A-League – Preview – Melbourne City vs Adelaide United

A-League – Preview – Melbourne City vs Adelaide United

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Melbourne City host Adelaide United at AAMI Park in a clash that will have lasting permutations in the four-way battle for the premiers plate.

The task for both City and Adelaide in this fixture is relatively simple – win at all costs before painstakingly waiting on others to slip up.

A win to Brisbane Roar or Western Sydney Wanderers in either of their respective clashes with Melbourne Victory and Wellington Phoenix will rule Friday’s winner out of the calculations for the premiers plate.

Key Battle – Bruce Djite vs Bruno Fornaroli

Can the power of Bruce Djite outshine the guile of Bruno Fornaroli? This is not an on-pitch battle in the traditional sense. While the pair may not come into contact in general play with any sort of regularity, the answer to the question of who can have a bigger impact will go some way in deciding the outcome of these most precious three points.

Djite, the focal point of Adelaide’s attack has withstood a goal-drought and subsequent criticism earlier this campaign before lifting his form to previously unseen levels. Right in time for a finals push that many believe Amor’s men are primed for.


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The 29-year-old’s unwavering work ethic, mixed with a blend of pace, strength and finesse proved far too much for a beleaguered Sydney FC last Saturday night en route to a 2-0 Adelaide win. The striker’s game-winning contribution included a pair of sumptuous goals. He was ruthless, just as the team need him to be.

Fornaroli lacks the physical attributes that his counterpart possesses, but has shown a similar willingness to work tirelessly, supplemented by a skill set matched only by a select few over the A-League’s 11-year history.

On Sunday, with Perth Glory over the hills and far away with the scoreline deservedly at 3-0, others would have, perhaps understandably so, resigned to being outclassed and thrown in the proverbial towel.


CrownBet match odds at time of publishing 

Melbourne City – $2.22 

Adelaide United – $2.90

Draw – $3.85


El Tuna simply refused to accept defeat, and with his team performing well below par, dragged City back to a respectable 3-2 loss, with Marc Marino netting a goal in stoppage time after Fornaroli’s initial contribution. It was a scoreline that his side did not deserve – but the Uruguayan’s manner said more about his character in that defeat than he could in any number of 4-0 romps.

Team News

Michael Zullo’s 50/50 challenge with Glory’s Josh Risdon in the defeat saw the City winger come out second best. The club confirmed this week that the 27-year-old has been ruled out for the remainder of the season with a toe injury.

Aaron Hughes, Jacob Melling and Jack Clisby have been named in the extended squad, with two to be omitted in the lead-up.

Guillermo Amor has named Tarek Elrich in the squad after injury aswell as Kenyan-born Mark Ochieng. The 19-year-old has featured in the A-League and the FFA Cup previously, but opportunities at first team football have been sporadic for the right sided full back.

Expected XI’s

Melbourne City: Sorensen (GK), Franjic, Kisnorbo, Wilkinson, Clisby, Malik, Fitzgerald Mooy, Caceres, Garuccio, Novillo, Fornaroli

Adelaide United: Galekovic (GK), Marrone, La Rocca, McGowan, Goodwin, Carrusca, Mauk, Isaias, Cirio, Kamau, Djite

Head to head

The South Australians hold the edge in this fixture, winning seven times compared to City’s five. There has been five stalemates, most notably the first of two 2-2 draws in the 2013/14 campaign, when the now departed Ryan Griffiths put the Reds 2-1 ahead in the 90th minute, before Corey Gameiro dramatically equalised for Van’t Schip’s side in the 95th minute.

With 56 goals in 17 fixtures, entertainment has largely been the order of the day, at an average of 3.29 goals. Tonight’s fixture promises little else.

Previous Meeting

Nick Fitzgerald’s late stunner ensured City left Coopers Stadium with all three points in round 23.  The 1-0 win acted as a catalyst for City’s showing of greater consistency heading towards the finals series, aided by a new-found balance in midfield. Osama Malik, surplus to requirements in Amor’s set-up nullified Carrusca, setting up a platform for Aaron Mooy to dictate proceedings.

Prediction

This game could well be chaotic. With a draw serving little purpose for Adelaide, and even less to City, a one goal deficit either way may lead to a helter skelter approach especially in the latter stages.

Mooy should be adequately rested after trips to Adelaide, Sydney (both with the Socceroos) and Perth most recently. His influence, coupled with Anthony Caceres and the aforementioned Malik will provide City with a strong foundation to dictate play from. Fornaroli will cap off the greatest debut season in the A-League with a goal or two.

Melbourne City 3 Adelaide United 1

*CrownBet match odds at time of publishing are subject to change

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