The 2025-26 Isuzu UTE A-League season is down to the final four teams and aleagues.com.au has everything you need to know ahead of week 2 of the Finals Series.
CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR TICKETS TO THE ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE
Auckland FC v Adelaide United
Saturday, May 9 – Go Media Stadium – 4:00pm AEST
MATCH CENTRE | BUY TICKETS | HOW TO WATCH
Final table position
Auckland FC: 3rd
Adelaide United: 2nd
Elimination final result
Auckland FC: 1-1 draw against Melbourne City (7-6 win on penalties)
Just like Guillermo May’s late equaliser earned Auckland FC a home elimination final, Medin Memeti’s late equaliser sent Auckland v Melbourne City into extra time and then penalties.
The six first takers scored their penalties, before Michael Woud denied Nathaniel Atkinson and Dan Hall converted his to see Auckland through to the semi-finals.
Auckland manager Steve Corica was happy with how Woud played on the night, but also how well he’s played since coming back into the side.
“He’s responded really well. Obviously Oli Sail got injured but he (Woud) bounced back and hasn’t looked back, and he showed his quality again tonight with the penalty save.
“When we needed him to step up, he made a great save.”
Corica is also realistic about the requirements of a two-legged semi final fixture against a side of Adelaide’s calibre.
“We know as a team what they have to do each week. This was a do or die match, next couple of games, we don’t have to win it in the first game. Obviously at home, we’d like to, but we know it goes over two legs.
“If we have to do this (penalties) again in a second leg over in Adelaide, we have to show bravery when we take our penalties and hopefully we come out on the best side and make it to a final.
“They are a good team, which nicked second spot off us. So I’m looking forward to it, it’s going to be very exciting.
He added: “This is where we wanted to be, back in the semi-final, but we’ve still got the final that we want to get to and it’s going to take a lot of hard work over the next two weeks.”
MUST READ: Ultimate guide to the 2026 Isuzu UTE A-League Finals Series
Adelaide come into this one after what midfielder Ethan Alagich dubbed “a bit of a freshen up” from their week off.
READ MORE: Adelaide ready to fight fire with fire against ‘physical’ Auckland
Aware that Adelaide have never beaten Auckland in four matches, Alagich spoke about what they need to do differently.
“We’ve got to be able to win games, I just think it comes down to key moments where we’ve switched off and that cost us last time we played against them.
“If we get rid of that, then I have no doubt we can go in there and get the result we need.
“We know what type of team they are, they’re a strong team and they’ll use that. But I don’t think we’re too out of size, we’ve got some tall boys as well and I think that goes a little bit unnoticed.
“No matter how big or small a team is, we’re going to be ready for the fight and we’ll give them back whatever they give us.
He added: “Some games require more physicality than actual ball playing and we saw that last time we were here, and that’s what we need, sometimes we’re not going to win games by being pretty and playing pretty football, sometimes it’s going to be “how bad do we want to win?” and if we can be better than them in that aspect, then we can win the game.”
Alagich is backing his experienced teammate Anselmo to fill the gap left by the suspended Luka Jovanović.
“You look at him, he (Anselmo) is just a unit. He’s a strong guy, no one can win the ball off him and the way he holds up the ball, I’ve never seen anything like it before.
“Obviously he’s made an impact whether he’s started or whether he’s come on and we’ve seen that in recent weeks when he’s been fit.
There has always been plenty of goals between these sides, with neither side being held to nil in any of their four meetings.
Their last match came at the start of April, where Alagich’s opener was cancelled out by a powerful Luis Gallegos volley home from a corner.
Sydney FC v Newcastle Jets
Saturday, May 9 – Allianz Stadium – 7:40pm AEST
MATCH CENTRE | BUY TICKETS | HOW TO WATCH
Final table position
Sydney FC: 5th
Newcastle Jets: 1st
Elimination final result
Sydney FC: 1-0 win over Melbourne Victory.
Sydney FC weathered a storm of Melbourne Victory attacking chances to get through to the semi-finals, goalkeeper Harrison Devenish-Meares putting in a player of the match shift with six big saves.
It was Patrick Wood with the sucker-punch goal down the other end to give them the lead in the 80th minute before Devenish-Meares resumed his brick wall duties to hold on to the win.
Speaking after the 1-0 win over Melbourne Victory, manager Patrick Kisnorbo conceded they could have been better, but was pleased with how his team set-up.
“In the first half, I don’t think we were great. But credit to how team we held on and played a different way.”
“Clean sheet, hard to break down and a mistake is always going to change a game. Unfortunately for the other team and fortunately for us, (it was) one chance, one goal.”
Kisnorbo was also pleased with how his younger charges have taken to playing finals football.
“What these players need to learn is the other side of the game instead of the football.
“Today had nothing to do with being tactical or anything like that, it was a physical battle.
“I’m proud of my young boys because six months ago they were playing youth team football and now they’re playing A-League, so I’m happy with that.
Paul Okon-Engstler spoke about the momentum they can gain from the win in Melbourne ahead of the Newcastle clash.
“It’s so good to come away from home, in front of this away crowd and just get the win. It’s such an important win for us and we’ll take a lot of confidence out of this.
The midfielder also had glowing praise for goalscorer Wood, who has had to contend with more of a bench role this season.
READ MORE: ‘Crack them open’: Jets ace prepared for stern Sydney FC test in semi-finals
“Woody’s known in our team for bringing a lot of energy and he’s such a great guy. I’m just so happy he was able to come on for us and make a difference with the goal.”
Newcastle defender Joe Shaughnessey spoke about how ready they are as a team to face off against whoever won the elimination final.
“I don’t think there is anyone I would have said I would have preferred to play, everyone’s fairly similar. All the games against all the teams have been pretty close.
“Everyone’s gearing up for the weekend now, and you can feel that in training, everyone’s ready to go.”
A positive result here for the Jets would put them in a commanding position heading into the second leg as they continue their push to be the first ever side to win the Australian domestic treble of Australia Cup, Premiership and Championship in the same season.
An Al Hassan Touré hat-trick back in Round 3 earned Sydney their one win over the Jets this season, with Newcastle taking 2-0 and 2-1 victories over the Sky Blues in Rounds 9 and 22 respectively.
