Reds teenager sinks Newcastle as Adelaide snap four-game skid to keep slim finals hopes alive
A lone Luka Jovanovic strike 10 minutes from fulltime saw Adelaide United end their lengthy winless run at the expense of Newcastle and keep…
Central Coast Mariners will be looking for three points to keep their Premier’s Plate hopes alive when they face Adelaide United tonight. We’ll have live scores from 7.00pm AEDT.
Despite registering a 1-0 win over old foes Brisbane Roar last Sunday, it’s fair to say it hasn’t been the best of weeks for the Mariners.
The club has been plagued by news of financial trouble through the week, the last thing coach Graham Arnold needs as he tries to gear his side toward winning that elusive A-League championship.
But Arnold was given some good news last night in the form of Western Sydney Wanderers’ 1-1 draw with Sydney FC, meaning the Mariners are still a mathematical chance of winning the Premier’s Plate.
To do that they’ll need six points from their last two matches, starting tonight with a tricky trip to Adelaide.
After a dominant first half to the year, the Reds have been largely poor after the festive break and in the last few weeks have been meandering toward the A-League finals with their top four finish ensured.
Tonight Michael Valkanis will be without Marcelo Carrusca due to suspension, but may have the luxury of recalling striker Bruce Djite into the starting lineup after seemingly recovering from a groin complaint.
Adelaide are traditionally a tough nut to crack at home but the 2013 version of the Reds so far has been anything but traditional.
With their defence of the Premier’s Plate still alive, Arnold will demand nothing but a win tonight and it isn’t hard to see his side following through on their coach’s instruction.