Adelaide United will look to book a place in the finals series this Thursday when they play Western Sydney Wanderers in their final game of the regular A-League campaign.
Stadium: Coopers Stadium (Adelaide)
Key Statistics
- Adelaide have lost twice at home this season
- They have the third-best defence at home, having conceded eleven goals this season. But four of those goals were conceded in their last home match against Sydney FC.
- Western Sydney Wanderers have won just one of their last four games.
- Away from home, they are on a three-game losing run and are without a win in six away games.
Adelaide United
Adelaide United put their chances of a place in the final series in jeopardy when they lost 4-1 to Sydney FC in their last outing.
And now they enter this tie three points behind Wellington Phoenix, who hold a superior goal difference to them with just one game left to play.
However, they can still secure their place in the final series if they pick up one point in this tie and will hope to do so to avoid an embarrassing end to a largely unsuccessful season.
Thomas Veart’s men were unbeaten in eight home games until their recent loss to Sydney FC. They will head into this game, hoping that the energy they can get at Coopers Stadium will guide them to a top-six finish this season.
Veart has an enforced change to make in his Adelaide XI after ever-present Jordan Elsey was sent off in the last fixture. In his absence, George Timotheou is likely to start while Yaya Dukuly is expected to begin from the bench despite netting in the last game.
Possible line-ups
James Delianov; Noah Smith, Michael Jakobsen, George Timotheou, Ryan Strain; Joe Caletti, Louis D’Arrigo; Yaya Dukuly, Stefan Mauk, Ben Halloran; Tomi Juric
Western Sydney Wanderers
WS Wanderers put a stop to a three-game losing run with a two-nil win over Brisbane Roar last time out.
With nothing to play for in this tie after missing out on a top-six finish, ‘Wander Women’ will hope to send the season with a win and perhaps deny their rivals a place in the final series.
Carl Robinson will hope that his team can repeat the good defensive showing in their last game that saw them keep a clean sheet for the first time in four games.
Possible line-ups
Daniel Margush; Tate Russell, Dylan McGowan, Thomas Aquilina, Mark Natta, Ziggy Gordon; Steven Ugarkovic, Graham Dorrans, Keanu Baccus; Mitchell Duke, Bruce Kamau.
Betting Odds
Adelaide : Draw : WS Wanderers :: 2.00 : 4.00 : 3.20
Prediction
Adelaide 3-1 WS Wanderers
