Reds suffer Blackwood injury blow ahead of FFA Cup final

Adelaide Striker George Blackwood is likely to miss Tuesday night’s FFA Cup final – and is set for a stint on the sidelines – after suffering a shoulder injury in the Reds 1-1 draw with Newcastle Jets on Friday night.

Reds boss Marco Kurz confirmed post-match that Blackwood has a “broken shoulder” after a heavy collision with Jets goalkeeper Glen Moss in stoppage-time at Coopers Stadium.

PLAYER TO WATCH: Reds defender Jordan Elsey
PLAYER TO WATCH: Sydney FC marquee Siem de Jong
PLAYER TO WATCH: Adelaide wing wizard Craig Goodwin

Moss came out to try and punch clear a cross and collided with Blackwood, with the Reds striker landing heavily on his shoulder.

The incident sparked a melee with a host of players in a fiery end to a pulsating second half.

After coming off the bench for his first appearance of the season, Blackwood’s injury is a blow to the Reds ahead of their FFA Cup decider against the Sky Blues on Tuesday.

Michael Jakobsen


Kurz described the incident as ‘car accident’ and felt the Reds should have been awarded a penalty.

It came at the end of a second half where both sides went hard for a winner.

The Jets took a 52nd-minute lead through Ronny Vargas’ first Hyundai A-League goal, before Craig Goodwin equalised 11 minutes later with a powerful header from Michael Marrone’s brilliant cross.

It came after Goodwin went close twice in the first half, hitting the crossbar from a free-kick while also denied by Moss from close range.

The goal was Goodwin’s 16th in his Hyundai A-League career but the first he’s scored with his head.

“It was a really good ball from Mickey [Marrone]. I’m happy to get off the mark,” Goodwin told Fox Sports after the match.

Craig Goodwin

“I probably had a few more opportunities in the front third where I was a little bit wasteful so I probably need to work on that to get a little more consistent with the final ball and things like that

“It’s early in the season, we’ll keep working and getting better and better.”

Goodwin was one of the Reds’ best on the night, along with defender Jordan Elsey who came up with a couple of key tackles and blocks, while Vince Lia was excellent in the midfield to keep Ronny Vargas for much of the match.

Telstra