FTS A-League Preview Round 26: Western Sydney Wanderers vs Adelaide United
This Saturday’s Hyundai A-League action returns to Pirtek Stadium for a clash between the Western Sydney Wanderers and Adelaide United. The last encounter between these two sides produced a match that went right down to the wire in which Sergio Cirio snatched the spoils for the Reds in the dying minutes. Expect some measure of revenge from the reigning Asian Champions come this weekend’s Round 26 fixture.
Josep Gombau’s men will travel to Western Sydney with winning intentions after passing up the opportunity to top the league last weekend due to a 3-2 defeat at home to the newly rejuvenated Brisbane Roar. Eugene Galekovic in particular endured a difficult match between the sticks where numerous decision-making errors ultimately led to his side’s downfall. But with an impressive recent record against Tony Popovic’s men, the South Australian side will surely carry some confidence ahead of their last away visit for the regular season.
The home side meanwhile will enter this fixture following a 1-0 defeat to the Central Coast Mariners last weekend. The red-and-blacks were wasteful yet again on that particular night and, despite displaying good attacking intent, lacked the final ball and final product. The Wanderers will approach Saturday’s contest in desperate need for some sort of confidence boost ahead of their upcoming midweek crunch-clash with Kashima Antlers in the Asian Champions League. With any finals aspirations for the current campaign comfortably put to bed mere months ago, a win will surely feed into the players and their frame of minds.
With the Wanderers sitting bottom place in the league standings and a win, at most, seeing them rotate places with 9th placed Newcastle, it must be said that these three points will mean much more to the Adelaide faithful. Victory for the Reds would see them jump to as high as second place and further heap the pressure on closest challengers Sydney FC and the Wellington Phoenix. However, this is not to say the home side will not come looking to upset the pendulum’s swing. On the contrary, after their recent weeks of frustration in front of goal, all could click for the cellar dwellers come kick-off.
Head-to-Head:
Played: 8. Western Sydney Wanderers: 3. Adelaide United: 4.
Last Meeting: 21/2/2015 at Coopers Stadium. Adelaide United 2-1 Western Sydney Wanderers
Form Guide:
Western Sydney Wanderers: LWLDL Adelaide United: WDWWL
Absentee List:
Western Sydney Wanderers: Alusine Fofanah (not selected), Steve Kuzmanovski (not selected), Shayne D’Cunha (not selected), Shannon Cole (collarbone), Brendan Hamill (thigh), Brendon Santalab (shoulder), Nikita Rukavytsya (hamstring), Nick Ward (knee – indefinite), Golgol Mebrahtu (knee – indefinite)
Adelaide United: Marcelo Carrusca (quadricep – 1 week), Awer Mabil (quadriceps – 1 week), Jordan Elsey (knee – indefinite)
Possible XI:
Western Sydney Wanderers: Covic; Golec; Topor-Stanley; Spiranovic; Tanaka; La Rocca; Poljak; Takahagi; Castelen; Bridge; Juric
Adelaide United: Galekovic; Goodwin; McGowan; Boogaard; Marrone; Elrich; Palanca; Jeggo; Isaias; Cirio; Djite
Prediction: Western Sydney Wanderers 1-1 Adelaide United
FTSAUS Facts:
The Western Sydney Wanderers have not beaten, let alone scored a goal, against Adelaide United since November 2013. The South Australian side seem to have found simplicity against Popovic and his players.
The Wanderers posted their biggest win of their short-history against the Reds back in their debut 2012/13 season. On that particular night at Parramatta the home side registered six goals past their opponents. Will history repeat itself at the weekend?
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