For the first time in club history, Adelaide United face NPL Men South Australia premiers Adelaide City in a competitive match when the two clubs go head to head in the Australia Cup Round of 16 at ServiceFM Stadium on Wednesday night.
City come into the game riding a wave of confidence after clinching the NPLM SA minor Premiership with a 6-0 win over Adelaide Olympic.
United, meanwhile, will be without captain and talisman Craig Goodwin, with head coach Carl Veart explaining Goodwin is “starting behind everyone else” as pre-season duties ramp up.
But with one winger absent, the cup clash offers another to return to action for the Reds: Ben Halloran, who re-joined the club after a stint at South Korean club FC Seoul.
Veart says his side are wary of the challenge posed by NPL outfit City on Wednesday night, with Isuzu UTE A-League champions Western United falling to NPLM NSW club Sydney United 58 in the last 16 presenting his side a timely reminder of the potential of a “cupset” result.
“If you don’t turn up, work hard and do what’s expected from you, you can get beaten,” he said. “It was shown the other day with Western United. It’s important our players start the game well, play at a high tempo and put the NPL side under pressure.”
Adelaide City v Adelaide United
Wednesday, August 17
Australia Cup 2022 – Round of 16
Kick-off 7.30pm AEST
Venue: ServiceFM Stadium
Stream: 10 Play
OPTA STATS
- This will be the first meeting between Adelaide City and Adelaide United in the Australia Cup; indeed, it will be just the second fixture (Round of 32 or later) between two South Australian teams in the history of the competition (Adelaide United defeated Adelaide Olympic 1-0, 17 October 2021).
- This will be Adelaide City’s second appearance in the Australia Cup Round of 16; they defeated Brisbane Strikers 1-0 in their inaugural such fixture in 2014.
- Adelaide United have won all their six Australia Cup Round of 16 matches and conceded just three goals across that span.
Adelaide City won possession 74 times in the Round of 32 of the 2022 Australia Cup; only Bentleigh Greens (111) logged more in this category. - Lachlan Barr (Adelaide United) made 10 clearances in the Round of 32 of the 2022 Australia Cup, the second most of any player (Ryan Ensor – 13 for Broadmeadow Magic).
City prepare to unleash Dutch signing as Phoenix pose familiar Aus Cup challenge
Reigning ALM premiers Melbourne City are out to put memories of last season’s Australia Cup quarter-final defeat to Wellington Phoenix behind them as the two sides face off at Casey Fields on Wednesday night.
It’s the first competitive game for City’s men’s outfit at the South East Melbourne venue which will supply the backdrop for the likely debut of Richard van der Venne, one of City’s key off-season recruits.
The Dutchman missed out in City’s Round of 32 win over Newcastle Olympic. Both he and Andrew Nabbout were absent through minor niggles; head coach Patrick Kisnorbo confirmed the pair would feature in the City squad tomorrow night.
“We still need to manage a few things. But they’ve (van der Venne and Nabbout) trained well during the week, so they’re up for selection,” Kisnorbo said.
He added: “We’ve got Richard who’s an experienced player, and again, fits in within our style and our behaviours. He’s been fantastic among the group.”
Kisnorbo confirmed van der Venne’s fellow off-season arrival Thomas Lam would not feature against Wellington tomorrow night. The Finland international signed for the club on Tuesday to add depth to City’s midfield stocks.
“It’s all about the paperwork, visas and stuff like that,” Kisnorbo said. “It’s in the process of happening (his arrival), whenever it gets done, he’ll be here.
“The quicker the better for us, but we know these things sometimes take a bit of time.”
Melbourne City v Wellington Phoenix
Wednesday, August 17
Australia Cup 2022 – Round of 16
Kick-off 7.30pm AEST
Venue: Casey Fields
Stream: 10 Play
OPTA STATS
- This will be the third meeting between Melbourne City and Wellington Phoenix in the Australia Cup; the Phoenix logged a 4-3 penalty shoot-out victory in their most recent game (2021 QF), after City had won their inaugural meeting in 2015 (5-1 – Round of 16).
- Melbourne City have a 100% win percentage in the Australia Cup Round of 16 (6/6); it’s the joint-most appearances at this stage without losing by any team in the history of the competition (also Adelaide United – W6) and the joint-most victories in such fixtures by any team overall (Adelaide United – W6 and Sydney FC – W6).
- Wellington have logged a 4-1 win (2021 v Avondale FC) and a 5-1 defeat (2015 v Melbourne City) in their only two previous appearances in the Australia Cup Round of 16.
- Wellington Phoenix (77%) and Melbourne City (68%) had the highest and third highest rates of possession of any teams in the Round of 32 of the 2022 Australia Cup (Avondale FC – 69%).
- Ben Waine (Wellington Phoenix) has been directly involved in five goals in his last four starting appearances in the Australia Cup (four goals, one assist), including a brace last time out (3 August 2022 v Devonport City Strikers).
Elsewhere in the Australia Cup on Wednesday night…
Brisbane Roar travel to ABD Stadium to take on NPLM VIC outfit Avondale FC. The Avengers are relishing the opportunity to host the A-Leagues outfit after travelling to Darwin to take on Mindil Aces in the Round of 32; it took the team three separate flights and over 3,800km to complete the journey to and from the Northern Territory, with Liam Boland’s hat-trick the fire-starter in a 6-0 win.
The Roar, meanwhile head into the Round of 16 after a 3-1 win over Heidelberg United in which prized recruit Charlie Austin netted two assists. But the Englishman’s impressive display was arguably trumped by Nikola Mileusnic’s free-kick from range which put an exclamation mark on the cup result.
Avondale FC v Brisbane Roar
Wednesday, August 17
Australia Cup 2022 – Round of 16
Kick-off 7.30pm AEST
Venue: ABD Stadium
Stream: 10 Play
OPTA STATS
- This will be the first meeting between Avondale FC and Brisbane Roar in the Australia Cup; it will be the first time Avondale FC have faced a Queensland team in the competition (Round of 32 onwards).
- Avondale FC have logged a 4-1 defeat (2021 v Wellington Phoenix) and a 4-1 victory (2018 v Devonport City Strikers) in their only two previous appearances in the Australia Cup Round of 16.
- The Roar won their most recent Round of 16 match in the Australia Cup (4-0 v Lions FC – 24 October 2021); Brisbane had lost their only two previous such fixtures prior in the competition.
- Avondale FC scored six goals in the Round of 32 of the 2022 Australia Cup, 2.9 more than their Expected Goals value suggested – the second-best positive differential of any team (Macarthur FC +3.1).
- Kai Trewin (Brisbane Roar) had a 100% tackle success rate in the Round of 32 of the 2022 Australia Cup (5/5); only one player made more during this period without missing (Kota Odakura – 6 for NWS Spirit FC).
