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OR PERHAPS YOU'RE A HEART FAN? READ THIS INSTEAD
The Victory are set to light it up like the proverbial Christmas tree tonight against their version of the 'noisy neighbours' Melbourne Heart and AAMI Park will be packed to the rafters with the SOLD OUT sign going up late Wednesday. There in lies the reason that I predict the Victory will not only win but will win convincingly. Heart are full of of quality youngsters, the likes of Hamill, Babalj, Hoffman and Behich, these players have been outstanding but aren't used to crowds above 6,000 whereas players of the calibre of Thompson, Hernandez, Kewell and Leijer are disappointed when the attendance figure falls below five figures and play accordingly.
Heart have no doubt played the better football over the past few weeks led by who I think is currently the best player in the Hyundai A-League in Maté Dugandziç. But with all due respect, Maté at the peak of his powers is not of the same standard as Harry Kewell who is cherry ripe to flick the switch to his best.
Heart's defensive pairing of Hamill and Madaschi do not have the pace to stop Archie Thompson who just continues to get better, and if the last few weeks is anything to go by Shroj is going to have his work cut out for him stopping A-League great Carlos Hernandez (yes I said that!).
The only query I have on Victory winning is their persistent schoolboy mistakes at the back with Leijer, Franjic and Fabio all prone to one really bad error a month. Hopefully it doesn't come this week and the match is won through football brilliance rather than horrible mistakes or referee intervention, which both teams have fallen horribly hard on so far this season.
My Prediction
Victory 4 def Heart 1 - Victory too experienced on the big occasions. Too quick, too good and Archie Thompson on the big stage is like a moth to the AAMI Park LED lighting system.
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