A return to the familiar surrounds of Coopers will welcomed by the bottom-placed Reds, who’ve barely fired a shot this season. Do they have the firepower to overwhelm the talented, but erratic, City?
MATCH DETAILS
Thursday, 5 November 2015
Adelaide United v Melbourne City FC
Coopers Stadium, Adelaide
Kick-Off:Â 7:30 PM (Local) (8:00 PM (AEDT))
Referee: Kris Griffiths-Jones
Assistant Referee 1: Matthew Cream
Assistant Referee 2: Stephen Toth
Fourth Official: Daniel Elder
TV Broadcast: Live coverage on FOX SPORTS 505 from 7.00pm (AEDT) and Sky Sport 1 (New Zealand)
Radio Broadcast: 774 ABC Melbourne & ABC Local Radio Vic, Grandstand Digital, Online & via the ABC Radio Mobile App – A-league Live
Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tag #ADLvMCY
To purchase tickets visit www.aleague.com.au/tickets
Adelaide United squad: 2.Michael MARRONE, 4.Dylan McGOWAN, 5.Osama MALIK, 7.PABLO SANCHEZ, 8.ISAIAS, 9.Sergio CIRIO, 10.Marcelo CARRUSCA (c), 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, 30.John SOLARI (gk)
***two to be omitted***
Ins:Â 23.Jordan ELSEY (returns from injury), 24.Bruce KAMAU (returns from injury)
Outs:Â Nil
Unavailable: 1.Eugene GALEKOVIC (knee – 3 weeks), 4.Iacopo LA ROCCA (foot – 2 weeks), 19.Eli BABALJ (foot – 4 weeks)
Melbourne City FC Squad:Â 1.Thomas SORENSEN (GK), 3.Aaron HUGHES, 4.Connor CHAPMAN, 6.Erik PAARTALU, 7.Corey GAMEIRO, 8.Aaron MOOY, 9.Harry NOVILLO, 15.David WILLIAMS, 16.Jason TRIFIRO, 17.Wade DEKKER, 18.Paulo RETRE, 19.Benjamin GARUCCIO, 20.Tando VELAPHI (GK), 21.Stefan MAUK, 22.Jack CLISBY, 23.Bruno FORNAROLI, 24.Patrick KISNORBO (C), 25.Jacob MELLING
***two to be omitted***
Ins:Â 3.Aaron HUGHES (returns from injury), 6.Erik PAARTALU (promoted), 9.Harry NOVILLO (promoted), 16.Jason TRIFIRO (promoted), 20.Tando VELAPHI (GK) (promoted)
Outs:Â 28.Steve KUZMANOVSKI (omitted), 36.Matt MILLER (omitted), 50.Alexander PAVLIDIS (GK) (omitted)
Unavailable: 5.Ivan FRANJIC (quad – 1-2 weeks), 10.Robert KOREN (calf – 3-4 weeks), 11.Michael ZULLO (calf – 1-2 weeks), 14.James BROWN (foot – indefinite), 26.Marc MARINO (knee – 3 months)
BLUFFER’S GUIDE
Unlike 2014/15 when Adelaide United sparkled early, going undefeated for the first seven weeks, the Reds are in disarray, anchored to the bottom of the ladder following successive road beltings and in desperate need of a circuit-breaker.
There were a few small signs in last weekend’s 3-0 loss to Brisbane Roar that United remains, statistically, the competition’s premier passing club, but stylish, prolific ball movement means nothing if nobody is scoring.
Meanwhile, Melbourne City continue to excite and enrage in equal shares.
They can score freely in any form and equally can concede a bunch in a hurry, with last Friday’s 3-2 capitulation against the Newcadtle Jets – after comfortably holding sway 2-0 at half-time – a prime example.
On the back of a comprehensive triumph over Central Coast Mariners the previous week, any momentum gained by sixth-placed City has been stalled – for now.
Thursday’s clash represents the perfect opportunity for Melbourne to bounce back and register a rare win on South Australian soil. For Adelaide, this one is potentially season-defining.
OPTA DATA
- Adelaide have scored in 14 of the 15 encounters with Melbourne City in the A-League.
- In contrast, Melbourne have failed to score in three of these 15 league meetings.
- Indeed, both teams have scored in the last six clashes, scoring 26 overall (4.33 goals per game).
- Only once before have Melbourne City beaten Adelaide United away from home in the A-League; 2-1 in December 2010.
ROUTE TO GOAL
Uruguayan surprise packet Bruno Fornaroli has led the way with three goals from as many appearances for City, the second-highest scoring side in the comp.
In both League and Cup action, Fornaroli, a conventional No.9, has combined beautifully with Aaron Mooy, who stunned Newcastle early last week with a cracker from the edge of the box and is influential wherever he roams.
Meanwhile, the Reds, worryingly, have notched just two goals from 40 shot attempts this season – and both strikes were own goals from opposition errors.
The likes of Marcelo Carrusca, Craig Goodwin and Sergio Cirio need to find a way to shed the yips they’ve been afflicted with when firing at goal.
WHO’S BEEN IN THE SPOTLIGHT THIS WEEK?
Barely a week after Mooy was hailed by Socceroos boss Ange Postecoglou as the ‘best and most exciting player’ in the competition, the marquee midfielder was – along with fellow City stars Patrick Kisnorbo and Thomas Sorenson – publicly blasted by goalkeeping legend Mark Bosnich for showing a lack of leadership in Friday’s second-half debacle against Newcastle.
Expect a response.
FORM LINES
Adelaide United: DDLL
Melbourne City: DLWL
PREDICTION
Adelaide United 0-1 Melbourne City
