The Wellington Phoenix travel to Hindmarsh Stadium tonight to take on Adelaide United as they look to extend their three game winning streak. Join us tonight from 7:30pm EST for live scores, minute to minute updates and game analysis.
Sadly, the story of success isn’t shared by Adelaide. Whilst they had a brief revival under new coach John Kosmina, they head into the game tonight with the wooden spoon looming as a distinct possibility.
Wellington’s routing of the Heart last round will not have gone unnoticed by the Reds who could learn a thing or two from the attractive, free flowing brand of football fabricated by Ricki Herbert’s men.
In contrasting scenes, the Reds failed to capitalise on early opportunities against the Glory and looked woeful when put under any pressure from Perth’s forwards.
Antony Golec, Daniel Mullen and Mark Birighitti will be unavailable for the Reds due to international commitment with the U-23 side.
The Phoenix aren’t missing any players due to international duties, however the playing status of Manny Muscat is still unclear, with his wife due to give birth any day.
Adelaide’s 3-0 loss to Perth may have unjustly represented the performance by the Reds and it was Bruce Djite on two occasions who squandered easy opportunities to score. In his second stint with the Reds, Djite has struggled to emulate the form that got him selected for the national side in years gone.
With a top two position on the line, Wellington will look to create space between themselves and those below them, but for Adelaide it appears only pride will be the driving force to their success.
Axelv
Guest
You can watch it here www.footballasia.com/page/Home Or try Fromsport.com
Mitch
Guest
Good Job stoffy
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Oh, Adelaide...
Stoffy18
Roar Guru
"an inability to take advantage of clear cut opportunities" should I say.
Stoffy18
Roar Guru
'93 FULL TIME! ADELAIDE 1 - WELLINGTON 2 Wellington deserve their win, unlucky not to go 3-1 up at the end, but nonetheless the 3 points go the New Zealander's way! "We're yet to concede this season yet" the words from Adelaide captain Eugene Galekovic. He is no doubt putting a brave face on for the media, Adelaide look spent and unless something drastically changes during the week, I can't see them taking part in post season action this year. John Kosmina had high hopes for his Reds this season, but again today he saw a positive first 20 minutes overshadowed by some slopping defending and an ability not to take advantage of clear cut opportunities.. Adelaide are growing far too acustom to this standard of football.. The fans, who were heard pre-match cheering and chanting will leave the game feeling far from impressed. Positive signs for Bruce Djite who managed to to capatalise on his opporunties, however van Dijk found himself up the field far to often, leaving Djite virtually as a lone striker. For Adelaide to record wins, you feel van Dijk and Djite will both need to perform on the same stage! For Wellington, the usuals were up to their old tricks. IFill came into his element late in the game with plenty of space to move into.. A deserved winner of the Man of the Match award. Tony Lochhead in his 100th game and Ben Sigmund handled themselves well amidst the ongoing pressure. Both teams had their moments, but in the scheme of things it was Wellington that took advantage of those chances. Finishing will be a point of interest no doubt at training for Adelaide, while Wellington will fly home knowing that a spot in the post season looks all but assured. Wellington will host the Central Coast Mariners next Sunday with the hope to pin back the ladder leaders, while at the other end of the table, Adelaide travel to the Gold Coast next Sunday and will look to create space between themselves and the bottom dwellers. Well that about wraps-up the coverage of the game tonight. Adelaide will again feel they had the better of the opportunities but once again the three points has evaded them. Hope you enjoyed the coverage and don't forget to follow the Roar's coverage of tomorrows matches headlined by the Melbourne Derby!
Stoffy18
Roar Guru
'92 YELLOW CARD shown to DANIEL... correction for earlier Yellow, the referee mistankenly showed a yellow to him. Cross deep into the Adelaide box, DJITE! oooh it's wide! surely their last chance of the match and it was a great on.. Great ball in and Djite found space for a free header but put it wide.. Only seconds left surely!
Stoffy18
Roar Guru
'90 3 minutes of injury time, Adelaide are throwing numbers forward now in a desperate attempt to find a goal.
Stoffy18
Roar Guru
'89 Time running out for Adelaide now, but here is there chance with free kick in their half.. Boogaard on the end of it, but nothing doing!
Stoffy18
Roar Guru
'88 Daniel has also been sbown a YELLOW CARD by the referee.
Stoffy18
Roar Guru
'85 Paul IFill dragged down in the area, SURELY A PENALTY!! Nothing given! Unbelievable... that looked as blatent as it gets.. Replay suggests that there was definately contact from behind, shocking decision by the referee. IFill shown a YELLOW CARD by the referee for remonstrating.
Stoffy18
Roar Guru
'83 Lia concedes a free kick for a trip on Barbiero..
Stoffy18
Roar Guru
'82 Paston rushes out to a ball, almost a costly error there by the Wellington shotstopper, players sorrounding him.. leaving his net vacant, but backing himself to make a play on the ball.
Stoffy18
Roar Guru
'80 10 minutes left in this contest and It is still Adelaide that are pressing harder, looking for that equalising goal. Wellington will look to take the life out of the game now, slow the pace down in hope to deny the Reds the goal they most desperatley need.
Stoffy18
Roar Guru
'76 Djite dragged down by the last defender, cried of red! but the referee awards a YELLOW CARD to Ben Sigmund for his tackle. Cassio will look to drive the ball into the back of the net for the Reds... but he only manages to drive the ball into the Wellington wall, a let off for Wellington, many could have interpreted that to be a red card warranting tackle, especially being the last man.
Stoffy18
Roar Guru
'75 SUBSTITUTION for ADELAIDE.... 16 year old Jacob Melling on for Vidosic. Nice swivel by Djite, fires in a ball but its broken up by the Phoenix.. All so close by the Reds striker.
Stoffy18
Roar Guru
'72 IFIL! OFF THE POST! ... Inches away from adding a third.. a sensation strike from Barbadian! Skipping past Levechenko he fired a right footed bullet that rattled the upright!
Stoffy18
Roar Guru
'70 SUBSTITUTION for WELLINGTON .... Greenacre is off and it's Vince Lia who replaces him... A striker off for a midfielder, Ricki Herbert with the intent to hold possession in the midfield now rather then score.
Stoffy18
Roar Guru
'68 Durante holding firm for Wellington in defence as the Reds continue to find space on the wing and cross the ball in to the area.
Stoffy18
Roar Guru
'66 Adelaide look the more likely of the two to score at the moment as they press forward again, they'll need to make the most of these opportunities sooner or later.. Especially with Paul IFill at the other end who fires out a shot that almost finds the top corner!
Stoffy18
Roar Guru
'65 Corner ball for Adelaide, Vidosic's ball finds Van Dijk back post who wins another corner as his cross is deflected... Next corner from Adelaide is headed down but Paston is in the way.