Central Coast can hook a prized top-two position with a win against Adelaide United and this will obviously be the driving motivation at Bluetongue Stadium on Saturday night.
Date: Saturday November 15
Kick-off: 7.30pm local
Venue: Bluetongue Stadium
Coverage: Live and exclusive broadcast on FOX Sports 1 and delayed coverage on Sky Sport 2. Hyundai A-League club radio broadcast partner is Coast FM (Gosford) 96.3FM and FRESH FM (Adelaide). To purchase tickets visit www.premier.ticketek.com.au
Head-to-head
Past 11 Hyundai A-League meetings: Central Coast – 4 wins, Adelaide United – 4 wins, Draws – 3.
Previous meeting
Adelaide United 3, Central Coast Mariners 3, Hindmarsh Stadium, Round 7, October 3, 2008
Past Five Games
Central Coast:
Round 6: Central Coast 4, Perth Glory 1, Bluetongue Stadium Round 7: Adelaide United 3, Central Coast 3, Hindmarsh Stadium Round 8: Central Coast 0, Wellington Phoenix 1, Bluetongue Stadium Round 9: Central Coast 1, Newcastle Jets 0, Bluetongue Stadium
Round 10: Sydney FC 3, Central Coast 3, Sydney Football Stadium
Adelaide:
Round 6: Adelaide United 2, Newcastle Jets 0, Hindmarsh Stadium Round 7: Adelaide United 3, Central Coast 3, Hindmarsh Stadium
Round 8: Queensland Roar 0, Adelaide United 1, Suncorp Stadium Round 9: Adelaide United 2, Perth Glory 1, Hindmarsh Stadium
Round 10: Adelaide United 2, Melbourne Victory 3, Hindmarsh Stadium
Analysis
Central Coast can hook a prized top-two position with a win against Adelaide United and this will obviously be the driving motivation at Bluetongue Stadium on Saturday night.
The Mariners are currently in fifth position but can leapfrog Queensland Roar and Sydney FC and then sneak above the Reds on goal difference by the end of Round 11.
It’s a big ask against one the Hyundai A-League’s most consistent sides but the odds are stacked in the home team’s favour.
Central Coast haven’t played since November 1 and will go into the contest fresh while United has played two AFC finals in that time and will have only a few days to prepare for the contest.
The Mariners should also take confidence out of their Round 7 clash with the Reds in which they scored three second-half goals in 18 minutes to force a draw at Hindmarsh Stadium.
Coach Lawrie McKinna has been training the boys hard over the last two weeks with the knowledge the last time they took an extended break they lost to the Wellington Phoenix.
It’s been reported the home side will stay with their three-up-front policy which will see Dylan Macallister, Sasho Petrovski and Matt Simon form an imposing attacking combination against an Adelaide defence down on confidence.
Simon has been particularly impressive scoring seven goals in 10 appearances this season.
Adrian Caceres will also be hungry for success after peppering the goals without luck in the team’s last clash with the Reds.
Several of the other members of the line-up should take to the pitch with a spring in their step with Mile Jedinak keen to build some momentum ahead of his time with the Socceroos, defender David D’apuzzo signing with the club for another year and Nigel Boogard returning to line-up after some time on the sidelines.
It’s been a rollercoaster ride of emotions for Adelaide United which whipped the whole of South Australia into a frenzy before being smashed in both finals clashes against Gamba Osaka.
It was a reality check for United who were exposed once the injury list became too great.
But the South Australian side has a knack of winning when no-one expects them to and they’ll be keen to put recent disappointments behind them quickly.
The Reds’ line-up will be a stronger than the one that played on Wednesday. Form goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic and defender Ang Costanzo have served AFC suspensions and will be raring to go, Fabian Barbiero is back from injury while Daniel Mullen will return from Young Socceroos duties.
Midfielder Paul Reid, who has spent several weeks on the sideline with a groin injury, will also be better for the run on Wednesday.
The potential mental let-down and some tired bodies would be the main concerns for coach Aurelio Vidmar heading into the clash.
If Central Coast can keep its opponent quiet in the first half, they should have the legs and the belief to run over the top of the Reds in the second half. Prediction:The Mariners to rocket up the table after winning a tight one.
Central Coast Mariners Squad. 1. Matthew NASH (gk), 4. Pedj BOJIC, 5. Bradley PORTER, 6. David D’APUZZO, 7. John HUTCHINSON, 9. Nik MRDJA, 10. Adrian CACERES, 11. Dylan MACALLISTER, 16. Nigel BOOGAARD, 17. Matthew OSMAN, 18. Alex WILKINSON, 19. Matt SIMON, 20. Danny VUKOVIC (gk), 22. Sasho PETROVSKI, 23. Mile JEDINAK.
In. 16. Nigel BOOGAARD (Returns from Injury).
Out. 13. Paul O’GRADY (Groin – Indefinite).
Unavailable. 8. Dean HEFFERNAN (Ankle – Indefinite), 15. Andrew CLARK (Shoulder – Indefinite), 21. Ahmad ELRICH (Knee – Season).
Adelaide United Squad. 20.Eugene GALEKOVIC (gk), 2.Robert CORNTHWAITE, 3.ALEMAO, 4.Angelo COSTANZO, 5.Michael VALKANIS, 6.CASSIO, 7.Lucas PANTELIS, 8.Kristian SARKIES, 10.CRISTIANO, 13.Travis DODD (capt.), 14.Scott JAMIESON, 15.Jonas SALLEY, 16.Daniel MULLEN, 18.Fabian BARBIERO, 19.Sasa OGNENOVSKI, 21.Jason SPAGNUOLO, 22.DIEGO, 24.Paul REID, 25.Robert YOUNIS, 30.Mark BIRIGHITTI (gk).
*5 to be omitted.
In. Fabian BARBIERO (returns from injury), Eugene GALEKOVIC (returns from injury), Daniel MULLEN (returns from international duty), Paul REID (returns from injury), Jason SPAGNUOLO (promoted).
Out. Lucas ANDREUCCI (gk) (omitted).
Unavailable. Paul AGOSTINO (calf – 3 weeks), Daniel BELTRAME (knee – season), Isyan ERDOGAN (hamstring – indefinite).
