Adelaide United FC Coach Josep Gombau might have been disappointed with the result last week but not in the performance.
Adelaide United FC Coach Josep Gombau might have been disappointed with the result last week but not in the performance.
The Reds mentor does not see the need to alter the game plan for the big match with fellow finals aspirants the Wellington Phoenix tomorrow night at Coopers Stadium but hinted that there could be a few tweaks to their defensive movements against a dangerous kiwi outfit.
With the Phoenix boasting a host of players who can tear a game apart in the blink of an eye such as Carlos Hernandez, Kenny Cunningham and Stijn Huysegems, Gombau was quick to point out that they will make some tactical alterations to snuff out the danger that they present.
“Now after I-ve seen their last games we can change a little bit the way that we will defend (against) them but the way that we attack them no. We don-t make any changes to our attacking movements because we are playing well. What we want is to win, what we want is to attack, what we want is to have the ball, to create chances for to score goals. We will not change this. We will play every single game to win, every single game to attack, taking the risks that we need to take because this in the end is the style that we want to play. This is the way that we want to win, if we win like this okay and if not we will keep trying”, Gombau said.
Wellington have also had issues at the other end of the park recently having conceded five goals at home to Melbourne Heart only two weeks ago but the Spaniard sees this as a normal part of playing in such a closely contested competition where any side can win on any given day.
“This is football they lost at home 0-5 and then win away 1-4. This is this league. Every game is different and I expect that like every single game that we play this season that it is equal. We don-t win or lose any game easy. All the games we need to fight to win and if we lose we lose fighting until the end. I expect this”.
With the game originally scheduled for this Sunday and rescheduled to avoid a clash with the Clipsal 500 it-s hoped that the Reds fans will come out in big numbers to support the team in a critical game that could set up the remainder of the season in a tight contest for finals spots.
Gates open at 5:30pm with the match kicking off at 7:00pm at Cooper-s Stadium.
Thursday, 27 February 2014
Adelaide United v Wellington Phoenix
Coopers Stadium, Adelaide
Kick-off: 7.00pm local (7:30pm AEDT)
Referee: Lucien Laverdure
Assistant Referee 1: Daniel Goodwin
Assistant Referee 2: Stephen Toth
Fourth Official: Rick Schneider
TV broadcast: 7.30pm (AEDT) Live coverage on FOX Sports 3HD and on Sky Sport 3 (New Zealand).
Radio Broadcast: ABC Grandstand Digital (SA), Radio Sport NZ Online & Smartphone APP.
Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tag #ADLvWEL
To purchase tickets visit www.aleague.com.au/tickets
Adelaide United squad: 1.Eugene GALEKOVIC (gk) (c), 2.Michael MARRONE, 3.Nigel BOOGAARD, 5.Osama MALIK, 7.JERONIMO, 8.ISAIAS, 9.Sergio CIRIO, 11.Bruce DJITE, 14.Cameron WATSON, 16. Daniel BOWLES, 17.Awer MABIL, 18.Michael ZULLO, 19.Jake BARKER-DAISH, 20.Paul IZZO (gk),
21.Tarek ELRICH, 22.Fabio FERREIRA, 23.Jordan ELSEY, 31.Ryan GRIFFITHS
**Two to be omitted**
In: 16.Daniel BOWLES (promoted), 17.Awer MABIL (Promoted), 18.Michael ZULLO (returns from suspension), 31.Ryan GRIFFITHS (returns from injury)
Out: 4.Jon McKAIN (suspended- 1 week), 10.Marcelo CARRUSCA (adductor strain – 1 week)
Unavailable: 6.CASSIO (hamstring tendon – indefinite), 15.Jacob MELLING (knee – 1 week)
Wellington Phoenix squad: 1.Glen MOSS (GK), 2.Manny MUSCAT, 3.Reece CAIRA, 5.Michael BOXALL, 6.Josh BRINDELL-SOUTH, 9.Kenny CUNNINGHAM, 10.Stein HUYSEGEMS, 11.Jeremy BROCKIE, 12.Tyler BOYD, 15.Jason HICKS, 17.Vince LIA, 18.Ben SIGMUND, 19.Hamish WATSON, 20.Lewis ITALIANO (GK), 21.Carlos HERNANDEZ, 22.Andrew DURANTE (c), 23.Matthew RIDENTON, 24.Roy KRISHNA.
**Two to be omitted**
In: 15. Jason HICKS (promoted), 19. Hamish WATSON (promoted).
.
Out: Nil.
Unavailable: 7.Leo BERTOS (groin injury 2-3 weeks), 8.Paul IFILL (ruptured Achilles, season), 13.Albert RIERA (groin injury 4-5 weeks), 16.Louis FENTON (shoulder injury, season).
Adelaide United vs. Wellington Phoenix – Hyundai A-League HEAD TO HEAD Record
Played 20 – 9 wins, 6 draws, 5 losses
1-Feb-2014… L 2-1… 2013/14 Wk 17 (Eden Park)
24-Feb-2013… D 2-2… 2012/13 Wk 22 (Westpac Stadium)
16-Dec-2012… W 3-1… 2012/13 Wk 11 (Hindmarsh Stadium)
27-Oct-2012… W 3-1… 2012/13 Wk 4 (Hindmarsh Stadium)
3-Feb-2012… L 1-2… 2011/12 Wk 18 (Hindmarsh Stadium)
30-Dec-2011… W 2-0… 2011/12 Wk 13 (Hindmarsh Stadium)
19-Nov-2011… D 1-1… 2011/12 Wk 7 (Eden Park, Auckland)
18-Feb-2011… W 1-0… 2010/11 Final Week 1 (Hindmarsh Stadium)
5-Feb-2011… L 0-1… 2010/11 Wk 26 (Hindmarsh Stadium)
5-Dec-2010… L 1-2… 2010/11 Wk 17 (AMI Stadium, Christchurch)
22-Oct-2010… W 3-0… 2010/11 Wk 11 (Hindmarsh Stadium)
30-Jan-2010… L 0-1… 2009/10 Rd 25 (AMI Stadium, Christchurch)
18-Dec-2009… D 1-1… 2009/10 Rd 20 (Hindmarsh Stadium)
4-Sep-2009… D 1-1… 2009/10 Rd 5 (Westpac Stadium)
18-Jan-2009… D 1-1… 2008/09 Rd 20 (Westpac Stadium)
5-Dec-2008… W 6-1… 2008/09 Rd 14 (Hindmarsh Stadium)
30-Aug-2008… W 3-0… 2008/09 Rd 3 (Hindmarsh Stadium)
30-Nov-2007… W 2-1… 2007/08 Rd 15 (Westpac Stadium)
28-Oct-2007… W 4-1… 2007/08 Rd 10 (Hindmarsh Stadium)
22-Sep-2007… D 2-2… 2007/08 Rd 5 (Westpac Stadium)
At Westpac Stadium
Played 5; Adelaide United 1, Wellington Phoenix 0, Draws 4
At Hindmarsh Stadium
Played 11; Adelaide United 8, Wellington Phoenix 2, Draws 1
At Eden Park, Auckland
Played 2; Adelaide United 0, Wellington Phoenix 1, Draws 1
At AMI Stadium, Christchurch
Played 2; Adelaide United 0, Wellington Phoenix 2, Draws 0
Last time they met in the Hyundai A-League
1-Feb-2014 Week 17, Hyundai A-League 2013/14 Season at Eden Park
Wellington Phoenix 2 (Hernandez (p) 22-, Cunningham 44-) Adelaide United FC 1 (Mabil 90-)