3 minute read
A look at the A-League semi-final between Perth Glory and Adelaide United at HBF Park.
A-LEAGUE 1ST SEMI-FINAL - PERTH GLORY V ADELAIDE UNITED
Friday May 10 - 6:30pm local, 8:30pm AEST - HBF Park, Perth
PERTH GLORY
Premiers - 18 wins, 6 draws, 3 losses, +33 goal difference
ADELAIDE UNITED
Fourth-placed finishers - 12 wins, 8 draws, 7 losses, +5 goal difference
Defeated Melbourne City 1-0 (after extra time) in Sunday's elimination final.
THE FORM
Perth: Glory ended the regular season in the best possible fashion, thrashing Wellington Phoenix 5-0 in Perth. Although Glory lost 1-0 against Sydney a week earlier, they were resting a host of their best players for that match given they had already wrapped up the Premiers Plate.
Adelaide: United takes league-best form into the clash with five wins and a draw in their last six. That said, surely their 120-minute slog against Melbourne City just five days before the final will hurt.
THIS SEASON
Rd 4: Adelaide 0-2 Perth Glory, Coopers Stadium
Rd 15: Perth Glory 0-0 Adelaide United, HBF Park
Rd 22: Adelaide United 0-2 Perth Glory, Coopers Stadium
THE COACHES
Perth: Tony Popovic. The master coach has taken less than a year to transform Glory into the best defensive side of the league - a far cry from their record in previous seasons. Has helped a number of players achieve career-best form.
Adelaide: Marco Kurz. Perhaps remarkably, United's suits have called time on the German's tenure in Adelaide prior to the end of the season. He will leave after making the finals in both his campaigns.
THE STARS
Perth: Diego Castro. It's hard to imagine, but the star Spaniard has been able to elevate his game to an even higher level this season. His bag of tricks often leave opponents bamboozled.
Adelaide: Ben Halloran. Fresh off a best-afield performance and the winning goal in last weekend's stirring triumph, the livewire forward is United's best chance of causing trouble.
THE HISTORY
The clubs don't share an animosity and have never met in finals; though they did play off for the 2014 FFA Cup. Kenny Lowe's side went down 1-0 to Josep Gombau's team courtesy of Sergio Cirio's goal. Of those teams, just Isaias, Michael Marrone (Adelaide) and Dino Djulbic, Andy Keogh (Perth) remain.
HOW PERTH WINS
No stage fright. Tony Popovic's side have kept Adelaide scoreless in all three encounters this season; they know what's required and if they turn up, they'll be too strong.
HOW ADELAIDE WINS
One hell of an effort. Marco Kurz will take a weary team to Perth after their elimination final win so they'll need to dig deep. Can team spirit take them through?
THE PREDICTION
Surely, it has to be Perth. With the benefit of a week off and a fit squad they should have too much. 3-0 Glory.
