All the team news for the season climax. Who will be No.1?
The two top teams in the Hyundai A-League this season, Melbourne Victory and Adelaide United will meet this Saturday in Melbourne, with both aiming to play the perfect match.
Football fans can expect a 90 minute rollercoaster ride of football emotion and entertainment.
And Grand Final tickets are certainly the ‘most wanted’. Tickets are selling fast with less than 2,000 tickets remaining for the general public. Telstra Dome’s Medallion Members also have the opportunity to experience Grand Final action.
With thousands of football fans expected to fill the Telstra Dome, spectators are encouraged to use public transport.
2 teams. 1 champion.
Weekend Matches
Melbourne Victory v Adelaide United
Saturday 28 February, 2009
Telstra Dome
Local kick off 7.30pm AEDT
Referee. Matthew Breeze
Live and exclusive broadcast on FOX Sports 1 and Sky Sport 2.
Also broadcasted on SEN 1116AM, SBS Radio, ABC Victoria & South Australia Radio and FRESH FM.
Tickets are available from Ticketmaster on 136 100, online or any Ticketmaster outlet.
Melbourne Victory Squad: 1.Michael THEOKLITOS (gk), 2.Kevin MUSCAT (Captain), 3.Michael THWAITE, 5.Sebastian RYALL, 7.Matthew KEMP, 8.Grant BREBNER, 9.Danny ALLSOPP, 10.Archie THOMPSON, 11.NEY FABIANO, 12.Rodrigo VARGAS, 13.Nathan ELASI, 14.Billy CELESKI, 15.Tom PONDELJAK, 16.Carlos HERNANDEZ, 17.Jose Luis LOPEZ, 18.Leigh BROXHAM, 19.Evan BERGER, 20.Mitchell LANGERAK (gk), 22.Nick WARD three to be omitted
In: Michael THWAITE (promoted), Nathan ELASI (promoted), Leigh BROXHAM (promoted)
Out: Nil
Others Unavailable: Nil
Adelaide United squad: 20.Eugene GALEKOVIC (gk), 2.Robert CORNTHWAITE, 3.ALEMAO, 4.Angelo COSTANZO, 5. Michael VALKANIS, 6. CASSIO, 7.Lucas PANTELIS, 9.Paul AGOSTINO, 10.CRISTIANO, 13.Travis DODD (c.), 14.Scott JAMIESON, 15.Jonas SALLEY, 16.Daniel MULLEN, 18.Fabian BARBIERO, 19.Sasa OGNENOVSKI, 22.DIEGO, 24.Paul REID, 25.Robert YOUNIS, 27.Michael MARRONE, 28.Rostyn GRIFFITHS, 30.Mark BIRIGHITTI (gk) five to be omitted
In: CASSIO (returns from suspension), DIEGO (promoted), Robert YOUNIS (promoted), Michael VALKANIS (promoted), Angelo COSTANZO.
Out: Nil
Others Unavailable: Kristian SARKIES (ankle – 1 week), Daniel BELTRAME (gk) (knee – season), Jason SPAGNUOLO (long term injury).
Stats, Facts & Milestones
Melbourne Victory are aiming to maintain their current all-time record Hyundai A-League run of consecutive home wins, having won their past seven matches at Telstra Dome.
Adelaide will be aiming to halt a five-match losing streak against the Melbourne Victory – the current record winning/losing streak by one team over another is six, when Melbourne Victory defeated the New Zealand Knights six times in a row from October 2005 to December 2006.
Having won their previous four matches (all games), Melbourne Victory are aiming to win five in a row for only the third time in the history of the Hyundai A-League – only the Victory (8 games, Feb to Oct 2006) and Adelaide United (7 games, Nov 2005 to Jan 2006) have won more than four consecutive matches before.
Adelaide United-s Travis Dodd is set to become the Hyundai A-League-s record finals appearance player – currently Dodd is tied with Sasho Petrovski with 10 finals match appearances each.
HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORDS in all official competitions
All matches (played 17): Melbourne Victory wins 9, Adelaide United wins 5 (3 draws).
In Melbourne (played 9): Melbourne Victory wins 6, Adelaide United wins 2 (1 draw).
Hyundai A-League Grand Final flashbacks
Hyundai A-League 2006 Grand Final
Sydney FC 1 – Central Coast Mariners 0 (Sydney Football Stadium)
Hyundai A-League 2007 Grand Final
Melbourne Victory 6 – Adelaide United 0 (Telstra Dome)
Hyundai A-League 2008 Grand Final
Newcastle Jets 1 – Central Coast Mariners 0 (Sydney Football Stadium)
