The Central Coast Mariners are looking to continue their pleasing A-League Men’s form this weekend, keen to begin 2023 in the same style that we ended 2022.
Currently sitting in third place on the Isuzu UTE A-League ladder, a win this weekend is crucial as we look to head into two weeks of away matches with three points.
Team News
Garang Kuol drops out of the side after officially departing the club to head to Newcastle United in the English Premier League.
Cameron Windust has been promoted to the side to take his place, with the rest of the squad remaining the same.
Paul Ayongo will be keen to hopefully return to the match day 18 man squad after missing the last few weeks with a leg injury.
Max Balard was an unused substitute last round against Melbourne Victory and is aiming to get his first minutes since his injury.
Javi Lopez and Ethan Alagich have both been promoted into the match day 20 man squad for Adelaide, with the rest of the side remaining relatively similar.
Recent Form
The Mariners have been on a pleasing run of form since the return of the A-League competition, winning three of our last four matches including our last three at Industree Group Stadium.
After a tight loss to Melbourne City in scorching conditions, the Mariners dazzled our home fans on New Year’s Eve, coming away with a 2-1 win over Melbourne Victory. It was a deserved result, as the Mariners looked the more threatening for the entire ninety minutes.
Those three points have the Mariners sitting in third place with 16 points, while also scoring the most goals so far in the competition.
Adelaide have had a back and forth start to the 2022/23 A-League Men’s season, currently sitting on four wins, three draws and three losses.
Since returning from the World Cup break, Adelaide have struggled at times, picking up four out of a possible twelve points. This included back-to-back losses against Wellington and Newcastle.
The side regained some of their pre-break form last Monday, coming away with a 2-0 victory over last placed Perth Glory.
The side currently sit in fourth place on 15 points, just a single point behind the Mariners.
Previous Meetings
Matches between Adelaide United and the Central Coast Mariners have gone back and forth over the past three seasons, as has been the recent nature of the rivalry.
Both sides have won their last three home regular season games against the other since midway through the 2019/20 season. Since the very first match between the Mariners and Adelaide back in 2005, there have only been seven draws.
The Mariners have won 21 fixtures, while Adelaide have edged 24 matches, scoring five more total goals in the process.
At Industree Group Stadium the Mariners have a slight advantage historically, winning 14 of the 25 games. Fans at Our Paradise tomorrow are almost guaranteed to see a winner, with only one of those matches ending with the scored drawn.
Last season the Mariners were able to come away with a 3-0 win over Adelaide at home, before going down 3-1 in the elimination final at Coopers Stadium.
Squads
Central Coast Mariners squad
2. Thomas AQUILINA, 3. Brian KALTAK, 4. Joshua NISBET, 6. Maximilien BALARD, 7. Samuel SILVERA, 9. Jason CUMMINGS, 11. Beni NKOLOLO, 13. Harrison STEELE, 15. Storm ROUX, 18. Jacob FARRELL, 20. Daniel VUKOVIC (c) (gk), 21. Michael RUHS, 22. Cameron Windust 23. Daniel HALL, 24. Yaren SOZER (gk), 25. Nectarios TRIANTIS, 27. Sasha KUZEVSKI, 29. Dor JOK, 90. Paul AYONGO, 98. MARCO TULIO
Ins: 22. Cameron Windust (promoted)
Outs: 14. Garang Kuol (Departed club)
Unavailable: 10. Matheus MORESCHE (injured), 26. Bradley TAPP (injured)
Adelaide United squad
1.James DELIANOV (gk), 4.Nick ANSELL, 6.Louis D’ARRIGO, 7.Ryan KITTO, 8.ISAÍAS, 9.Hiroshi IBUSUKI, 10.Zach CLOUGH, 11.Craig GOODWIN (c), 13.Lachlan BARR, 14.George BLACKWOOD, 21.Javi LÓPEZ, 26.Ben HALLORAN, 27.Josh CAVALLO, 28.JUANDE, 36.Panashe MADANHA, 41.Alexandar POPOVIĆ, 46.Joe GAUCI (gk), 47.Asad KASUMOVIĆ, 55.Ethan ALAGICH, 66.Nestory IRANKUNDA
Ins: 21.Javi LÓPEZ, 55.Ethan ALAGICH (promoted)
Outs: nil
Unavailable: 2.Harry VAN DER SAAG (knee), 3.Ben WARLAND (knee), 31.BERNARDO (foot), 50.Steven HALL (knee)
Match Details
Central Coast Mariners vs Adelaide United
Saturday, January 7th
Kick-off: 5:00pm AEDT
Industree Group Stadium, Gosford
Broadcast: The match will be broadcast live on Paramount+
