Adelaide United have been unable to land a glove on Perth Glory so far this Hyundai A-League season, but the stats suggest they should not be taken lightly on their travels. Meanwhile Sydney FC hope ‘normal service’ can be resumed when they take on Melbourne Victory on Sunday.
With the help of Opta data, www.a-league.com.au can reveal the key facts and figures that should instil the Reds with hope for Friday evening’s semi-final against the Premiers (kick off 8.30pm AEST).
PREVIEW: Perth Glory v Adelaide United
FOUR THINGS: What Adelaide need to do to win the Semi-Final
Adelaide have only lost three of their last 10 matches against the Glory at HBF Park (won three, drawn four). The most recent clash between the sides in Western Australia ended in a 0-0 draw back in January.
Put simply, the Reds are decent travellers. They have only lost one of their last eight away games in the Hyundai A-League (won three, drawn four), a 2-0 defeat at Sydney FC, and are undefeated in their last three (won two, drawn one).
And, in Craig Goodwin, Adelaide boast one of the competition’s best weapons on the road. The winger has been directly involved in 11 goals – scoring seven, assisting four – away from home in 2018/19 (only midfielder Roly Bonevacia has more, with 12 for Western Sydney Wanderers).
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This will be the first post-season clash between the two clubs in Hyundai A-League history, and Tony Popovic’s Premiers are favourites to book a Grand Final ticket.
But the visitors have proven that they can match anyone on their day. Marco Kurz’s side have enough defensive steel, dogged determination and class in the form of Goodwin to pull off a massive result in WA.
LIVE BLOG: Keep up to date with all the Semi-Finals news in one place
HOW TO WATCH: Both of this weekend’s do-or-die Hyundai A-League Semi-Finals
Sky Blues out to regain Sydney supremacy
Revenge for last season’s epic semi-final exit at the hands of fierce rivals Melbourne Victory will be on the minds of Sydney players in this Sunday’s Big Blue match up (7.00pm AEST kick off).
That dramatic defeat saw Victory midfielder Terry Antonis send the match into extra time with a last-gasp own goal, before hitting a now-iconic 117th minute match-winner.
Drama aside, Antonis’ heroics was Sydney FC’s first-ever Hyundai A-League finals defeat on home soil: they were unbeaten in their previous nine post-season fixtures, winning seven and drawing two.
PREVIEW: Sydney FC v Melbourne Victory
