- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Fourth-placed Adelaide United take on sixth-placed Newcastle Jets tonight at Hindmarsh Stadium, with both sides able to fly under the radar with the attention elsewhere this season. We’ll have minute-by-minute updates from 7.30pm AEDT.
Still, with plenty of talent and finals spots up for grabs, this should be an exciting clash.
The Reds have settled after their coach John Kosmina quit in late January, allowing interim managers Sergio Melta and Michael Valkanis to get the team refocused.
The introduction of young Tom Juric has softened the blow of losing Sergio van Dijk, while Dario Vidosic has maintained his consistent form.
Indeed, Vidosic might count himself unlucky to miss the Socceroos squad to face Oman.
Surely it was due to fierce competition in the midfield rather than ability, as he has been arguably the Reds’ best this season.
Meanwhile, Newcastle midfielder Zenon Caravella will have a point to prove against his old club. After several strong performances last season, he was released after failing to find much game time in Adelaide this season.
Adelaide’s loss has been Newcastle’s gain however, as Caravella has formed a tidy midfield partnership with Ruben Zadkovich.
Newcastle coach Gary van Egmond has come under some criticism in recent weeks for fielding such a young and inexperienced squad.
Tonight, he’ll be without marquee man Emile Heskey, although with Michael Bridges in the squad there is a ready-made replacement up front, and Bridges should be ready to go after inking a new one-year deal yesterday.
Adelaide have hit form at the right time, and with the threats of Vidosic, Juric, Jeronimo Neumann and Marcelo Carrusca they’ll be hard to keep out.
However, the kids are underrated at Newcastle, and I’m tipping the likes of Adam Taggart, Marko Jesic and Craig Goodwin to have a big game.
My bet is a 1-1 draw.
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.