A-League: Adelaide Ready For 'Mini-Final' With Sydney

United FC is treating Saturday night’s crucial top four encounter against Sydney FC at Hindmarsh Stadium as a mini final, in Round 12 of the Hyundai A-League.

22 Nov 2008 00:26:01

Coach Aurelio Vidmar, Adelaide United (no main)

Teams

Now past the half way point of the season, it is starting to head into the business end and with the AFC Champions League now over, The Reds need to produce a lively, focused performance at home to stay in check with the top four.

United’s form heading into the match has not been the best, the squad’s schedule of AFC Champions League and domestic games seeming to have caught up with the Red’s after last week’s defeat to the Central Coast Mariners.

However, Coach Aurelio Vidmar and the team have had a full week to freshen up mentally and physically for a crucial match against a Sydney FC team that sits just a point behind The Reds in fourth spot. Vidmar will be hoping his team can break a four game losing run that started back in Round 10 which included both legs of the AFC Champions League Final.

Of the Hyundai A-League clubs, Sydney FC is the side that United has the worst win/loss record against, and Vidmar is keen to start pulling back the ledger.

“We need to turn it around and we probably couldn’t be in a better situation for us, we’ve lost a couple of A-League games on the trot and we don’t want to make it a third so we really need to roll our sleeves up and get a job done,” Vidmar said.

“I’m expecting a massive game from the players. They know the situation, they’ve worked really well this week so hopefully with those couple of days rest, it has given them a little bit of renewed energy so they can go out tomorrow with all guns blazing and try to get the three points.”

Sydney FC is also desperate for winning form after capturing just one win from their past six games, and Vidmar knows his former mentor and current Sydney FC Coach John Kosmina will be desperate to take all three points.

“It’s going to be a really interesting game because they’re coming off a couple of poor results as well so in a way we’re in the same predicament so it will be like a mini final for both teams,” Vidmar said.

Kosmina’s return to Adelaide always attracts interest, and United fans will be hoping he does not relive the success he had at Hindmarsh Stadium during his time with The Reds.

United has conceded six goals to Sydney FC in their last two meetings, and The Reds will need to get back to the form that saw them give up just two goals from the opening four rounds.

Goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic believes the squad having a full week to rejuvenate will go a long way to bringing back that defensive strength that United has become renowned for.

“The last few months have been pretty hectic on the players and I think it has caught up on them in the last couple of weeks, but we’ve had a few days off and a week of full training and we’re ready for Saturday,” Galekovic said.

“If you look at the last couple of results, we didn’t get the results we needed but this is a new game, it’s a bit of a derby and we’re looking to get three points. It’s always a big game when you play teams like Sydney so there is going to be a big crowd and I think the boys will be ready for the occasion.”

Central defender Sasa Ognenovski will have added incentive to shut Sydney FC down as he is set to make his 50th Hyundai A-League appearance.

The Reds’ only casualty from the side that lost to the Mariners last Saturday is Vice-Captain Lucas Pantelis, who has been ruled out for at least 4-6 weeks after reinjuring the same knee he had reconstructed back in 2006.

Creative midfielder Paul Reid is available after missing last week with an ankle problem while Kristian Sarkies, Robert Younis and Daniel Mullen have been named in an extended 18 man squad after they played in the National Youth League against the Mariners.

When the sides met back in Round 5, Vidmar made eight changes to a line up that had to front up just a day after arriving back from Japan as part of the AFC Champions League Quarter Finals.

This time, United will face Sydney FC with a side that has had seven days to prepare and is match hardened after its AFC Champions League experience.

Sydney FC has not played since November 7 and The Reds, with a vocal home crowd expected at Hindmarsh Stadium, will be hoping to put their opponents on the back foot as they attempt to secure a valuable three points in what shapes as a ‘mini final’.