Westfield FFA Cup Final form guide

With 15 days to go till the Cup final, Sydney FC remain the favourites to win a first Westfield FFA Cup title on November 21 by virtue of their ladder position.

After moving top of the Hyundai A-League over the weekend, the Sky Blues are in top form ahead of their chance to make it three trophies in the calendar year. 

Graham Arnold’s men inflicted Melbourne City’s first defeat of the season last Friday night as the champions reasserted their place as the team to beat in Australian football.

Luke Wilkshire’s smart second half finish proved the difference at AAMI Park and helped erase some of Sydney’s pain from the scene of last year’s Cup final heartbreak.

And while the Sky Blues weren’t entirely fluent, Arnold has promised an opponent will soon “cop it” when his side rediscover their ruthless best in front of goal.

Adelaide, at least in their current state of form, can only hope they aren’t on the receiving end.

Paul Izzo’s fine display away to Perth Glory – which included an early penalty save from Diego Castro – was not enough to save Marco Kurz’s side from a 1-0 defeat.

Instead, Andy Keogh’s late header left the visitors with a second successive defeat as their confident start to the campaign threatens to unravel.

Most worryingly for the Reds, they have been kept scoreless across the back-to-back losses – a concern heightened by the arm injury Karim Matmour sustained at nib Stadium.

The Algerian should overcome the knock in time for the Allianz Stadium decider but, with the likes of Johan Absalonsen, Ersan Gulum, Vince Lia and Taylor Regan already sidelined, it’s another unwanted headache for Kurz.

Adelaide will look to overcome those setbacks at home to an in-form Newcastle Jets this Saturday, following Sydney’s short trip to winless Central Coast Mariners the previous night.