Subway Socceroos at Home: A-League Men’s 2022/23 Round 21 Preview

The A-League Men's action returns this weekend before the competition pauses for a week, observing the FIFA international window.

Once again several Subway Socceroos will be featuring as the business end of the season heats up with just six matches left.

And following Graham Arnold's squad announcement, there are even more players in the competition to keep an eye on with three potential debutants and a returning Socceroo named in the latest 26-player roster ahead of the two friendly games against Ecuador.

Craig Goodwin and Jason Cummings were the standout performers last weekend, both fetching goals for Adelaide United and Central Coast Mariners respectively.

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Check out the preview below:

Adelaide United vs Wellington Phoenix 

Craig Goodwin's Adelaide United will be aiming to make it 10 games unbeaten when they welcome Wellington Phoenix to Coopers Stadium on Friday night.

The winger produced a man-of-the-match performance against the Newcastle Jets last time out, scoring one goal and laying on two assists as the Reds secured successive 4-2 victories.

In 2022/23, Goodwin has nine goals and eight assists in 19 matches.

Joe Gauci, who was this week named in Graham Arnold's 26-player squad, is expected to feature between the sticks and has experienced another strong campaign with the Reds. 

Joe Gauci

Sydney FC vs Western Sydney Wanderers 

Andrew Redmayne and Sydney FC host Western Sydney Wanderers in the Sydney Derby on Saturday night.

The old foes will resume hostilities as the usually tempestuous affair returns to Allianz Stadium.

Redmayne recorded a clean sheet in a narrow 1-0 win in the last derby back in February and will be hoping for an identical outcome again.

Meanwhile, Brandon Borello, has been on a tear of late and was also rewarded with an Australia call-up.

The forward won the Isuzu Ute A-League Player of the Month accolade for February and has eight goals and two assists for the Wanderers this campaign.

Macarthur FC vs Melbourne City 

Melbourne City could now be without two key Subway Socceroos with Jamie Maclaren potentially joining Mathew Leckie on the sidelines.

City head coach Rado Vidosic revealed his star striker has been playing through pain with a broken toe and was yet to decide the appropriate course of action. Indeed, Leckie remains unavailable, nursing a hamstring injury.

However, Marco Tilio remains in City's attack and has five goals and six assists for the campaign.

City duo Jordan Bos and Aiden O'Neill are also likely to start for the ladder leaders after earning national team call-ups for the first time.

The pair have been excellent this season with O'Neill scoring a brace against Brisbane Roar last weekend, while Bos has been one of the competition's best left-backs this term with a goal and three assists.

Jordan Bos
O'Neill

Melbourne Victory vs Central Coast Mariners

Jason Cummings ended a two-game goal drought with a brace for Central Coast Mariners in a dominant win over Macarthur FC.

The Mariners and Cummings now travel to Victoria with their talisman now taking his league total to 14 to stay second in the Golden Boot race.

Recently called-up/capped Subway Socceroos

Melbourne Victory: Ben Folami and Bruno Fornaroli
Perth Glory: Adam Taggart
Sydney FC: Joel King, Rhyan Grant and Alex Wilkinson

Subway Olyroos

Adelaide United: Louis D’Arrigo, Alexandar Popovic
Brisbane Roar: Jordan Courtney-Perkins, Kai Trewin
Central Coast Mariners: Jacob Farrell
Macarthur FC: Jake Hollman
Melbourne City: Callum Talbot
Melbourne Victory: Nishan Velupillay 
Newcastle Jets: Thomas Aquilina, Lucas Mauragis, Mark Natta 
Perth Glory: Cameron Cook, Keegan Jelacic
Western Sydney Wanderers: Calem Nieuwenhof
Western United: Noah Botic

Subway Young Socceroos

Adelaide United: Bernardo Oliveira, Panashe Madanha, Jonny Yull 
Central Coast Mariners: Nectarios Triantis
Macarthur FC: Jed Drew, Alexander Robinson 
Melbourne City: Raphael Borges Rodrigues, Max Caputo, James Nieuwenhuizen
Newcastle Jets: Archie Goodwin
Perth Glory: Joseph Forde, Chris Donnell, Kaelan Majekodunmi
Sydney FC: Adrian Segecic, Jake Girdwood-Reich
Western Sydney Wanderers: Alessandro Lopane, Alexander Badolato, Aidan Simmons, Jack Warshawsky 
Western United: Rhys Bozinovski

Subway Joeys

Adelaide United: Nestory Irankunda (called up to Socceroos as a train on)