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Sydney FC coach Graham Arnold says his side were robbed last time they met Adelaide but he’s confident they can turn the tables when they face off in their A-League semi-final on Saturday.
Adelaide enter the Allianz Stadium encounter fresh from eliminating two-time champions Brisbane 2-1 in their knockout final on Friday.
The Sky Blues have been beaten in all three outings against the Reds at Allianz Stadium this season – twice in the A-League and once in the FFA Cup.
Despite a relentless attack in their last clash last month, Adelaide gloveman Eugene Galekovic pulled out a stellar display to deny Sydney and help his side to a 1-0 win.
But far from harbouring hard feelings, Arnold wants to thank Josep Gombau’s men with Sydney going on to finish the regular season with three straight wins.
“Afterwards five or six of their players came and didn’t apologise but said ‘we had balaclavas on tonight and we robbed you’,” Arnold said.
“But we learned a lesson and I probably have to thank Adelaide for that because we went back to the drawing board and saw that we weren’t ruthless enough in front of goal and we had to get back to our defending basics.
“Since that loss we haven’t been defeated.”
Socceroo Terry Antonis will make his long-awaited comeback from injury on Saturday with Arnold also declaring star striker Marc Janko fit.
Midfielder Antonis has been battling a knee injury since returning from Australia’s triumphant Asian Cup campaign in January and hasn’t played a minute since March 15.
But Arnold confirmed the 21-year-old has been training well and will take part in Saturday’s showdown.
Janko, who missed Sydney’s final-round clash away to Wellington with a minor shoulder niggle, is also fully fit.
Sydney skipper Alex Brosque says the Reds should be wary of the threat the Austrian brings.
“I think they should be very worried. He’s the golden boot winner and he’s been fantastic,” Brosque said.
“He’s a threat all over the pitch and his work rate is really impressive.
“Adelaide would have done their homework on him but he’s one of those players you can’t really stop, you just hope he doesn’t have an impact and we’re confident he will.”
Football Federation Australia boss David Gallop said he was expecting up to 35,000 fans to fill Allianz Stadium with Arnold even urging rival Western Sydney supporters to attend.
“We really need the Sydney FC fans to come out and support us because we are the only team left in NSW,” he said.
“Maybe even the Wanderers fans will come and support us as well.”
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