One game, two Uniteds, three massive points at stake as Hindmarsh Stadium hosts a full-blooded basement battle!
Adelaide United v Gold Coast United
Friday 16th December, 7.30pm
One game, two Uniteds, three massive points at stake as Hindmarsh Stadium hosts a full-blooded basement battle!
Red Army, there is only one place to be on Friday night. Hindmarsh Stadium is the venue for the clash of the Uniteds and your players are desperate to give you something to cheer about after a disastrous previous outing at your home stadium. So get a ticket today and show your team that you are right behind them as they push on for three crucial points.
No-one needs reminding of the last match at Hindmarsh Stadium two weeks ago, when The Reds suffered their worst ever home defeat – a brutal 4-0 thumping by Central Coast Mariners, but the dismal result at least served to ensure that Rini Coolen’s men upped their game last weekend and gained an honourable draw at Etihad Stadium. Having been smashed the week earlier, you would have understood had Adelaide crumbled once again when they fell 1-0 behind to bitter rivals Melbourne Victory and found themselves under continued pressure. However, Fabian Barbiero’s equaliser for the Reds eight minutes from time – a left-footed strike past Ante Covic after a fine build-up from Zenon Caravella and Sergio van Dijk – showed the spirit they possess in the United camp.
Gold Coast United also go into Friday’s game on the back of a decent draw. On Sunday they finally broke their run of defeats with a 0-0 stalemate against Sydney FC. It may not have been an aesthetically pleasing contest, but sometimes you have to pick up the ugly points, especially when you have lost five in a row. And Miron Bleiberg will be delighted with the passion and commitment that his re-jigged side showed. Fielding an experienced eleven, United picked up their first point since October and, while they remain on the foot of the ladder, they take on Adelaide in the knowledge that victory will bring them within a point of catching up with The Reds. They will certainly use their clean sheet as a solid foundation to build upon.
Adelaide, meanwhile, would happily take a repeat of when these two sides met at Hindmarsh Stadium just over a month ago. Having endured something of a battering from his former team, Zenon Caravella gave his new club the lead 57th minute before James Brown equalised ten minutes later. The match was won in fine fashion though, with Iain Ramsay curling in a beauty.
It’s United vs United as both sides look to drag themselves away from the foot of the league while delivering a painful blow to their opponent. Who will emerge victorious in this vital battle? Can Adelaide make amends for their last performance at home and leave their opponents firmly rooted to the bottom rung of the ladder, or will the Gold Coast pick up their first away win of the season? Book your tickets today and prepare to be a part of some truly full-blooded Hyundai A-League action!
