Friday, 4 September 2009
Wellington Phoenix v Adelaide United
Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Local kick-off: 7.30pm (5.30pm AEST)
Referee: Michael Hester
The first of a Friday double header kicks off with Wellington Phoenix playing host to Adelaide United. Both teams will be looking for a win so they can creep out of the bottom four.
Wellington did not do much wrong against Sydney FC last week. They were on their way to a hard fought away point, with the score at 0-0 with less than 15 minutes left to play the Phoenix defence fell asleep at a corner and allowed the Bling substitute Brendan Gan to head in the go-ahead goal (ESPNism).
The Phoenix will welcome the addition of attacking midfielder Adrian Caceres to their squad. Look for the former Perth Glory, Melbourne Victory and Central Coast Mariner to take up his normal position- on the Bench.
Adelaide United is struggling with poor form and some distracting off field issues. The Pissants are suffering from a discipline problem with Brazilian Cassio and Robert Cornthwaite the main offenders, especially in the latter’s case.
Phoenix Quotes: “We’ve set the scene from an intensity point of view at training this week and worked on some changes in personnel to see the reaction from the players,” Phoenix boss Ricki Herbert said at training this week.
“We’ve got good depth and quality in the squad. The players understand there are no (selection) guarantees going into this match or any other and we’ll make the final decision on the squad after final training at Westpac Stadium and make the decisions around what we feel in necessary,” added Herbert.
Phoenix Form
LWDL
Adelaide Quotes: “It’s only four games in and we’ve been disappointed with the way we’ve started. We weren’t hoping to be in the position we are in so we’ve got to bounce back and be mentally strong,” Adelaide midfielder Paul Reid said from Adelaide Airport prior to the squad departing for Sydney en route to Wellington .
“If we get a couple of wins we’re right up there so it’s only early days, but we can’t keep playing the way we have been and we’ve got to bounce back against Wellington.”
Adelaide Form
WLLD
A Football Story Prediction:Phoenix 2- Adelaide 1
Wellington Phoenix Squad: 1. Mark PASTON (gk), 3. Tony LOCHHEAD, 4. Jon McKAIN, 5. DIEGO, 6. Tim BROWN, 7. Leo BERTOS, 8. Paul IFILL. 9. Chris GREENACRE, 10. Michael FERRANTE, 11. DANIEL, 12. Jiang CHEN, 13. Troy HEARFIELD, 16. David MULLIGAN, 17. Vince LIA, 18. Ben SIGMUND, 20. Reece CROWTHER (gk), 21. Marco ROJAS, 22. Andrew DURANTE (c), 23. Costa BARBAROUSES
*four to be omitted*
In: Mark PASTON (gk) (return from personal leave), Tim BROWN (promoted), Jiang CHEN (promoted), David MULLIGAN (promoted), Marco ROJAS (promoted), Costa BARBAROUSES (promoted)
Out: Manny MUSCAT (international duty), Jonathan GOULD (gk) (short-term cover)
Unavailable: Adrian CACERES (new signing)
Adelaide United Squad:1.Eugene GALEKOVIC (gk), 3.ALEMAO, 4.Iain FYFE, 5.Daniel MULLEN, 7.Lucas PANTELIS (c), 9.CRISTIANO, 10.Adam HUGHES, 11.Lloyd OWUSU, 12.Paul REID, 15.Francesco MONTEROSSO, 16.Inseob SHIN, 17.Michael MARRONE, 19. Mathew Leckie, 20.Mark BIRIGHITTI (gk), 21.Mark RUDAN, 23.Joe COSTA
*one to be omitted*
In: Francesco MONTEROSSO (promoted), Joe COSTA (promoted), Mathew Leckie (new player)
Out: Robert CORNTHWAITE (suspended – 2 weeks), Scott JAMIESON (calf – 1 week)
Unavailable: CASSIO (calf – 2 weeks), Kristian SARKIES (calf – indefinite), Travis DODD (calf – 1 week), Fabian BARBIERO (calf – 1 week)
*Head-to-Head: Played 6: Wellington Phoenix wins 0, Adelaide United wins 4, Drawn 2
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