The 2025-26 Ninja A-League moves into Round 21 this weekend, and you can find everything you need at aleagues.com.au.
Continue reading for a detailed game-by-game preview of the upcoming matches in Round 21.
Brisbane Roar vs. Perth Glory
Friday, March 27 – Spencer Park – 8:00pm AEDT
MATCH CENTRE | BUY TICKETS | HOW TO WATCH
Current standings
Brisbane Roar: 7th
Perth Glory: 8th
Round 20 result
Brisbane Roar: 4-2 victory over Newcastle Jets (H)
Perth Glory: 0-0 draw with Central Coast Mariners (A)
This match is crucial for determining which team will make it into the top six, as Perth is just one point adrift of Brisbane.
A win for Glory would propel them past the Roar into fifth place, at least temporarily depending on the outcomes of Melbourne Victory and Central Coast’s games.
If the game ends in a draw, both teams could find their finals hopes dashed if Melbourne Victory and Central Coast secure wins this weekend. However, should both lose, Brisbane, Perth, Victory, and Central Coast will battle for the last two finals spots.
Brisbane heads into this fixture as the favourite, especially with goalkeeper Chloe Lincoln returning from Matildas duty and after their emphatic win over Newcastle.
Teenage striker Daisy Brown notched her first Ninja A-League hat-trick, while Bente Jansen, hailing from the Netherlands, added her eighth goal of the season in the victory.
In their earlier encounter in November, Brisbane clinched victory in Perth with two goals from Jansen and one from Grace Kuilamu, countering Perth’s two goals by Rola Badawiya and Ella Lincoln.
Adelaide United vs. Newcastle Jets
Saturday, March 28 – ServiceFM Stadium – 2:45pm AEDT
MATCH CENTRE | BUY TICKETS | HOW TO WATCH
Current standings
Adelaide United: 4th
Newcastle Jets: 9th
Round 20 result
Adelaide United: 3-2 defeat to Canberra United (A)
Newcastle Jets: 4-2 defeat to Brisbane Roar (A)
Adelaide United has stumbled slightly, with one draw and one loss in their last two games against fellow top-four contenders, Melbourne City and Canberra United. They’ll be eager to get back on track at home against the Jets.
Newcastle still has a mathematical chance of making the finals, but they will need an incredible series of results to occur in their favour.
They require a victory here and against Melbourne City next weekend, along with losses for Central Coast, Brisbane Roar, and Melbourne Victory in their final two matches, plus a significant swing in goal difference.
While it’s a stretch, anything can happen in the Ninja A-League.
Newcastle found themselves down 4-0 to Brisbane last weekend but managed to pull it back to 4-2 with late goals from Natasha Prior and Sophie Hoban.
Sarah Morgan opened the scoring for Adelaide against Canberra, while promising 18-year-old striker Sian Dewey netted her first Ninja A-League goal in stoppage time just three minutes after coming on.
These sides last met in January, where Cassidy Davis opened the scoring for Newcastle before Erin Healy and Carina Rossi struck to secure a win for Adelaide.
Sydney FC vs. Melbourne Victory
Saturday, March 28 – Leichhardt Oval – 5:00pm AEDT
MATCH CENTRE | BUY TICKETS | HOW TO WATCH
Current standings
Sydney FC: 11th
Melbourne Victory: 6th
Round 20 result
Sydney FC: 3-1 defeat to Wellington Phoenix (H)
Melbourne Victory: Bye
Melbourne Victory can significantly strengthen their spot in the top six with a win over Sydney, while a victory for Sydney could help them avoid the bottom of the table.
Should Victory lose, they will need to clinch a win against Perth Glory next weekend to ensure they’re not reliant on other results to secure their finals berth.
Sydney took an early lead in their previous match against Wellington Phoenix thanks to Caley Tallon-Henniker’s goal just three minutes in. However, it wasn’t enough to halt the Phoenix, who responded with three goals.
Prior to their bye, Melbourne Victory managed a gritty 1-0 win over Western Sydney Wanderers, with Holly Furphy’s second-half strike proving decisive.
The two sides played to a goalless draw in January, with goalkeepers Heather Hinz and Courtney Newbon putting in top performances, making seven and five saves respectively.
Wellington Phoenix vs. Western Sydney Wanderers
Sunday, March 29 – Porirua Park – 2:00pm AEDT
MATCH CENTRE | BUY TICKETS | HOW TO WATCH
Current standings
Wellington Phoenix: 2nd
Western Sydney Wanderers: 10th
Round 20 result
Wellington Phoenix: 3-1 win against Sydney FC (A), 2-1 loss to Central Coast Mariners (A)
Western Sydney Wanderers: 2-1 defeat against Melbourne City (H)
Wellington squandered an opportunity to apply real pressure on Melbourne City when they fell 2-1 to Central Coast midweek, but their quest for the premiership is not yet over.
If the Phoenix can secure victory here and again next week against Adelaide, while Melbourne City drops points against Newcastle, they could still clinch the title.
A draw or loss for the Phoenix would hand the premiership to City, irrespective of next week’s results.
Last weekend, Talia Younis showcased her spectacular skill with a stunning long-range goal that helped halve City’s lead.
The Wanderers are in desperate need of some brilliance from Younis to stand a chance against the formidable Phoenix squad.
With a bye coming up, this will be Western Sydney’s final match of the season, and their last chance to maintain distance from Sydney FC at the bottom of the table.
Wellington claimed a convincing 3-0 victory when the teams last met in December, thanks to two goals from Emma Main and one from Sabitra ‘Samba’ Bhandari.
Central Coast Mariners vs. Canberra United
Sunday, March 29 – polytec Stadium – 4:00pm AEDT
MATCH CENTRE | BUY TICKETS | HOW TO WATCH
Current standings
Central Coast Mariners: 5th
Canberra United: 3rd
Round 20 result
Central Coast Mariners: 0-0 draw with Perth Glory (A), 2-1 win against Wellington Phoenix (H)
Canberra United: 3-2 victory over Adelaide United (H)
The Central Coast Mariners refuse to back down. Last week, they surged from eighth place, showing resilience in their quest for finals contention.
Striker Eliza Familton opened the scoring with a header, and Izzy Gomez added an insurance goal from the edge of the 18-yard box as they clinched a 2-1 win.
Canberra fought through pressure from Adelaide to secure their 3-2 win, with goals from Bethany Gordon, Emma Hawkins, and an own goal keeping them third on the ladder.
Although Canberra cannot win the premiership, they can still overtake the Phoenix for second place to guarantee a spot in the semi-finals, provided results favour them.
Given the tight nature of this season, Central Coast could finish as high as second or possibly miss the finals altogether. A win here will keep them in fifth place but will set them on course to secure finals next weekend.
The last meeting between these teams was marked by lengthy stoppages due to lightning, with a late goal from Canberra’s Sasha Grove cancelling out Annalise Rasmussen’s opener, resulting in a share of the points.
Compiled by SportArena.au.
Fanpage: SportArena.au.
LiveScore – Live Sports Results & Odds.
