A struggling Adelaide United host an inconsistent Melbourne City at Coopers Stadium on Thursday night with both sides looking to reignite their floundering starts to the season.
Adelaide, who remain winless after four matches, showed glimpses of improvement in the 3-0 loss to Brisbane Roar, but ultimately failed to capitalise on its stages of dominance particularly during the second-half. Coach Guillermo Amor is still yet to taste victory in the league and questions are beginning to be asked where it has all gone wrong for United. A win against Melbourne would temporarily appease fans’ concerns and simultaneously offer Amor a much needed reprieve in this apparent transitional period. The hosts are presently situated at the foot of the table with just two points in four matches.
Meanwhile, Melbourne would be hoping to put their disastrous capitulation behind them, after surrendering a two goal lead to a resilient Newcastle Jets outfit last week. Expectations on the club are higher than most this season due to the financial backing of the City Football Group. Anything less than a solid display against the Reds and the pressure will only intensify for MCFC boss John van’t Schip, following a rather disappointing start to the campaign. The Victorians currently lie sixth on the A-League ladder with four points in as many rounds.
Key Battle – Isaias V Aaron Mooy
The outcome of the match could potentially hinge on the midfield battle between the aforementioned players. Isaias will have his work cut out in trying to nullify Mooy’s involvement, who is arguably the best midfielder in the league. The Socceroo international’s passing ability is admirable and if he can demonstrate his excellent range of distribution on Thursday, the Reds will be in for a difficult night. The Spaniard’s tenacity, however, will be crucial to curtail the influence of Mooy as well as ensuring his side retain possession through committing tackles and applying pressure on the City midfield.
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Team News
Amor will likely utilise the 4-3-3 system despite a predictability about the way they have been playing this year. Striker Bruce Djite should start from the outset, after coming on as a substitute in the defeat to Brisbane. However, Iacopo La Rocca, Eli Babalj and Eugene Galekovic remain on the sidelines nursing respective injuries.
For City, van’t Schip’s men have been ravaged by injury this season as several regulars are out for the clash against the Reds. Robert Koren, who suffered a calf strain three weeks ago, will have his fitness evaluated but new recruits Michael Zullo and Ivan Franjic are unavailable. Defender Aaron Hughes may also feature in some capacity if he can overcome an injury complaint. Wade Dekker could replace Steve Kuzmanovski in the starting line-up, while Erik Paartalu may be recalled after being dropped for the previous two games in favour of the industrious Jacob Melling.
Head-to-head
Adelaide and City have met on 15 occasions with the Reds being the dominant side in this fixture with 7 wins to the visitors three, leaving five draws. However, incidentally, the hosts are undefeated in its preceding six home matches to Melbourne, after suffering its inaugural loss to the Victorian outfit in 2010.
Previous Meeting
In the corresponding fixture last season, both sides were reduced to 10 men as Adelaide ran riot to secure an impressive 4-1 win over City, which included Tarek Elrich’s spectacular individual effort.
Prediction
Whenever these two teams are pitted together it is usually an end-to-end game with a total of 49 goals scored in this fixture. So expect goals in this one as the last time a team was shutout by its opponent dates back to March 2013. Adelaide will be desperate to find the back-of-the-net through one of its own players and not have to rely on their opposition to score and with Djite returning, perhaps United can prepare to be somewhat more direct. Meanwhile, the visitors will look to control the midfield and provide better protection in front of the back four and could play on the counter-attack. City at the moment have shown patches of promising form and therefore just edge this one.
Adelaide United 1-2 Melbourne City
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