Matchday Programme: Adelaide United vs Western Sydney Wanderers - Hyundai A-League 2019/20 Round 12 by Adelaide United

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ROUND 12

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R ED S L E FT TO R UE S LO W S TA R T I N D E FE AT TO MAR I N E R S Adelaide United's eight match unbeaten run against Central Coast Mariners has ended following a 2-1 loss in Gosford on Sunday evening. Kye Rowles and Milan Duric had the Mariners two goals in front at the break and the margin proved too big a hill to climb. Ben Halloran’s screamer to start the second-half looked to spark a revival but the Reds could not register a second as their disappointing start proved costly. Gerjan Verbeek made two changes to the starting XI with both of them enforced. Paul Izzo (adductor) and George Blackwood (calf) were replaced by Isaac Richards, who received his Hyundai A-League debut and Nathan Konstandopoulos made his maiden start of the season to reach 50 Hyundai A-League appearances. Adelaide started the match in lacklustre fashion and fell behind after four minutes when Rowles dispatched a finish into the bottom corner after Adelaide could not clear the ball away to safety from the Mariners set-piece. Adelaide then missed several chances to draw level after appearing dangerous in transition.

drive from distance and past a helpless Richards.

key moments:

Verbeek was after an immediate response to begin the second stanza and the message was seemingly received.

4’ | GOAL: Adelaide can’t clear their lines from the set-piece and the ball drops to Rowles who steers his half-volley into the bottom corner.

Within seconds from the re-start, Halloran had the ball in the back of the net after firing an absolute rocket into the top corner on his nonpreferred left-foot. Adelaide continued to push for the equaliser but to no avail. Jordan Elsey, who was brought on at half-time saw a header fly wide from a corner, and Nikola Mileusnić’s bouncing effort was parried by the goalkeeper. The Mariners also came close to increasing their advantage on a couple of occasions. Danny Desilva hit the top of the net with an audacious chipped attempt. Halloran thought he was clipped by Tommy Oar in the box though the referee waved the appeals away. Adelaide laboured to try and restore parity in stoppage time but their slow start ultimately cost them as the visitors suffered their first loss to Central Coast since February 2017.

Nathan Konstandopoulos saw the ball fall kindly at the top of the box but he could not capitalise, instead dragging his shot wide of the target. Halloran also had a shot saved by Birighitti moments later following an incisive forward move. James Troisi then hit the side-netting after being cleverly played in by Konstandopoulos, before Halloran surged forward on a brilliant run but pulled his effort harmlessly astray. The Reds were made to rue those wasted opportunities and on 42 minutes another set-piece would be their Achilles heel. A corner fell to Duric outside the box and he faked to shoot before unleashing a stinging

M AT C H D AY P R O G R A M M E - R O U N D 12

29’ | CHANCE! Troisi shoots into the side netting after Konstandopoulos’s deft touch played the midfielder in. 42’ | GOAL: Duric drops the shoulder before firing a stunning strike from distance and it flies past Richards into the net. 46’ | GOAL! Halloran goes bang and sees his left-footed strike from the edge of the box fly into the top corner.

match details: Sunday, 22 December 2019 Hyundai A-League 2019/20 Season – Round 11 Central Coast Mariners 2 (Rowles 4’ Duric 42’) Adelaide United 1 (Halloran 46’) Venue: Central Coast Stadium

ROUND 12 PREVIEW YOU NEED ONLY ONE GAME TO PERFORM WELL AGAIN TO GET THE CONFIDENCE BACK SO FOR THEM ALSO… SO I THINK THEY WILL COME HERE TO GET THREE POINTS.

Adelaide United will be determined to put behind their recent inconsistent form and get their season back on track with a complete performance against the Western Sydney Wanderers on Friday night.

The Wanderers snapped a five-game losing streak with a 1-1 draw against Western United after being denied the victory with just minutes away from full-time.

The Reds have been rather lacklustre in their past three matches which has coincided with just one win from those games.

Verbeek believed their recent struggles does not tell the full story, and expected a desperate Wanderers outfit.

Gertjan Verbeek suggested his side’s mentality and approach must improve following a 2-1 defeat to Central Coast Mariners last Sunday.

“They’ve also had a hard time,” he said.

And at Thursday’s pre-match press conference at Coopers Stadium, the Dutchman reiterated that message. “It’s all about going to start with the mindset,” Verbeek explained to reporters. “If you go to Central Coast, who’s on the bottom of the league and you’ve the chance to get third – that’s not for nothing. “So how will you start in the game, will you start as the reactive team or an inactive team, even if it’s a game away.

“They started very well in the season and then they start losing games. I think they’ve a good team. “They’ve been a little bit unlucky in the last few games, but it’s also about the mindset – how long do you believe that you’re as good as it seems to be. “You need only one game to perform well again to get the confidence back so for them also… So I think they will come here to get three points.” The boss also confirmed Paul Izzo and George Blackwood are back from injury, but ruled out Riley McGree and Kristian Opseth for the clash as they continue their recovery from respective complaints on the sidelines.

“You’ve to show them you’re better because they don’t have a lot of confidence I think when you’re bottom and lose every game. “And when you start and let them believe there’s something in it for them, they get motivated and they get better and better, and you get worse - so it starts with the mindset.”

A D E LA I D E U N I T E D.C O M.A U

RE D S L ACKED AGGRESSION SAY S H AL LO R AN Ben Halloran believes Adelaide United were not aggressive enough against the Central Coast Mariners and as a consequence paid the price. The Reds succumbed to a 2-1 defeat – their first loss in seven league visits to Gosford. Kye Rowles and Milan Duric put the hosts in a commanding position, although Adelaide did have chances sandwiched in between both of the Mariners’ first-half goals.

Adelaide came out of the blocks all guns blazing to begin the second stanza after they had a strong talking to from Head Coach, Gertjan Verbeek.

“It doesn’t happen too often, I was hoping it would start a bit of a revival but they showed a lot of desperation there at the bottom of the table.

“We were expecting a stern talking to,” he said.

“But they’ve showed signs in the last couple of weeks that they don’t necessarily deserve to be there.

Ben Halloran stated his team never really got going despite an improved second 45.

“But we all knew it ourselves that we needed to do more in the second-half.

“You could put it down to a few things,” he admitted to Fox Sports after the match.

“I think we put in a better performance but it still wasn’t enough.”

“We just didn’t really show up today, I think we were second to everything in the first-half.

Indeed, it was Halloran that halved the deficit virtually immediately from the re-start, curling a brilliant strike into the top corner after cutting inside on the edge of the box.

“We weren’t aggressive enough and Central Coast just outplayed us in the first-half. “We showed a bit more desperation in the second-half but it was probably a bit too late by then.” 4

“I just took a touch inside and swung my left boot at,” Halloran said when asked to discuss his absolute screamer.

M AT C H D AY P R O G R A M M E - R O U N D 12

“We have to look at our own game, we have to build up more, we have to be better on the ball and try to outplay our opposition as well.”

A D E LA I D E U N I T E D.C O M.A U

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DANIEL MARGUŠ

MICHAEL MARRONE

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R IL E Y MCGREE

R YA N S T R A I N defender

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ISSAC RICHARDS goalkeeper

MIRKO BOLAND midfielder

AL HASSAN TOURE forward

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M AT C H D AY P R O G R A M M E - R O U N D 12

VERBEEK LAMENTS LACKLUSTRE START IN MARINERS LOSS Gertjan Verbeek attributes a lack of focus to Adelaide United's slow start in their 2-1 loss to Central Coast Mariners on Sunday. The Reds were very sluggish to begin proceedings and conceded in the fourth minute after failing to clear a set-piece.

The Dutchman said he was content with the start to the second stanza after Ben Halloran pulled a goal back in mesmerising fashion.

Adelaide improved soon after but could not take their chances and then shipped another goal from a set-piece, this time a corner just before the interval.

He acknowledged the endeavour shown by his players following the re-start but ultimately it was not enough.

Verbeek believed complacency or a lack of attention to detail was an issue after suffering a second defeat to a team situated at the bottom of the table this season.

Verbeek said the teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s concentration levels must always be high regardless of the game and its significance.

A D E LA I D E U N I T E D.C O M.A U

The 57-year-old reiterated that if his players do not bring the necessary level of application and desperation each week they will not be successful. He stressed the intensity they demonstrated in big matches such as the FFA Cup Final triumph against Melbourne City and their rousing win over Melbourne Victory must translate into all matches.

RE DS FA LL T O C A NBERRA AT M ARD E N key moments:

Adelaide United Women have suffered a fifth straight loss by a one-goal margin after falling 2-1 to Canberra United on Sunday.

But just as Adelaide had the ascendancy they fell behind from Canberra’s first real chance. Olivia Price threaded a pass to Khamis, who caught the Adelaide defence napping when she was left unmarked and turned and unleashed a venomous strike beyond Sarah Willacy in the ninth minute.

9’ | GOAL: Khamis draws first blood with a thumping strike from the edge of the box after breaking the offside from Price’s through ball.

The Reds conceded a goal in each half as Leena Khamis’s scintillating strike and a simple finish from substitute Hayley Taylor-Young on 78 minutes ultimately settled the Round 6 affair at Marden Sports Complex, after Emily Condon scored a late consolation.

Fowler and Weber continued to be the Reds’ focal points for the rest of the first-half in attack but they could find an equaliser after seeing respective shots land wide of the target.

78’ | GOAL: Taylor-Young volleys home from close range after Adelaide fail to clear their lines from the corner.

The Reds were on the back foot to begin the second stanza and Karlović made two substitutions just past the hour mark to add some extra energy on the park.

90+3’ | GOAL! Condon grabs a goal back for the Reds tapping in from inside the six-yard box.

Willacy saved Taylor-Young’s shot onto the post, but the substitute did not have to wait much longer to score his first Westfield W-League goal.

match details:

Ivan Karlović made two changes to the starting XI that played Brisbane Roar Women last week. Chelsie Dawber received her first start of the season with Isabel Hodgson making way, while Charlotte Grant was deployed at left-back, and Emily Condon returned to the matchday squad for the first time since Round 1.

A corner was swung in and the ball ricocheted off a defender and landed to Taylor-Young for a rather easy tap-in.

Adelaide made a bright start but could not capitalise on their early chances. Mallory Weber was lively and she saw an effort inside six minutes saved by Sham Khamis.

Adelaide halved the deficit in stoppage but it was merely a consolation when Condon could not miss from inside the six-yard box.

A minute later, Georgia Campagnale’s through ball released Mary Fowler and she rounded the goalkeeper only for her goal-bound finish to be cleared by Kaleigh Kurtz.

Sunday, 22 December 2019 Westfield W-League 2019/20 Season – Round 6 Adelaide United Women 1 (Condon 90+3’) Canberra United Women 2 (L. Khamis 9’ Taylor-Young 78’) Venue: Marden Sports Complex Attendance: 693

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PRE-MATCH STATS 8 WINS

MICHAEL MARRONE 8Pa2ssi%ng a c c ura c y

8 DRAWS 29

GOALS

6 WINS 30 GOALS

1I n8ter c eptio n s 2C l 8e ar anc es 1a ssi s ts

NICOLAI MÃ&#x153;LLER

L A ST F I V E M E ET IN G S : 1-3 LOSS (H) 1-2 WIN (A) 2-2 DRAW (H) 2-3 WIN (A) 1-1 DRAW (A)

8Pa1ssi%ng a c c ura c y 1goal s 4d uel8 %s u c c ess ra te 8fo ul s wo n

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M AT C H D AY P R O G R A M M E - R O U N D 12

MATCHDAY INFO

The Reds face Western Sydney Wanderers in Round 12 of the Hyundai A-league 2019/20 at Coopers Stadium tonight. activities •

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Arrive early and check out the Fan Village behind the Aurelio Vidmar (Southern) Stand! A DJ will be spinning the tunes under the RAA marquee inside the Manton Street precinct. To help those affected by devastating bushfires, donation collection points for the CFS Foundation will be located at the AUFC merchandise stands in both Manton Street and Holden Street precincts. More information about the CFS Foundation can be found here. Triple M will pit two fans against each other for $1000 in the Kick of Cash at Half-Time. For your chance to take part in the Kick of Cash, register here.

Orexi Signor Arrosticini Gourmet Grillerz

family park •

Colouring in competition presented by Rachel Lawrie Ray White Triple M marquee and inflatable goal McDonald's golden arches target challenge AUFC inflatable dart ball and inflatable goal Games2U video game van

• • • •

AUFC Store located next tot he 1862 Bar under the Western Grandstand near the Corporate Entrance / Gate 3. A third merchandise stand will be located inside the Manton Street entrance. Don’t forget, all Reds members are entitled to 10% off all purchases. The AUFC Store on Manton Street will be open until kick-off.

merchandise 25% off supporter range - one day only! All official Adelaide United merchandise will be available for purchase at the Holden Street entrance near Gate 5 as well as the

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M AT C H D AY P R O G R A M M E - R O U N D 12

Matchday Programme: Adelaide United vs Western Sydney Wanderers - Hyundai A-League 2019/20 Round 12

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ROUND 12 PREVIEW