Wellington Phoenix skipper Andrew Durante will head into the record books on Friday night when he breaks the all-time Hyundai A-League appearance record in the clash with Sydney FC at Allianz Stadium.
Durante will turn out in his 279th Hyundai A-League clash, surpassing former Sky Blues custodian Danny Vukovic for most games in the competition’s history.
It’s a special accolade for the 35-year-old and it’s fitting it will occur at the same ground he won the championship with at the Newcastle Jets in 2008.
Durante played 40 games over two seasons for the Jets (2006-08), claiming the Joe Marston Medal as the man-of-the-match in that 1-0 grand final win over F3 Derby rivals Central Coast Mariners.
While Durante’s feat is the highlight achievement heading into Round 18, there’s a number of other milestones set to be reached over the weekend.
We’ve got the full list below.
- Left-back Scott Jamieson is set to make his 200th Hyundai A-League appearance when Melbourne City travel to Brisbane Roar on Sunday.
- Western Sydney Wanderers midfielder Steven Lustica is set for Hyundai A-League appearance number 100 in his side’s clash with the Mariners.
- Sydney FC custodian Andrew Redmayne will make his 100th Hyundai A-League start against the Phoenix on Friday night.
- That’s the same mark Nick Fitzgerald will hit if he’s in City’s starting line-up against the Roar.
- While he’s one of the most experienced players in the Hyundai A-League, Nikolai Topor-Stanley is play his 100th game for the Newcastle Jets when they host Melbourne Victory on Saturday.
- Phoenix striker Roy Krishna needs just one goal to draw level with Paul Ifill (33) for most goals for the Kiwi club.
- One goal for the Jets against Victory will be the club’s 400th in the Hyundai A-League
- If the Sky Blues beat Wellington on Friday night, Graham Arnold will draw level with Ernie Merrick (110) for most wins as a coach in the Hyundai A-League. Merrick will have the chance to respond 24 hours later in the Hunter.
