has already confirmed the finals series will be pushed back by six days.

-AAP

The post A-League still aiming to finish season in NSW despite Sydney virus outbreak appeared first on The New Daily.

https://thenewdaily.com.au/sport/football/2020/07/14/a-league-season-nsw-coronavirus-outbreak/

Sydney

12 October 2017

 

 

Hyundai A-League 2017/18 Season - Round 2 - Ins and Outs

 

Friday, 13 October 2017

Brisbane Roar FC v Adelaide United 

Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Kick-Off: 6:50pm (Local); 7:50pm (AEDT)

Referee: Adam Kersey

Assistant Referee 1: Anton Shchetinin

Assistant Referee 2: Andrew Lindsay

Fourth Official:  Alex King

Video Assistant Referee: Jarred Gillett

 

TV Broadcast: Live coverage on FOX SPORTS 501 from 7:00pm (AEDT) and Sky Sport 4 (New Zealand)

 

Radio Broadcast: ABC Brisbane & ABC Radio Qld, ABC Adelaide & ABC Radio SA, Grandstand Digital (except Perth), Online & via the ABC Listen App – A-league Live.

 

Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tag #BRIvADL 

 

To purchase tickets please visit www.a-league.com.au/tickets  

 

Brisbane Roar FC squad: 1.Michael THEO (gk), 2.Dane INGHAM, 3.Luke DEVERE, 5.Corey BROWN, 6.Avram PAPADOPOULOS, 9.Massimo MACCARONE, 10.Brett HOLMAN, 13.Jade NORTH, 14.Fahid BEN KHALFALLAH, 16.Mitchell OXBORROW, 17.Matt MCKAY (c), 18.Joe CALETTI, 19.Jack HINGERT, 21.Jamie YOUNG (gk), 24.Connor O’TOOLE, 25.Rahmat AKBARI, 26.Nick D’AGOSTINO, 33.Petros SKAPETIS

**two to be omitted**

 

Ins: 2.Dane INGHAM (returns from International duty), 10.Brett HOLMAN (promoted)

Outs: Nil

Unavailable: 4.Daniel BOWLES (knee – TBC), 7.Thomas KRISTENSEN (hamstring - 2 weeks), 20.Shannon BRADY (broken foot – TBC)

 

Adelaide United squad: 1.Daniel MARGUSH (gk), 2.Michael MARRONE, 6.Vince LIA, 7.Ryan KITTO, 8.ISAÍAS (c), 9.Baba DIAWARA, 10.Karim MATMOUR, 11.Johan ABSALONSEN, 12.Mark OCHIENG, 14.George BLACKWOOD, 16.Nathan KONSTANDOPOULOS, 17.Nikola MILEUSNIC, 19.Ben GARUCCIO, 20.Paul IZZO (gk), 22.Ersan GÜLÜM, 23.Jordan ELSEY, 24.Jordan O'DOHERTY, 37.Daniel ADLUNG

**two to be omitted**

 

Ins: 6.Vince LIA (returns from suspension)

Outs: 5.Taylor REGAN (ankle - 10-12 weeks)

Unavailable: 21.Tarek ELRICH (knee - long term)

 

 

Saturday, 14 October 2017

Western Sydney Wanderers FC v Central Coast Mariners 

Spotless Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park

Kick-Off: 5:35pm (Local); 5:35pm (AEDT)

Referee: Chris Beath

Assistant Referee 1: Owen Goldrick

Assistant Referee 2: Greg Taylor

Fourth Official: Adrian Arndt

Video Assistant Referee: Nick Waldron

 

TV Broadcast: Live coverage on FOX SPORTS 501 from 5:00pm (AEDT) and Sky Sport 3 (New Zealand)

 

Radio Broadcast: ABC Sydney, ABC Canberra, ABC Central Coast, ABC Radio NSW Grandstand Digital, Online & via the ABC Listen App – A-league Live.

 

Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tag #WSWvCCM 

 

To purchase tickets please visit www.a-league.com.au/tickets  

 

Western Sydney Wanderers FC squad: 3.Jack CLISBY, 4.Josh RISDON, 5.Brendan HAMILL, 6.Jacob MELLING, 7.Steven LUSTICA, 8.Roly BONEVACIA, 9.Oriol RIERA, 10.Àlvaro CEJUDO, 11.Brendon SANTALAB, 14.Jumpei KUSUKAMI, 15.Kearyn BACCUS, 18.Robert CORNTHWAITE (c), 19.Mark BRIDGE, 20.Vedran JANJETOVIC (gk), 24.Raúl LLORENTE, 25.Chris HERD, 30.John HALL (gk), 33.Michael THWAITE

**two to be omitted**

 

Ins: 4.Josh RISDON (returns from international duty), 6.Jacob MELLING (promoted)

Outs: Nil

Unavailable: 1.Jerrad TYSON (shoulder – indefinite)

 

Central Coast Mariners Squad: 1.Ben KENNEDY (gk), 2.Storm ROUX, 3.Josh ROSE, 4.Jake McGING, 5.Antony GOLEC, 6.Tom HIARIEJ, 7.Andrew HOOLE, 9.ASDRUBAL, 10.Daniel De SILVA, 11.Connor PAIN, 12.Trent BUHAGIAR, 13.Kwabena APPIAH, 14.Adam BERRY, 15.Alan BARO (c), 16. Liam ROSE, 17.Josh BINGHAM, 18.Tom GLOVER (gk), 23.Wout BRAMA

 **two to be omitted**

 

Ins: 2.Storm ROUX (returns from injury), 7.Andrew HOOLE (returns from suspension)

Outs: nil

Unavailable: 21.Kye ROWLES (knee – 1 week)

 

 

Saturday, 14 October 2017

Melbourne Victory v Melbourne City FC

Etihad Stadium

Kick-Off: 7:50pm (Local); 7:50pm (AEDT)

Referee: Peter Green

Assistant Referee 1: David Walsh

Assistant Referee 2: George Lakrindis

Fourth Official: Jonathan Barreiro

Video Assistant Referee: Strebre Delovski

 

TV Broadcast: Live coverage on FOX SPORTS 501 from 7:45pm (AEDT), ONE from 7:45pm and Sky Sport 3 (New Zealand)

 

Radio Broadcast: myfootballnation.com (Talking Lifestyle Melbourne & Sport FM Perth), ABC Melbourne & ABC Radio VIC, Grandstand Digital, Online & via the ABC Listen App – A-League Live.

 

Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tag #MelbDerby

 

To purchase tickets please visit www.a-league.com.au/tickets  

 

Melbourne Victory squad: 1.Matt ACTON (gk) 2.Jason GERIA, 4.Rhys WILLIAMS, 5.Mark MILLIGAN, 6.Leigh BROXHAM, 8.Besart BERISHA, 9.Kosta BARBAROUSES, 10.James TROISI, 11.Mitch AUSTIN, 14.Thomas DENG, 16.Josh HOPE, 17.James DONACHIE, 18.Matias SANCHEZ, 20.Lawrence THOMAS (gk), 21.Carl VALERI (c), 22.Stefan NIGRO, 23.Jai INGHAM, 41.Leroy GEORGE

**two to be omitted**

 

Ins: 5.Mark MILLIGAN (returns from international duty), 9.Kosta BARBAROUSES (returns from international duty), 10.James TROISI (returns from international duty, 18.Matias SANCHEZ (promoted)

Outs: 19.Pierce WARING (not selected), 31.Christian THEOHAROUS (not selected)

Unavailable: nil

 

Melbourne City FC squad: 1.Dean BOUZANIS (gk), 2.Manny MUSCAT, 3.Scott JAMIESON, 5.Bart SCHENKEVELD, 6.Osama MALIK, 7.Nick FITZGERALD, 8.Neil KILKENNY, 9.Marcelo CARRUSCA, 11.Bruce KAMAU, 12.Braedyn CROWLEY, 13.Stefan MAUK, 17.Tim CAHILL, 18.Eugene GALEKOVIC (gk), 22.Michael JAKOBSEN (c), 25.Iacopo LA ROCCA, 26.Luke BRATTAN, 27.Marcin BUDZINSKI, 44.Ross McCORMACK

 

Ins: 8. Neil KILKENNY (promoted), 17.Tim CAHILL (returns from international duty)

Outs: nil

Unavailable: 23. Bruno FORNAROLI (ankle)

 

 

Sunday, 15 October 2017

Newcastle Jets v Perth Glory 

McDonald Jones Stadium

Kick-Off: 5:00pm (Local); 5:00pm (AEDT)

Referee: Shaun Evans

Assistant Referee 1: Ryan Gallagher

Assistant Referee 2: James Cleal

Fourth Official: Ben Abraham

Video Assistant Referee: Kris Griffiths-Jones

 

TV Broadcast: Live coverage on FOX SPORTS 501 from 4:30pm (AEDT) and Sky Sport 1 (New Zealand)

 

Radio Broadcast: myfootballnation.com (6PR & 2SM Super Radio), 1233 ABC Newcastle, ABC Radio Perth, ABC Radio WA, Grandstand Digital, Online & via the ABC Listen App – A-league Live.

 

Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tag #NEWvPER 

 

To purchase tickets please visit www.a-league.com.au/tickets  

 

Newcastle Jets Squad: 1.Jack DUNCAN (gk), 3.Jason HOFFMAN, 4.Nigel BOOGAARD (c), 5.Ben KANTAROVSKI, 6.Steven UGARKOVIC, 7.Dimitri PETRATOS, 8.Ronald VARGAS, 9.Roy O’DONOVAN, 10.Wayne BROWN, 13.Ivan VUJICA, 15.Andrew NABBOUT, 16.Nick COWBURN, 17.Daniel GEORGIEVSKI, 19.Kosta PETRATOS, 20.Glen MOSS (gk), 22.Lachlan JACKSON, 24.Joe CHAMPNESS, 44.Nikolai TOPOR-STANLEY

**two to be omitted**

 

Ins: 3.Jason HOFFMAN (return from injury), 19.Kosta PETRATOS (promoted)

Outs: nil

Unavailable: nil

 

 

Perth Glory Squad: 2.Alex GRANT, 4.Shane LOWRY, 5.Jacob POSCOLIERO, 8.Xavi TORRES, 9.Andy KEOGH (c), 11.Mitch MALLIA, 13 Nick FEELY (gk), 14.Chris HAROLD, 15.Brandon WILSON, 16.Joseph MILLS, 17.Diego CASTRO, 18.Andreu GUERAO, 19.Joe KNOWLES, 20.Jake BRIMMER, 22.Adam TAGGART, 23.Scott NEVILLE, 29.Jeremy WALKER, 33.Liam REDDY (gk)

**two to be omitted**

 

Ins: 11.Mitch MALLIA (injury replacement player), 29.Jeremy WALKER, (injury replacement player)

Outs: Nil

Unavailable: 6.Mitch NICHOLS (suspended – 2 weeks), 25.Daniel STYNES (hamstring 9-12 weeks), 7.Joel CHIANESE (collar bone – 9-12 weeks), 3.Marc WARREN (ankle 9-12 weeks)

 

 

Sunday, 15 October 2017

Sydney FC v Wellington Phoenix 

Allianz Stadium

Kick-Off: 7:00pm (Local); 7:00pm (AEDT)

Referee: Kurt Ams

Assistant Referee 1: Scott Edeling

Assistant Referee 2: Matthew Mcorist

Fourth Official: Stephen Lucas

Video Assistant Referee: Nick Waldron

 

TV Broadcast: Live coverage on FOX SPORTS 501 from 7:00pm (AEDT) and Sky Sport 1 (New Zealand)

 

Radio Broadcast: ABC Radio Sydney, ABC Radio NSW, Grandstand Digital, Online & via the ABC Listen App – A-league Live.

 

Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tag #SYDvWEL 

 

To purchase tickets please visit www.a-league.com.au/tickets  

 

Sydney FC Squad: 1.Andrew REDMAYNE (gk), 4.Alex WILKINSON, 5.Jordy BUIJS, 6.Josh BRILLANTE, 7.Michael ZULLO, 8.Paulo RETRE, 9.BOBÔ, 10.Milos NINKOVIC, 11.Adrian MIERZEJEWSKI, 13.Brandon O’NEILL, 14.Alex BROSQUE (c), 16.Anthony KALIK, 17.David CARNEY, 18.Matt SIMON, 20.Alex CISAK, 22.Seb RYALL, 26.Luke WILKSHIRE, 30.Tom HEWARD-BELLE (gk)

**two to be omitted**

 

Ins: 7. Michael Zullo (return from injury), 20. Alex CISAK (promoted)

Out: None.

Unavailable: 21.Charles LOKOLINGOY (hamstring – 2/3 weeks), 23.Rhyan GRANT (knee - indefinite)

 

Wellington Phoenix squad: 1.Lewis ITALIANO (gk), 2.Daniel MULLEN, 3.Scott GALLOWAY, 4.Goran PARACKI, 7.Gui FINKLER, 8.Dario VIDOSIC, 9.Andrija KALUDJEROVIC, 10.Michael MCGLINCHEY, 11.Hamish WATSON, 12.Adam PARKHOUSE, 13.Marco ROSSI, 14.Alex RUFER, 17.Ali ABBAS, 19.Thomas DOYLE, 21.Roy KRISHNA, 22.Andrew DURANTE (c), 23.Matthew RIDENTON, 30.Keegan SMITH (gk)

**two to be omitted**

 

Ins:  7.Gui FINKLER (returns from injury), 10.Michael McGLINCHEY (returns from international duty), 19.Thomas DOYLE (returns from international duty), 22.Andrew DURANTE (returns from international duty),

Outs: 6. Dylan Fox (not selected), 24.Logan ROGERSON (not selected)

Unavailable:  Nil

 

Friday, 29 September 2017

 

 

Please note the following update to the Hyundai A-League 2017/18 Season Draw.

  

Round	Date	Home	Away	Venue	Local	AEDT / AEST	Note
6	Sunday, 12 November 2017	Wellington Phoenix	Perth Glory	Westpac Stadium	16:30	14:30	Updated Kick-Off Time
9	Sunday, 3 December 2017	Wellington Phoenix	Melbourne Victory	Westpac Stadium	16:30	14:30	Updated Kick-Off Time
26	Saturday, 7 April 2018	Western Sydney Wanderers FC	Brisbane Roar FC	ANZ Stadium	17:35	17:35	Updated Venue, Date and Kick-Off Time

 

For the complete Hyundai A-League 2017/18 Season Draw, please see attachment or visit www.a-league.com.au

Sydney

Thursday 28 September 2017

 

Football Federation Australia (FFA) today officially unveiled the updated Hyundai A-League Championship Trophy following the rebranding of the Hyundai A-League competition in the lead-up to the 2017/18 season.

 

While FFA considered changing the design and style of the new Hyundai A-League Championship Trophy, it was decided that its uniqueness was the very property that defined it. As such, FFA has stayed true to the original iconic design and modified it to reflect the new competition logo and style concepts.

 

“The Hyundai A-League Championship Trophy is unique, and over the past 12 seasons of the competition has become a symbol of the success of our teams, the commitment of our Clubs, as well as the passion of the league’s Members and fans,” said the Head of the Hyundai A-League & Westfield W-League, Greg O’Rourke. 

 

“We again thank Clive Solari and his team at D3 Design who also produced the original Hyundai A-League Championship Trophy, and also thank W. J. Sanders in Sydney for their fine craftsmanship in producing the new trophy.

 

“Next week we will see ten clubs begin the battle for the right to hold this iconic trophy aloft,” concluded O’Rourke.

 

Director of D3 Design Clive Solari was honoured that his company was tasked with updating the design. 

“I am proud to say that the new trophy has a modern and clean design that will continue to maintain its iconic characteristics,” Solari said.

 

The Hyundai A-League 2017/18 Season kicks off next Friday night (6 October) when Melbourne City FC host Brisbane Roar FC in the opening match at AAMI Park.

Sydney

Wednesday 28 June 2017

 

 

Football Federation Australia today released the eagerly anticipated Hyundai A-League 2017/18 Season draw.

 

The Hyundai A-League 2017/18 season will kick off with a trio of blockbusting rounds featuring a Big Blue (Sydney FC v Melbourne Victory) Grand Final rematch in Round 1, a Melbourne Derby in Round 2 followed by a Sydney Derby in Round 3.

 

Melbourne City FC will host Brisbane Roar FC at AAMI Park in the opening match of the Hyundai A-League 2017/18 Season. The following day will see an F3 Derby in the early game at Central Coast Stadium followed by the Big Blue at Etihad Stadium. Sunday’s matches start with Wellington Phoenix and Adelaide United meeting at Westpac Stadium and the first round will be completed when Perth Glory take on Western Sydney Wanderers FC at Spotless Stadium.

 

The Hyundai A-League 2018 Finals Series will begin on the weekend of 20-22 April with the Hyundai A-League 2018 Grand Final scheduled for the weekend of 5-6 May 2018.

 

Speaking today, FFA Head of Hyundai A-League & Westfield W-League, Greg O’Rourke, was excited about releasing the 13^th edition of the competition draw.

 

“It gives me great pleasure to release the Hyundai A-League 2017/18 Season Draw under a new logo and brand identity,” said O’Rourke.

 

“Developing this draw has been a challenging process to accommodate the preferences of the clubs, venue availability and also the AFC Champions League 2018.

 

“We have added a new feature to this season’s draw with all clubs playing each other twice between rounds 1 to 18. The remaining nine rounds will see each club play each other once in the lead-up to the Hyundai A-League 2018 Finals Series. This stretch of nine Rounds will be known as “The Chase” with 27 points on offer in the run home to Round 27.

 

“This will be the first season of the Hyundai A-League under our new broadcast agreement with Fox Sports who have been a broadcast partner of the competition since 2005 and we are once again look forward to partnering with them.

 

“We are also very excited about working with our new Free-to-Air partner, Network Ten, who will be broadcasting the Harvey Norman Saturday night match and the Hyundai A-League 2018 Finals Series live.

 

“All in all, we believe that this draw will set the scene for another thrilling season of the Hyundai A-League,” concluded O’Rourke.

 

ENDS

 

Key features of the Hyundai A-League 2017/18 Season draw

 

• Opening Round of the Hyundai A-League 2017/18 Season begins on Friday 6 October 2017 with Melbourne City FC hosting Brisbane Roar FC @ AAMI Park, Melbourne
• Hyundai A-League 2018 Finals Series will begin on the weekend of 20-22 April 2018
• Hyundai A-League 2018 Grand Final will be played on the weekend of 5-6 May 2018
• Grand Final Re-Match (Melbourne Victory v Sydney FC): Round 1 (Saturday, 7 October 2017 @ Etihad Stadium)
• All clubs will play in at least one Harvey Norman Saturday Night fixture (kick-off 7:50pm AEST)
• Key Rivalries
  • Melbourne Derbies (Melbourne City FC v Melbourne Victory)
    • Round 2 (Saturday 14 October @ Etihad Stadium)
    • Round 12 (Saturday 23 December @ AAMI Park)
    • Round 22 (Friday 2 March @ AAMI Park)
  • Sydney Derbies (Sydney FC v Western Sydney Wanderers FC)
  • Round 3 (Saturday 21 October @ Allianz Stadium)
  • Round 10 (Saturday 9 December @ ANZ Stadium)
  • Round 21 (Sunday 25 February @ Allianz Stadium)
  • Round 1 (Saturday 7 October @ Central Coast Stadium)
  • Round 15 (Tuesday 9 January @ McDonald Jones )
  • Round 27 (Friday 13 April @ Central Coast Stadium)
  • Round 1 (Saturday 7 October @ Etihad Stadium)
  • Round 18 (Friday 26 January @ AAMI Park)
  • Round 27 (Saturday 14 April @ Allianz Stadium)
  • Round 3 (Friday 20 October @ Adelaide Oval)
  • Round 10 (Friday 8 December @ Etihad Stadium)
  • Round 21 (Saturday 24 February @ AAMI Park)
  • F3 Derbies (Central Coast Mariners v Newcastle Jets)
  • Big Blue (Melbourne Victory v Sydney FC)
  • Adelaide United vs Melbourne Victory
• Summer of Football will see 25 matches in 25 days (i.e. 21 December  to 14 January - Rounds 12-16) which includes matches on:
• Boxing Day (Adelaide United v Central Coast Mariners @ Coopers Stadium)
• New Year’s Eve (Central Coast Mariners v Wellington Phoenix @ Central Coast Stadium)
• New Year’s Day (Western Sydney Wanderers FC v Melbourne City FC @ANZ Stadium)
• Remembrance Round – Round 6
• Play Football Round – Round 19
• Female Football Round – Round 22
• Harmony Round – Round 24
• Round 20 - Week 1 (9-11 February 2018) - Clubs participating in the AFC Champions League 2018
• Round 20 - Week 2 (16-18 February 2018) – No Clubs participating in the AFC Champions League 2018
• Round 22 - Week 1 (2-4 March 2018) - Clubs participating in the AFC Champions League 2018
• Round 22 - Week 2 (9-11 March 2018) – No Clubs participating in the AFC Champions League 2018
• Themed Rounds
• Rounds 20 & 22 will be “Split Rounds” in order to accommodate AFC Champions League Match Days with fixtures scheduled as follows:
• The first 18 rounds will see all clubs play each other twice - both home & away. The remaining 9 Rounds, “The Chase”, will see all clubs play each other once with a potential 27 points on offer for the run in to Round 27
• Fox Sports will show all matches of the Hyundai A-League 2017/18 Season and Hyundai A-League 2018 Finals Series live.
• Network Ten will broadcast one Saturday night match a week and the Hyundai A-League 2018 Finals Series live.

 

For all membership, ticketing, news and match information including exclusive behind-the-scenes content on the Hyundai A-League visit www.a-league.com.au.