Adelaide United will attempt to notch a club-first Finals Series win over Sydney FC on Saturday, June 19 when the two sides meet in the 2020/21 A-League Semi Finals at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium.
The Reds have failed on three attempts to beat the Sky Blues in the post-season throughout A-League history (D1, L2). But with the last of those three results coming in May, 2015 the current Adelaide squad will hope to write their own story against a Sky Blues outfit gunning for three consecutive A-League Championships.
Read on for all the key statistics ahead of this unmissable Semi Final showdown on Saturday night!
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Sydney FC v Adelaide United: history reads in favour of Sky Blues
Steve Corica prepares to face Adelaide United in a Finals Series fixture for the first time as a head coach, after meeting the Reds in the post-season twice as a player in 2006.
Adelaide won the Premiers Plate in the 2005/06 A-League season, the first of the league’s existence, to progress to a two-legged Major Semi Final with the second-place Sky Blues.
Corica scored in a 2-2 draw at Coopers Stadium on February 12, 2006 before his side prevailed 2-1 in the reverse fixture a week later to book a place in the Grand Final.
Adelaide would go on to lose 1-0 to Central Coast Mariners in the Elimination Final to crash out of the Finals Series, leaving Sydney to become the very first A-League Champions with a Grand Final triumph over the Mariners.
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The two sides would meet once more in the post-season on May 9, 2015 – another Semi Final, another Sydney victory.
The Sky Blues won 4-1 thanks to two goals from Alex Brosque and solitary finishes by Bernie Ibini and Chris Naumoff. Current Reds forward Craig Goodwin scored for the visiting side on that day in the 74th minute to make it 3-1, and the Reds pushed hard to claw their way back before Naumoff scored in the 90th-minute to put the result beyond doubt.
Fast-forward six years and the two sides meet for their fourth Semi Final battle, with more recent history looking even more favourably on Sydney.
Adelaide’s 1-0 win over their Saturday-night opponents in March 2021 is the only Reds victory in the past 15 fixtures between the two teams.
Sydney have won nine of those fixtures, with the remaining five ending in a stalemate. Before Carl Veart’s side managed to defeat the Sky Blues in Matchweek 14, the club’s last victory in this particular fixture was a 2-0 win on April 2, 2016.
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When the two sides meet on June 19, Reds live-wire Ben Halloran could prove key to breaking Sydney’s resolve.
Halloran was awarded the Aurelio Vidmar Medal at Adelaide’s Alagich Vidmar Awards this week, winning the club’s top A-League individual prize for scoring four goals and notching five assists across 26 matches.
Halloran has contested 381 duels this season – the most of any player in the A-League.
His willingness to commit himself to contests has been a key feature of his bright attacking play, and with Craig Goodwin ruled out for the season with an ankle injury his role in wide areas could prove key to a shock Reds victory at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium.
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Match Details – Finals Series
Sydney FC v Adelaide United
Saturday, June 19 2021
Netstrata Jubilee Stadium
Kick-off: 7.05pm AEST
Broadcast: FOX Sports 505
Stream: MyFootball Live App, LIVE and FREE on Kayo Freebies!
Match Centre
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Melbourne City v Macarthur FC
Sunday, June 20 2021
Netstrata Jubilee Stadium
Kick-off: 4.05pm AEST
Broadcast: FOX Sports 505
Stream: MyFootball Live App, LIVE and FREE on Kayo Freebies!
Match Centre
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Ways to watch
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