Match preview: Adelaide United v Newcastle Jets

Round 2 of the Hyundai A-League 2018/19 Season begins with an intriguing clash between Adelaide United and Newcastle Jets at Coopers Stadium on Friday night.

While the Reds might have one eye on next week’s FFA Cup 2018 Final, they’ll be eager to register a win to give them a confidence boost ahead of their decider against Sydney FC.

READ MORE: How to watch Hyundai A-League Round 2
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Coach Marco Kurz will hope to welcome back the likes of Baba Diawara, George Blackwood and Nikola Mileusnic to bolster an attack that should have scored more in last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Sydney FC.

The Jets opened their campaign with a 2-1 loss in Wellington but haven’t lost back-to-back away games in 18 months.

Which of these clubs will register their first win of the new season in this one?

One game at a time.
We’re taking it as it comes.
We’re not getting ahead of ourselves. 😏😉😜😎 #AUFC

📰 Read more: https://t.co/lGvSpkacJT
🎟️ Tickets: https://t.co/LmUEtHrnfP
📸 // photo by Chris Kelly pic.twitter.com/52Z6trmmUF

— Adelaide United (@AdelaideUnited) October 22, 2018

KEY OPTA STATS

Newcastle Jets have scored just four goals in their last seven visits to Cooper Stadium, with just one of those goals coming in the first half.
The Jets have failed to keep Adelaide United scoreless in seven consecutive games, with their last clean sheet against them in December 2015.
Ben Kantarovski has scored three of the Jets’ last four goals against the Reds at Coopers Stadium.

WHAT THEY SAID

“I think we’ve to take it just one game at a time. The league is very important as well so we go full steam into this game and hopefully we don’t pick up any injuries…and get the win as well. – Reds defender Ryan Strain

INS AND OUTS

Adelaide United Squad: 2.Michael MARRONE, 3.Scott GALLOWAY, 4.Ryan STRAIN, 5.Taylor REGAN, 6.Vince LIA, 8.Isaías SÁNCHEZ (C), 9.Baba DIAWARA, 10.Ken ILSØ, 11.Craig GOODWIN, 14.George BLACKWOOD, 16.Nathan KONSTANDOPOULOS, 17.Nikola MILEUSNIĆ, 20.Paul IZZO (Gk), 22.Michael JAKOBSEN, 23.Jordan ELSEY, 26.Ben HALLORAN, 30.Isaac RICHARDS (Gk), 32.Carlo ARMIENTO

**two to be omitted**

Ins: 9.Baba DIAWARA (promoted), 14.George BLACKWOOD (promoted), 17.Nikola MILEUSNIĆ (promoted)

Outs: 31.Mirko BOLAND (hip)

Unavailable: Nil

Newcastle Jets Squad: 1.Glen MOSS (Gk), 3.Jason HOFFMAN, 4.Nigel BOOGAARD (C), 5.Ben KANTAROVSKI, 6.Steven UGARKOVIC, 7.Dimi PETRATOS, 8.Jair, 10.Ronald VARGAS, 11.Mitch AUSTIN, 13.Ivan VUJICA, 14.Kaine SHEPPARD, 16.Nick COWBURN, 17.Daniel GEORGIEVSKI, 20.Lewis ITALIANO (Gk), 22.Lachlan JACKSON, 23.Matthew RIDENTON, 28.Patrick LANGLOIS, 44.Nikolai TOPOR-STANLEY

**two to be omitted**

Ins: 5.Ben KANTAROVSKI (promoted), 28.Patrick LANGLOIS (promoted)

Outs: Nil

Unavailable: 9.Roy O¹DONOVAN (suspended – 5 rounds), 18.Johnny KOUTROUMBIS (illness – TBC), 24.Joe CHAMPNESS (foot – TBC), 32.Angus THURGATE (international duty)