The improving Mariners will have to beat the expected sweltering heat and the red-hot form of the Reds if they are to notch up another home win.
MATCH DETAILS
Sunday, 23 November 2014
Central Coast Stadium, Gosford
Kick-Off: 5pm (Local), (5pm AEDST)
SQUADS
Central Coast Mariners 1. Matt NASH (Gk), 2. Storm ROUX, 3. Josh ROSE, 4. Jacob POSCOLIERO, 5. Zac ANDERSON, 7. John HUTCHINSON (C), 8. Nick MONTGOMERY, 9. Mitchell DUKE, 10. Anthony CACERES, 11. Nick FITZGERALD, 12. Liam REDDY (Gk), 15. Matt SIM, 17. Richard VERNES, 18. Glen TRIFIRO, 21. Michael NEILL, 23. Isaka CERNAK, 25. Eddy BOSNAR, 26. KIM Seung-yong
***two to be omitted***
Ins 2. Storm ROUX (returns from international duty), 26. KIM Seung-yong (promoted)
Outs Nil
Unavailable 6. Brent GRIFFITHS (injury – indefinite), 19. Matt SIMON (injury – 2 weeks)
Adelaide United 1.Eugene GALEKOVIC (c) (GK), 2.Michael MARRONE, 3.Nigel BOOGAARD, 4.Dylan McGOWAN, 5.Osama MALIK, 7.Pablo SÁNCHEZ, 8.ISAÍAS, 9.Sergio CIRIO, 10.Marcelo CARRUSCA, 14.Cameron WATSON, 16.Craig GOODWIN, 17.Awer MABIL, 18.Jimmy JEGGO, 20.Paul IZZO (GK), 21.Tarek ELRICH, 22.Fabio FERREIRA, 24.Bruce KAMAU, 32.Nathan KOSTANDOPOULOS
***two to be omitted***
Ins 14.Cameron WATSON (promoted), 32.Nathan KOSTANDOPOULOS (promoted)
Outs Nil
Unavailable 11.Bruce DJITE (quad – 1 week), 15.Ben WARLAND (ankle – 1-2 weeks), 23.Jordan ELSEY (knee – indefinite)
Hashtag #CCMvADL
TV Broadcast – Live and exclusive coverage on FOX SPORTS 505 (FOX SPORTS 4HD & 4) from 4.30pm (AEDT) and Sky Sport 4 (New Zealand)
Radio – ABC Grandstand Online/ABC Radio Mobile phone app
Referee Jarred Gillett
Assistant Referee 1 David Walsh
Assistant Referee 2 Andrej Giev
Fourth Official Adam Gehrig
BLUFFER’S GUIDE
There is some reason for optimism for the Mariners, who have gone some way to answering some of the critics with two credible draws in their last two games.
The 0-0 draw with Asian champions Western Sydney on Wednesday night was arguably their best display of the campaign. But this promises to be an even bigger assignment, with the high-flying Adelaide coming to Gosford. The Reds are in second spot, unbeaten and knocked off the Mariners 3-2 just over a week ago in the semi-final of the Westfield FFA Cup. That was a more comfortable win than the scoreline suggests and they will head to the Coast confident of keeping their impressive run going.
The side that held the Wanderers certainly didn’t do enough wrong to lose their spot, although defender Storm Roux does returns from international duty with New Zealand and might come in for Jacob Poscoliero at right-back. Korean playmaker Kim Seung-Yong has also been promoted to the squad.
The Reds have been given some good news with playmaker Marcelo Carrusca looking like overcoming injury to line-up in this one.
The Argentine midfielder is part of an 18-man squad, with Cameron Watson and Nathan Kostandopoulos promoted. Striker Bruce Djite is still another week away due to a thigh injury, meaning Pablo Sanchez is likely to lead the attack although Sergio Cirio is another option for Josep Gombau.
OPTA DATA STATS
– The Mariners have the best passing accuracy in the Hyundai A-League this season (83.3 percent).
-Liam Reddy has made more saves than any other goalkeeper so far this season (24).
-Adelaide have averaged the most shots per game (11.2) in the Hyundai A-League this campaign.
– Fabio Ferreira has scored in his last two league appearances (excl. play-offs) versus Central Coast Mariners.
ROUTE TO GOAL
Adelaide showed there is more to their game than just the silky passing and creative flair of Marcelo Carrusca, Pablo Sanchez and co.
Both the Reds’ goals against Wellington last week came from set-pieces, proving they are adaptable and have other weapons in their arsenal. The Mariners have struggled defending from dead-ball situations this season and it may be an area Adelaide have some joy.
The home side will need to get some more support to striker Mitchell Duke if they are to get any joy going forward.
WHO’S BEEN IN THE SPOTLIGHT THIS WEEK?
Awer Mabil. The young winger is attracting interest from some big clubs in Europe, with Belgian champions Anderlecht reporting joining Ajax Amsterdam as potential suitors for the teenager. For now Mabil is a Red and he’s been in impressive form, scoring two goals in eight appearances in all competitions this season and causing huge headaches for opposition defences with his pace and skill. Mariners left-back Michael Neill will have a huge task on his hands on Sunday.
FORM LINES
After four straight defeats in all competitions, Phil Moss’s side have steadied the ship over the last week, following last Sunday’s late fight-back against Melbourne City with another hard-earned draw against the Wanderers on Wednesday night.
Adelaide are unbeaten in their last 10 matches in all competitions, including their last-gasp win over Wellington last weekend and also have a Westfield FFA Cup final next month to look forward.
DID YOU KNOW?
14 points from six games is Adelaide’s joint-best start to a Hyundai A-League campaign alongside 2010/11 and 2005/06. In both of those campaigns the Reds failed to win their seventh fixture.
But the Mariners seem to have the wood over Adelaide, winning 10 of the last 12 clashes between the two clubs.
PREDICTION:
Central Coast Mariners 1-2 Adelaide United
This will be Central Coast’s fifth game in just 15 days. If any side can exploit signs of tiredness in the expected sweltering conditions, it’s the free-flowing all-out attacking style of United. The Mariners would have learned a lot from the Westfield FFA Cup clash but we expect the Reds’ superior quality – especially in the front third – to come to the fore in this one.
