RoW- an insiders view
With both the RoW league & RoW Cup entering the second phase of the group stages, Australian clubs in both competitions are look very good at the prospect at progressing to the knock-out stages.
In the RoW League Australia's three representatives are in really good shape with both AC NewAge & Alcoholics Utd both sit at the top of their respective group after winning all three matches so far. Dangerous Alliance sit currently in second spot of there group with a better for-and -a-against over third place ريو of Bahrain.
Match day four will see AC NewAge wrap up qualification for the knock-out stages if they can pick-up a draw or a win against current third place Firooz of Iran. But it won't be a walk in the park for the six times A-League champions, as they have up to four first team regulars out with injuries and suspensions.
Alcoholics Utd are in even better shape the that of AC NewAge, as a draw could be good enough for them to finish top the the group and cement a home match in the round of sixty-four. With only a suspension to Lucas Carlon, Aaron Smith will have pretty much a full team to chose from. Will he rest several players and give some of the fringe players a game? Or will he try and wrap up qualification first?
Dangerous Alliance on the other hand, even though they are in a great position to qualify, will need to pick up maximum points away against ريو of Bahrain. With both teams sitting on four points this could be the match that makes or breaks either teams chances of qualifying for the later stages of the RoW League. With only Daniel Rowe out because of suspension you can pretty much guarantee that DA will be fielding a very strong line-up for this critical match.
As for Australian clubs playing in the RoW Cup things are looking just as bright here for the Australian clubs.
Because of Dangerous Alliance and Melbourne Supremacy both making it all the way to the RoW Cup final last season, Austral has an extra allocated spot this season with equals four teams representing Australia in the RoW Cup.
Out of the fur clubs, three are in great position for qualifying for the knock-out stages with C.C.Mariners, Green Tea United & Melbourne Supremacy all sitting on top of their groups with GTU winning both of their matches.
Australia's forth and final representative Harry Cool sits in forth place but still in a a healthy position.
Harry Cool is one of three Australian clubs that has the week off. It will be left to the other four teams in the group to battle it out. Harry Cool will know what is required of them with their final two matches after Tuesdays results.
GTU also has the week off, and the timing couldn't be any better as Green Tea United have five players unavailable this week due to injuries and suspensions. Depending on results, Green Tea United could qualify for the round of sixty-four with two matches spare. A great feat for RoW football first timers.
C.C. Mariners are the final Australian team who has the bye this season.
Out of all the Australian teams in the RoW Cup, only Melbourne Supremacy are playing. A win should be enough to see them progress thought to the next phase of the competition. Another day and one would think this was a straight forward match for Lee Waddels men as they are playing win-less Nigerian team Enyimba. But unfortunately for Waddel he will be without four players all to injury. Does MS have enough depth to see past Enyimba? Or will they have to wait until another day to progress to the knock-out stages?
These are exciting times for Australia and her clubs. With Australia sitting in the number one spot on the world stage, and her clubs improving each season in international club competitions. The future is looking brighter each season. Will we see a record number of teams in the knock-out phase this season? I'm confident we will.
Written by Alcoholics Utd.