The Isuzu UTE A-League 2025-26 season reaches its final weekend and aleagues.com.au has everything you need to know ahead of Round 26.
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Macarthur FC v Wellington Phoenix
Friday April 24 – Campbelltown Sports Stadium – 7:35pm AEST
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Current table position
Macarthur FC: 9th
Wellington Phoenix: 7th
Round 25 result
Macarthur FC: 3-1 loss to Adelaide United (A)
Wellington Phoenix: 2-1 win over Western Sydney Wanderers (H)
This match will be one for pride with neither Macarthur nor Wellington being able to make finals.
The Phoenix had hope after their 2-1 win over Western Sydney last Saturday, but those hopes were extinguished when Melbourne City took the three points up in Brisbane.
Wellington had been on a late charge at making finals after a slow start, taking four wins from their seven matches since installing Chris Greenacre as interim Head Coach.
The big carrot on display in this game is the Golden Boot – with Wellington striker Ifeanyi Eze (11) one goal behind Auckland forward Sam Cosgrove at the top of the charts.
Macarthur, in contrast, were competing for a top six spot earlier on in the season but their chances continued to fade as they went on to record just four wins in their 15 Isuzu UTE A-League matches since New Year’s Day.
Bulls striker Mitch Duke has hit form at the right time to make the Socceroos World Cup squad, scoring five goals since joining Macarthur in January – with three of them coming in the last three matches.
These sides last met in November, a late Harrison Sawyer goal sealing the win for Macarthur.
Newcastle Jets v Central Coast Mariners
Saturday, April 25 – McDonald Jones Stadium – 5:00pm AEST
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Current table position
Newcastle Jets: 1st
Central Coast Mariners: 8th
Round 25 result
Newcastle Jets: 2-2 draw against Melbourne Victory (A)
Central Coast Mariners: 1-0 win over Auckland FC (A)
Central Coast did their F3 Derby rivals a huge favour when they defeated Auckland 1-0 last week, sealing Newcastle’s Premiership win.
Central Coast had been on a slide heading into last weekend’s clash in Auckland and were unable to make the Finals Series regardless of the result – but they still went to Go Media Stadium and recorded a deserved victory.
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So with finals out of the question for the Mariners, this weekend is an opportunity to annoy the Jets and disrupt any momentum they want to build for the finals.
Newcastle almost had to sputter to the finish line, going winless in their last three matches; a win here will do them a world of good going into their week off before finals.
The Jets haven’t beaten Central Coast this season; with a last minute goal from Nicholas Duarte earning the Mariners a 3-2 win in Round 1, then a 0-0 draw in Round 19 brought Newcastle’s eight match winning streak to an end.
Western Sydney Wanderers v Melbourne Victory
Saturday, April 25 – Commbank Stadium – 7:35pm AEST
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Current table position
Western Sydney Wanderers: 12th
Melbourne Victory: 6th
Round 25 result
Western Sydney Wanderers: 2-1 loss to Wellington Phoenix (A)
Melbourne Victory: 2-2 draw against Newcastle Jets (H)
Western Sydney were consigned to their first ever Isuzu UTE A-League wooden spoon with their loss to Wellington meaning catching either Perth Glory or Brisbane Roar is now out of the question.
This, as well as the wooden spoon in the Ninja A-League, capped off a horrid year for the Wanderers.
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As for Melbourne Victory Arthur Diles’ side have thrown away 2-1 leads late-on two weeks in a row now; this is a habit they’re really going to want to get out of with finals on the horizon, and here is as good a place as any to start.
Japanese striker Charles Nduka has found his stride in navy blue, scoring four goals in his last six game since joining the club in January.
Victory are guaranteed at least sixth place, but a win here with Sydney and Melbourne City losing can bring them up to fourth and an all-important home elimination final.
Western Sydney took the points home with them when they came down to Melbourne in January, Kosta Barbarouses scoring the only goal from the spot.
Perth Glory v Brisbane Roar
Saturday, April 25 – HBF Park – 9:45pm AEST
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Current table position
Perth Glory: 10th
Brisbane Roar: 11th
Round 25 result
Perth Glory: 0-0 draw against Sydney FC (A)
Brisbane Roar: 3-2 loss to Melbourne City (H)
Both Perth and Brisbane are safe from the wooden spoon, making their last match of the season that little bit less stressful.
Perth are unbeaten in their last four matches, keeping finals-bound Sydney and Melbourne City to draws while taking a win and a draw from Macarthur and Central Coast respectively.
The big news heading into this game is the fact Glory’s all-time leading appearance maker Josh Risdon will play his 171st and final match on Saturday having announced his retirement from football.
Brisbane meanwhile haven’t won since they played Perth in the middle of January, where Adam Taggart opened the scoring before Chris Long and Sam Klein found the back of the net.
22-year-old Klein has been a shining light in Brisbane’s disappointing season; where injuries have hampered the Roar, Klein has been durable, starting all 24 matches he’s played and only having missed one match for a yellow-card suspension.
The score was 1-1 when these sides last met, Long and a Youstin Salas own goal seeing the points shared.
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Sydney FC v Auckland FC
Sunday, April 26 – Allianz Staidum – 3:00pm AEST
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Current table position
Sydney FC: 4th
Auckland FC: 2nd
Round 25 result
Sydney FC: 0-0 draw against Perth Glory (H)
Auckland FC: 1-0 loss to Central Coast Mariners (H)
Sydney has the most room to move of all four finals-bound sides.
A win by three or more goals and a loss or draw for Adelaide United would see Sydney finish second.
A loss with wins to Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory, they can go as low as sixth.
Auckland had the chance to take the Premiership battle down to the final round, but a 1-0 loss to Central Coast saw Newcastle move out of reach as they claimed their first ever Premiers Plate.
The NZ side are guaranteed a top four finish, though they’ll be keen to hang on to the second place they currently hold.
The Sky Blues have been held to draws by bottom three sides Perth and Brisbane in recent weeks, with their only win from their last six matches a 2-0 derby win over the Wanderers.
These sides played out a 1-1 draw when they met in February, Alexandar Popović scored for Sydney in the 84th minute before a stoppage time own goal from Alex Grant drew Auckland back level.
Melbourne City v Adelaide United
Sunday, April 26 – AAMI Park – 5:30pm AEST
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Current table position
Melbourne City: 5th
Adelaide United: 3rd
Round 25 result
Melbourne City: 3-2 win over Brisbane Roar (A)
Adelaide United: 3-1 win over Macarthur FC (H)
Adelaide head over to Melbourne for the final match of the season and the final chance to bag themselves a second-placed finish.
Melbourne City are the form side of the competition right now. They’ve won their last four matches and are unbeaten in all competitions since February.
Adelaide can secure second spot on the ladder if they beat Melbourne City and Auckland FC lose or draw with Sydney FC.
Adelaide aren’t that far behind them, also undefeated since February though with a pair of draws in between their last two wins.
Brazilian veteran Anselmo has picked a fine time to start showing why Adelaide brought him into the club, scoring two goals last time out and registering an assist the week before.
Marcus Younis added a pair of goals to his tally in last weekend’s 3-2 win over Brisbane, further pushing his case for a spot in the Socceroos’ World Cup squad.
These sides last played in Round 5, Adelaide taking a 4-1 win with goals from Ethan Alagich, Luka Jovanović, Ryan White and Jay Barnett for the Reds and Takeshi Kanamori for City.
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