An all-Hyundai A-League heavyweight Cup clash pits the reigning FFA Cup holders against a Sydney FC outfit gunning for Westfield FFA Cup revenge after the Reds knocked them out last year.
Adelaide United v Sydney FC
Wednesday, 26 August 2015
Coopers Stadium, Hindmarsh (SA)
Kick-off: 7:00pm local (7:30pm AEST)
Referee: Shaun Evans
Assistant Referee 1: Matthew Cream
Assistant Referee 2: Stephen Toth
Fourth Official: Daniel Goodwin
AAR 1: Rick Schneider
AAR 2: Daniel Elder
Tickets: Click here for ticketing details
TV Broadcast: 7:00pm (AEST) Live and exclusive on FOX SPORTS 505
Radio broadcast: 5RTI (531AM) or online
Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tag #ADLvSYD
Adelaide United squad: 1.Eugene GALEKOVIC (gk) (c), 2.Michael MARRONE, 3.Iacopo LA ROCCA, 4.Dylan McGOWAN, 5.Osama MALIK, 7.Pablo SÁNCHEZ, 8.ISAIAS, 9.Sergio CIRIO, 10.Marcelo CARRUSCA,11.Bruce DJITE, 12.Mark OCHIENG, 13.Dylan SMITH, 14.George MELLS, 15.Ben WARLAND, 16.Craig GOODWIN, 17.Bruce KAMAU, 18.Jimmy JEGGO, 19.Eli BABALJ, 20.John HALL (gk), 21.Tarek ELRICH, 23.Jordan ELSEY, 24.Jordan PUDLER, 25.Thomas LOVE
Sydney FC squad: 2.Sebastian RYALL, 3.Alex GERSBACH, 4.Zac ANDERSON, 5.Matthew JURMAN, 6.Robert STAMBOLZIEV, 7.Andrew HOOLE, 9.Shane SMELTZ, 11.Christopher NAUMOFF, 12.Anthony BOUZANIS (gk), 13.Brandon O’NEILL, 14.Alex BROSQUE, 16.Riley WOODCOCK, 18.Matt SIMON, 19.Jacques FATY, 20.Vedran JANJETOVIC (gk), 23.Rhyan GRANT, 24.George BLACKWOOD, 25.Aaron CALVER, 26.Max BURGESS, 27.Mikael TAVARES, 28.Lachlan HUGHES
BLUFFER’S GUIDE
The powerhouse clash of the night sees 2014 Cup winners Adelaide United – now coached by former Barcelona great Guillermo Amor – taking on Graham Arnold’s Sky Blues. This should be special.
These two sides met at the quarter-final stage last year, with the Reds running out controversial 3-1 winners after an epic battle in Sydney. The Sky Blues would love to wreak some revenge on the Reds.
Adelaide made a comfortable start to their Cup defence in the last round, crushing fairytale story Darwin Olympic 6-1 in the Top End.
The Reds slammed home another 11 goals in a hit-out with the Alice Springs All Stars last week, with new signing Eli Babalj scored twice in an encouraging sign, albeit against weak opposition.
With a boisterous home crowd behind them, they’ll be a formidable outfit. And they’ll be desperate to hold onto their crown for another round.
The Sky Blues have been everywhere from the Gold Coast to Canberra over the last fortnight for their pre-season preparations. All part of Arnie’s team bonding plans, we’re told.
He used a very young squad for the side’s round of 32 win over Sorrento FC but is likely to recall some of his big guns to the starting side for this one.
How all the travel this early in their pre-season will affect Sydney remains to be seen. And while the Reds will start slight favourites at home, this cracking tie is on a knife-edge.
WHAT THEY SAY
Marcelo Carrusca (Adelaide United playmaker)
“For us it is a good challenge to play Sydney FC. Every game is different and they have new players so it is going to be a different game. We’re not worried about anyone because we know this is a tough competition and every team differs.”
Graham Arnold (Sydney FC coach)
“For our preparation for the season it’s a tough draw and it gives us another chance to test ourselves against a quality side. Obviously we’d be prefer to stay closer to home but it’s another trip away so a chance for some more team bonding and for the boys to get to know each other.”
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
ADELAIDE UNITED
League: Hyundai A-League
Current ladder position: Last season, third in the Hyundai A-League
Latest result: Defeated Melbourne City 4-3 in Darwin
Who to watch out for: Eli Babalj
Official site: www.adelaideunited.com.au
SYDNEY FC
League: Hyundai A-League
Current ladder position: Second in the A-League last season
Latest result: Won 3-0 against Belconnen United
Who to watch out for: Shane Smeltz
Official site: www.sydneyfc.com
** For any goal scored by an amateur or semi-professional club against a Hyundai A-League team during the Westfield FFA Cup, NAB will kick-back $2,500 to the goal-scorer's club.
