Sunday, August 15, 3:00pm AEST
Kick-off: 3:00pm AEST
Venue: Blue Tongue Stadium, Gosford
Head-to-head
Played 16: Adelaide United 6 wins, Central Coast 5, Draws 5,
Previous Meeting
Adelaide United 1, Central Coast 1, Round 22, 2009/10, Hindmarsh Stadium,
History
The Reds and the Mariners faced off three times last year with two draws and United winning the first encounter 1-0 in Round 6 at Hindmarsh Stadium.
Season So Far
Central Coast:
Round 1: Melbourne Heart 0, Central Coast 1, AAMI Park
Adelaide United:
Round 1: Adelaide United 0, Newcastle Jets 0, Hindmarsh Stadium
Match Committee United’s injury woes go from bad to worse with central defender Nigel Boogaard expected to be sidelined for up to a month with an ankle injury. The loss leaves the Reds short on defensive options as Robert Cornthwaite is still recovering from groin surgery. Right-back Daniel Mullen should slot into the centre of defence to partner Ian Fyfe while his spot at full back is up for grabs this week. Marcos Flores returns to the line-up after being a last-minute withdrawal from the season opener. The Mariners have virtually a full squad to choose from with Joshua Rose cleared to play after receiving a provisional clearance from FIFA after his former club, Romania’s Universitatea Craiova denied him an international transfer clearance. Argentine Patricio Perez, former teammate of Lionel Messi in the Argentine U-20 World Cup winning squad of 2005, will also make his Hyundai A-League debut after returning from injury.
Danger men Adam Kwasnik was lethal in front of goal during the Mariners’ warm up matches finding the back of the net seven times in ten matches including a hat-trick against Canberra FC. His partner in crime, Daniel McBreen, started ahead of Nick Mrdja last week against Melbourne Heart. He joins the Mariners from North Queensland Fury after an impressive six-game stint with Perth Glory at the end of last season, where he found the back of the net five times. United’s wide players, speedsters, Qantas Socceroo contender Matthew Leckie and Sydney FC recruit Iain Ramsay loom as match winners for the Reds. While Leckie had a tough night against the Jets last Friday, Ramsay impressed on debut providing plenty of run on the left and more than a few dangerous crosses into the box.
Where the game will be won United’s squad is depleted by injury and it isn’t the ideal start to Dutchman, Rini Coolen’s coaching career in the Hyundai A-League. The Reds’ defence will be without key stoppers Robert Cornthwaite and now Nigel Boogard, while captain Travis Dodd is expected to miss a further two months with a groin injury. Central Coast have recruited smartly in the off season signing keeper Jess Vanstrattan from Gold Coast, McBreen and Patrick Zwaanswijk from NAC Breda in the Netherlands just to name a few. The Mariners enjoyed a solid win in the opening game of the season and should be the only team with a perfect record at the end of Round 2.
Central Coast Mariners squad: 1. Jess VANSTRATTAN (gk), 2 Daniel MCBREEN, 3. Joshua ROSE, 4. Pedj BOJIC, 5. Brad PORTER, 6. Patrick ZWAANSWIJK, 7. John HUTCHINSON, 8. Rostyn GRIFFITHS, 9. Nik MRDJA, 10. Patricio PEREZ, 11. Oliver BOZANIC, 12. Matthew LEWIS, 14. Michael McGLINCHEY, 18. Alex WILKINSON (c), 19. Matt SIMON, 20. Mathew RYAN (gk), 23. Adam KWASNIK
*two to be omitted*
In: 3. Joshua ROSE (transfer clearance), 10. Patricio PEREZ (return from injury)
Out: Nil
Unavailable: Nil
Adelaide United squad: 1.Eugene GALEKOVIC (gk), 4.Iain FYFE, 5.Daniel MULLEN, 6.CASSIO, 7.Lucas PANTELIS (c), 8.Adam HUGHES, 9.Sergio VAN DIJK, 10.Marcos FLORES, 12.Paul REID, 15.Francsco MONTEROSSO, 16.Inseob SHIN, 17.Iain RAMSAY, 19.Mathew LECKIE, 20.Mark BIRIGHITTI (gk), 24.Cameron WATSON
In: Marcos FLORES (returns from injury)
Out: Nigel BOOGAARD (ankle – 4/6 weeks)
Unavailable: Robert CORNTHWAITE (groin – 1 week), Travis DODD (groin – 7 weeks), Lloyd OWUSU (knee – indefinite), Fabian BARBIERO (ankle – 4 weeks)
