The last time Newcastle hit these shores they endured a 90-minute, real-life nightmare, annihilated 7-0 in January. The Jets will be hoping to turn the tables and add more gloom to Adelaide’s season.
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MATCH DETAILS
Sunday, 22 November 2015
Adelaide United v Newcastle Jets
Coopers Stadium, Adelaide
Kick-Off: 4:30 PM (Local) (5:00 PM (AEDT))
Referee: Shaun Evans
Assistant Referee 1: Matthew Cream
Assistant Referee 2: Paul Cetrangolo
Fourth Official: Rick Schneider
TV Broadcast: Live coverage on FOX SPORTS 505 from 5.00pm (AEDT) and Sky Sport 1 (New Zealand)
Radio Broadcast: 891 ABC Adelaide, 1233 ABC Newcastle, ABC Local Radio SA, Grandstand Digital, Online & via the ABC Radio Mobile App – A-league Live. 5RTI (Adelaide)
Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tag #ADLvNEW
To purchase tickets visit www.aleague.com.au/tickets
Adelaide United squad: 1.Eugene GALEKOVIC (c), 2.Michael MARRONE, 4.Dylan McGOWAN, 5.Osama MALIK, 7.PABLO SANCHEZ, 8.ISAIAS, 9.Sergio CIRIO, 10.Marcelo CARRUSCA, 11.Bruce DJITE, 14.George MELLS, 15.Ben WARLAND, 16.Craig GOODWIN, 17.Mate DUGANDZIC, 18.Jimmy JEGGO, 20.John HALL (gk), 21.Tarek ELRICH, 23.Jordan ELSEY, 24.Bruce KAMAU
**two to be omitted**
Ins: 1.Eugene GALEKOVIC (returns from injury), 23.Jordan ELSEY (promoted)
Outs: 30.John SOLARI (gk)
Unavailable: 3.Iacopo LA ROCCA (foot – 3 weeks), 19.Eli BABALJ (foot – 2 weeks)
Newcastle Jets Squad: 1.Mark BIRIGHITTI (gk), 3.Jason HOFFMAN, 4.Nigel BOOGAARD (C), 5.Ben KANTAROVSKI, 6.Cameron WATSON, 7.Enver ALIVODIC, 8.Mateo POLJAK, 9.Milos TRIFUNOVIC, 10.LEONARDO, 13.Lee KI-JE, 14.Mitch COOPER, 17.Radovan PAVICEVIC, 20.Ben KENNEDY (gk), 22.Lachlan JACKSON, 23.David CARNEY, 24.Nicholas COWBURN, 25.Brandon LUNDY, 27.Braedyn CROWLEY
**two to be omitted**
Ins: 5.Ben KANTAROVSKI (returns from calf injury), 14.Mitch COOPER (promoted), 27.Braedyn CROWLEY (promoted)
Outs: 29.Andrew PAWIAK (not selected)
Unavailable: 2.Daniel MULLEN (knee – indefinite), 11.Labinot HALITI (knee – season)
BLUFFER’S GUIDE
After suffering through a miserable goal dearth earlier this season, Adelaide United are now, finally, finding ways to hit the scoreboard.
The newer problem – and it’s a big one – is the Reds have been conceding goals with ridiculous ease, with a whopping 14 opposition strikes finding the back of the net over the past four weeks.
Adelaide fans will be pinning their revival dreams on the long-awaited return from a knee injury of skipper Eugene Galekovic, whose positive leadership and calming influence have been missed.
Newcastle have been a breath of fresh air under young manager Scott Miller – but the honeymoon is over.
Magnificent back-to-back wins over the two Melbourne outfits saw last year’s wooden spooner jump to third spot but a disappointing home loss to the Western Sydney Wanderers and a scratchy draw last week against 10-man Central Coast Mariners proved the Jets still have some way to go.
Star holding midfielder Ben Kantarovski looks set to return from a calf tear for the Novocastrians, who are a perfect two-from-two on the road this season but have emerged victorious just once in South Australia this decade.
OPTA DATA
- In this exact fixture last season, Adelaide put seven goals past the Jets with no reply. This equals the highest winning margin in A-League history (Adelaide United 8-1 North Queensland Fury).
- In the previous six encounters with Adelaide, when Newcastle have scored, they have won. However, when they have failed to score, they have gone on to lose.
- After six games of the 2015-16 season, Adelaide are the only team to yet find a victory (D2 L4).
- Newcastle Jets have faced 98 shots so far in this A-League campaign; 16 more than any other team.
- 76.5% of Adelaide’s players used this season have been Australian (13/17). Only Melbourne City have used a higher percentage (78.3%).
- The Jets have scored a league low of just one goal in the first half of A-Leagues matches. In contrast, Adelaide have conceded a league-high six goals in the same period.
- Isaías has attempted the most passes in the A-League so far this season (428); 15 more than fellow Adelaide teammate, Osama Malik.
- No player has more assists in the A-League this season than David Carney (3).
ROUTE TO GOAL
Serbian striker Milos Trifunovic has lived up to the hype and then some, scoring four goals in six A-League appearances. He’s a seasoned pro who simply knows how to finish.
Trifunovic feeds off the silver-plated service of former Socceroo David Carney whose dead ball prowess and sweet left foot operating up the flank will need to be closely checked by the Reds.
Coming off the pine, out-of-favour Pablo Sanchez has played little more than half an hour across the past fortnight, but the fact he managed to fire a late goal both times – on top of two Westfield FFA Cup goals – suggests he’s deserving of more on-field minutes.
Otherwise, Sergio Cirio and Craig Goodwin have looked consistently dangerous in Adelaide’s front third but really need more support.
WHO’S BEEN IN THE SPOTLIGHT THIS WEEK?
New Jets captain Nigel Boogaard isn’t sure whether he’ll be booed or applauded when he confronts his former side for the first time since his departure at the end of last season.
Whatever the reception, the Reds’ woeful defence has sorely missed Boogaard’s leadership, aggression and stability at the troublesome centre back spot.
FORM LINES
Adelaide United: DDLLLL
Newcastle Jets: WLWWLD
PREDICTION
Adelaide United 1-2 Newcastle Jets
