Two grand final appearances. Seven previous finals appearances. Seventeen finals matches. Zero A-League titles.
Those are the cold hard numbers that stare Adelaide United down as they head into their semi-final against Melbourne City on Friday.
Adelaide United have one of the most successful records in terms of appearances in the A-League finals, with only Brisbane Roar and Melbourne Victory on par with United but what is truly shocking is how often Adelaide have failed to capitalise on these appearances.
As it stands now, Adelaide have a win percentage of just just 17% in finals matches, having only won three finals games in their seven previous campaigns. However, as Adelaide look to begin their eighth campaign, this time they are hoping that they can go the distance and help erase the pain that their fans have suffered in the past when it comes to the business end of the season.
Adelaide’s finals issues begun even before the first football was kicked in the A-League. Playing in the final season of the old National Soccer League, Adelaide made the last finals series in 2003-04 and almost went the distance, going from third and getting past Brisbane Strikers on away goals in the first elimination final to then dispatching South Melbourne 2-1 after extra time in the minor semi-final. But that was where their season fell apart, losing out to Perth Glory – the eventual winners – in the preliminary final. However, what is interesting to note is the score itself: a resounding 5-0 thrashing in front of 17,000 fans. This is a finals score Adelaide would want to forget quickly, but the fact is there was still much worse to come.
The first season of the A-League kicked off in the 2005-06 season and it looked like Adelaide would easily take home the title as they entered the finals series. The club had walked to the minor premiership with ease, pipping Sydney FC by seven points. But in the semi-final against the second-placed club, they failed to take their chances and lost the tie 4-3 on aggregate, meaning they would have to beat third-placed Central Coast Mariners for a spot in the first ever A-League grand final.
However, it was not to be. An early goal by Tom Pondeljak set the tone of the match and while Adelaide threw everything they had at the Mariners, nothing would get past their defence and Adelaide ended their first season standing on the outside looking into the grand final. They were determined not to let that happen again and with the signings of players like Brazilian legend Romario and a young Nathan Burns, prospects were looking bright for United heading into the next season.
A-League Finals – The case for Adelaide United
As the 2006-07 season moved through the motions, it would become clear that Adelaide would be unable to defend their title, with a rampant Melbourne Victory storming to the title and winning the minor premiership by 12 points. However, Adelaide would finish second and they entered the finals confident that this time, they could go the distance. The Reds started off well, holding the premiers to a 0-0 draw in the first leg of their major semi-final tie, but things just did not go their way in the return leg in Melbourne, with a stoppage time goal from James Robinson forcing Adelaide to once again go through the preliminary final to secure a spot in the grand final. There they faced the Newcastle Jets, and the match was one of the closest in A-League history to date, with a 74th-minute goal from Jets striker Vaughn Coveny forcing the match into extra time and eventually penalties. It was here that Adelaide managed to keep their cool, sneaking past Newcastle 4-3 on penalties to secure a berth in their first ever A-League grand final.
Ask any A-League fans what defining moments the first few seasons of the league held and you would not be surprised to hear this grand final frequently mentioned. The game was a whitewash for Melbourne Victory, with five goals from Archie Thompson destroying Adelaide completely, and a late goal from Kristian Sarkies rubbing more salt in the wound. The final score was 6-0 in favor of Melbourne, a single-game scoreline that has yet to be repeated in any finals series since.
The next season saw Adelaide fall right off, failing to make the finals in 2007-08 after finishing sixth. But the club was desperate for a return to the grand final. They wanted another bite of the cherry.
It was not until 2008-09 that they got that chance. Adelaide returned in style, storming their way into second during the regular season, only losing out on the minor premiership by the tie-breaking statistic that they had scored two goals less than eventual premiers Melbourne Victory, after both clubs finished equal on points and goal difference.
Adelaide were not going to let Melbourne take home another title but their finals campaign got off to a rough start, dispatched with ease by the Victory in the major semi-final. The score was 6-0 on aggregate over two legs and fans were already worried that the club was falling apart, much like it had just two seasons ago. But Adelaide righted the ship in the preliminary final against the then Queensland Roar, with a sole goal from Fabian Barbiero taking Adelaide to their second grand final appearance in three tries.
But once again, the club came up against their old enemies in Melbourne Victory, and once again Adelaide shot themselves in the foot, with Brazilian striker Cristiano sent off after just 10 minutes in controversial circumstances. The one-man advantage allowed Victory to finally get on the scoreboard thanks to a Pondeljak goal and despite Victory eventually going down to 10 men with Danny Allsopp sent off in the second half, it was too little too late for Adelaide and once again they would be heading home empty handed.
Adelaide would then drop right off once again, finishing the next season with the unwelcome title of the Wooden Spoon.
Stay tuned for Part 2
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