Melbourne Heart vs Adelaide United: A-League live scores, blog

1st December, 2013

Melbourne Heart coach John Aloisi will be desperate to see his side pick up three points when they take on fellow strugglers Adelaide United at AAMI Park this evening. Join us for live scores and commentary from 5.00pm AEDT.

The issues
Both find themselves in a hole that will take some getting out of, with the Heart winless so far this season and Adelaide out to break a six-game winless streak.

Both are now at critical junctures so early in the season, with both sets of fans dissatisfaction mounting.

The Heart’s active support ‘Yarraside’ has decided to undertake a silent protest against their club’s poor performances in the first half of tomorrow’s match.

Speculation of Josep Gombau’s contract reigned on Saturday, with the club clearing it all up by saying Gombau hadn’t been offered a contract extension.

This led to a bizzare press conference in which he accused local media of backstabbing him, directing his ire at one reporter.

“What I don’t like is when people they lie, and when one is honest in front and after they put the knife in the back like some people,” Gombau said.

“I am very honest. People like you, in front you make one face.”

The result of this match, all of a sudden, means very much to both clubs.

The ins and outs
After expecting the return of their captain, John Aloisi announced on Saturday that Harry Kewell won’t be making his awaited return this Sunday.

Jason Hoffman was added to an extended squad, with two to be omitted on gameday.

Antony Golec and Jake Barker-Daish have been included in the extended Adelaide United squad, with one to be omitted.

The match
You cant help but thinking it won’t be pretty, but watching two teams desperate for points will be beautiful throughout all the ugliness. Adelaide have struggled to play through teams, although last week in patches gave positive signs of that changing.

Adelaide will need to focus on holding it’s nerve when the moments come.

The way they dissipated after Sergio Cirio had his penalty saved was alarming of you’re an Adelaide fan.

The Heart have left plenty to be desired as they too often resort to a kick and rush style to their miniscule strikers, struggling to play through despite the efforts of Massimo Murdocca.

Adelaide should control much of the ball, as they have often done, but Heart have a major opportunity to press them and stamp themselves on the game.

It is a short season, both sides need to make this game theirs.

Prediction
Melbourne Heart 1-1 Adelaide United

The Crowd Says:

2013-12-01T21:56:36+00:00

clayts

Guest

Getting towards the point where it must be concluded that Mifsud is just not very good. Also I feel vindicated for not joining the 'sack the coach' brigade. Heart should have scored 6 goals. Most other half decent strikers would have had a hat trick. 2 1 on 1's with the 'keeper and an empty net and he misses all 3. That is not the coach's fault (other than maybe recruiting someone who can't finish, but his numbers sorta indicate that he can). Heart played pretty well (apart from their defence/one-way running of the midfield in the first 5 minutes) and showed some pretty good character to drag themselves to 3-2 from 0-2 down. Could have easily thrown in the towel. Point is, the coach didn't change at half time, the players just decided to actually finish their opportunities..

2013-12-01T20:15:44+00:00

Mice

Guest

Does anyone else think it was a strange decision by the referee that after giving Adelaide the advantage and allowing play to continue. Because Adelaide made nothing of the play on advantage, he then awards a free kick to them. Surely it is either a free kick at the time of the offense or if play is allowed to continue then it is up to the team given the advantage to make something of that advantage and if they don't then that is too bad.

2013-12-01T12:19:23+00:00

my left foot

Guest

Cheers Katie.

2013-12-01T08:51:30+00:00

Stevo

Guest

Unbelievable from Migliorini and awful from Mifsud.

AUTHOR

2013-12-01T07:58:42+00:00

Katie Lambeski

Roar Guru

Full-time: Melbourne Heart 3-3 Adelaide United. What a game, no doubt the best of a dull round. Sound off below, or tweet me and continue the discussion at @katielambeski.

AUTHOR

2013-12-01T07:57:08+00:00

Katie Lambeski

Roar Guru

90+2', 3-3: Doesn't look like there'll be a winner.

AUTHOR

2013-12-01T07:55:34+00:00

Katie Lambeski

Roar Guru

90' 3-3: 3 minutes extra time.

AUTHOR

2013-12-01T07:54:26+00:00