It is all on the line tomorrow night as the Central Coast Mariners take on Adelaide United at 7:45pm at Our Paradise, with a spot in the A-League Grand Final up for grabs.
Following last weekend’s 2-1 win over the Red’s at Coopers Stadium, the Mariners now take a one goal advantage into the second leg.
Tickets are selling extremely fast, with only limited seats available. Be at Industree Group Stadium tomorrow night to watch the side fight for a grand final place by purchasing tickets HERE!
Team News
The Central Coast Mariners have named an unchanged 20-man squad from the side that travelled down to Adelaide last weekend.
It was the same starting XI on Saturday that has run out in every match since the international break, with the team looking settled and going undefeated in that stretch of games.
Adelaide have made three changes to their 20-man squad, with Luke Duzel, Bernardo and Luka Jovanovic all coming in. The only change sees Hiroshi Ibusuki drop out after suffering a calf injury in last weekend’s game.
The Red’s will also be without Harry Van Der Saag, Jay Barnett, Josh Cavallo, Juande and Jonny Yull with long term injuries.
Recent Form
The Central Coast Mariners have been on an incredible run of form since the international break, winning five out of the six matches, drawing the other.
This has included two wins over Adelaide, beginning with a 4-1 victory which secured us second place and a position in the AFC Cup.
After a weekend off, the Mariners again travelled back down to Adelaide for the first leg of the semi-finals.
A dominant first half and a controlled second saw the Central Coast come out 2-1 winners, taking that one goal advantage into this weekend.
Adelaide is instead looking to bounce back after a tough month of football, winning one of their six matches.
This was a 2-0 victory over Wellington Phoenix in the Elimination Final that secured them a place in the semi-finals.
While they did score first last weekend through a fourth minute Craig Goodwin penalty, the side struggled to gain any sort of control as the Mariners defensive line held firm.
Previous Meetings
Since first playing each other in the A-League on the 25th of September 2005, Adelaide and the Central Coast have had an extremely close rivalry.
Each side has won 24 games each, while also drawing seven matches in their 55 A-League meetings.
The Mariners hold a slight advantage in goal difference in the games played, currently three ahead.
This season the Mariners have won all three matches played with an aggregate of 10-2, including the 2-1 victory last weekend.
This sees the Central Coast sit just a win away from making the grand final for the first time since the 2012/13 season.
Squads
Central Coast
3. Brian KALTAK, 4. Joshua NISBET, 5. James MCGARRY, 6. Maximilien BALARD, 7. Samuel SILVERA, 9. Jason CUMMINGS, 10. Matheus MORESCHE, 11. Beni NKOLOLO, 13. Harry STEELE, 14. Dylan WENZEL-HALLS, 15. Storm ROUX, 18. Jacob FARRELL, 20. Danny VUKOVIC, 23. Daniel HALL, 24. Yaren Sozer, 25. Nectarios TRIANTIS, 28. James BAYLISS, 31. Christian THEOHAROUS, 39. Miguel DI PIZIO, 98. Marco TULIO
Ins: Nil
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: Bradley TAPP (injury)
Adelaide United
1.James DELIANOV (gk), 3.Ben WARLAND, 4.Nick ANSELL, 6.Louis D’ARRIGO, 7.Ryan KITTO, 8.ISAÍAS, 10.Zach CLOUGH, 11.Craig GOODWIN (c), 13.Lachlan BARR, 14.George BLACKWOOD, 21.Javi LÓPEZ, 23.Luke DUZEL, 26.Ben HALLORAN, 31.BERNARDO, 35.Luka JOVANOVIĆ, 36.Panashe MADANHA, 41.Alexandar POPOVIĆ, 46.Joe GAUCI (gk), 55.Ethan ALAGICH, 66.Nestory IRANKUNDA
Ins: 23.Luke DUZEL, 31.BERNARDO, 35.Luka JOVANOVIĆ
Outs: 9.Hiroshi IBUSUKI (calf)
Unavailable: 2.Harry VAN DER SAAG (knee), 18.Jay BARNETT (hamstring), 27.Josh CAVALLO (Achilles), 28.JUANDE (leg), 37.Jonny YULL (back)
Match Details
Central Coast Mariners vs Adelaide United
Saturday, May 20th
Kick-off: 7:45pm AEST
Industree Group Stadium, Gosford
Broadcast: The match will be broadcast live on 10Bold and Paramount+
Buy tickets HERE!
