Newcastle Jets V Melbourne Victory

The Age

Friday December 19, 2008

MICHAEL LYNCH

NEWCASTLE JETS v MELBOURNE VICTORY

ENERGY AUSTRALIA STADIUM, NEWCASTLE, 8PM TODAY

TV/RADIO: FOX Sports 1, 8pm and SEN 1116

WHAT'S AT STAKE? Melbourne can go back on top with a win here.

The Jets have to salvage some pre-Christmas pride for their fans.

WHO ARE YOU? A shadow of your former self. The Jets have lost so

many players even the missing persons' bureau can't help any more.

Joel Griffiths has to lead from the front now and for the foreseeable future.

TEAMSHEET: Archie Thompson remains an injury concern while

Evan Berger returns for Victory. Depleted Newcastle is without James Holland,

trialling with Dutch club AZ Alkmaar, and suspended Jobe Wheelhouse.

VERDICT: Melbourne should ease to a win. The Jets will be feisty, but in

the end Victory should be too good.

WELLINGTON PHOENIX

v CENTRAL COAST MARINERS

WESTPAC STADIUM, WELLINGTON, 5.30PM (AEDT) TODAY

TV: FOX Sports 1, 5.30pm

WHAT'S AT STAKE? Both teams are battling for a spot in the four, so

this becomes that old cliche, a six-pointer.

TEAMSHEET: Richie Johnson, Adam Kwasnik and the venerable striker

Vaughan Coveny are back for the Phoenix. The Mariners are without Nigel

Boogard and have added Andrew Clark as defensive cover.

VERDICT: Wellington has to take three points to stay alive, and it just

might do so.

SYDNEY

v PERTH GLORY

SYDNEY FOOTBALL STADIUM, 5PM SUNDAY

TV: FOX Sports 1, 5pm

WHAT'S AT STAKE? Perth has only slim hopes of making the four

and cannot afford to lose. Sydney needs a win in front of its own fans.

TEAMSHEET: Injury-riddled Sydney has named the same squad that

lost in Gosford last week, although Simon Colosimo is reported to be only two

weeks away. Adrian Trinidad is back to boost the Perth squad.

VERDICT: Sydney may have enough grit to just edge past an improving

Perth outfit.

**THE ADELAIDE UNITED V QUEENSLAND ROAR MATCH HAS BEEN RE-SCHEDULED TO

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14 DUE TO ADELAIDE'S PARTICIPATION IN THE FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP. -- MICHAEL LYNCH

© 2008 The Age

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