Adelaide United and Melbourne Heart kick-off on the early Saturday fixture at Hindmarsh Stadium in a match that now has some buzz about it after the week’s events. Join in the chat here on The Roar from 5.30pm AEDT.
Adelaide United has put a rough trot behind them and the crowd seems to be getting behind them even more every week. They are on a six-game unbeaten run, collecting fourteen out of eighteen points and should be favourites today.
Melbourne Heart (or City? Just kidding – for now) finally broke the dreaded winless streak last week with their 3-1 home win over Newcastle Jets, and had massive news mid-week as the Manchester City FC owners have taken an 80 percent share in the club.
They would fancy themselves here, having the confidence of a win behind them could make them respond.
Fabio Ferreira and Daniel Bowles have come into the extended squad after recovering from injuries, while Michael Zullo will miss the next two weeks after a hamstring injury last week.
Jeremy Walker, Sam Mitchinson, David Vrankovic and Stefan Mauk have all come into the extended Heart squad while Patrick Gerhardt and David Williams will both miss through ankle injuries.
Mate Dugandzic looms as a key man for the red and white after his match-winning brace last Friday, with Williams out he will have to carry those legs in an otherwise slow line-up.
Marcelo Carrusca has been arguably Adelaide’s best and form player this season, when is he out, Adelaide are a different team. His presence and his midfield mates will give them the edge over the Heart in that area.
Adelaide should be the favourites coming in, I’ll predict a 2-0 win to Adelaide. Leave your thoughts below and tune in and join in to our live coverage here from 5pm.
Stevo
Guest
We were rubbish but got a point. That's football. Sorry Reds.
Katie Lambeski
Roar Guru
Full-time: Adelaide United 2-2 Melbourne Heart.
Katie Lambeski
Roar Guru
90+5', 2-2: In the last minute now, no-one has come close to finding a winner, do or die now...
Katie Lambeski
Roar Guru
90+1' 2-2: 5 minutes extra time remaining. What a header from Griffiths at the set-pieces to equalise. Heart have gone the other end from the restart and have a free-kick on the edge of the box at the front of goal. Resultant free from Kewell is wide.
Stevo
Guest
Well I picked this LOL
Katie Lambeski
Roar Guru
90' MHT 2-1: GRIFFITHS!!! 2-2!!!
Katie Lambeski
Roar Guru
88' MHT 2-1: Redmayne barrelled into when claiming a cross, and has stayed down for now, wonder why. Dugandzic OFF, Mauk ON.
Katie Lambeski
Roar Guru
86' MHT 2-1: Adelaide trying to keep busy and run forward but Heart holding off and slowing it down.
Katie Lambeski
Roar Guru
84' MHT 2-1: Can Heart see this out?
Katie Lambeski
Roar Guru
82' MHT 2-1: Ramsey himself in space after getting on to Mifsud's cross, but can't fire a shot away.
Katie Lambeski
Roar Guru
80' MHT 2-1: Ramsey's set-piece deep on the right touchline finds Kisnorbo's head, who made no mistake about it.
Katie Lambeski
Roar Guru
78' 1-1: GOALLLLL KISNORBO!
Katie Lambeski
Roar Guru
75' 1-1: Play stopped after a head-clash between McKain and Kewell. Play back on and McKain has cracked it at Germano for some reason.
Katie Lambeski
Roar Guru
73' 1-1: Carrusca needed to do so much better than that, his header rolls wide.
Katie Lambeski
Roar Guru
71' 1-1: Fouls, fouls everywhere. Neumann OFF, Ferreira ON.
Katie Lambeski
Roar Guru
69' 1-1: Both sides wasteful when coming to the final third. Behich fouls Jeronimo on the left side, just outside of the box. No luck as Jeronimo's shot flies wide.
Katie Lambeski
Roar Guru
66' 1-1: Adelaide have Heart under the pump.
Katie Lambeski
Roar Guru
64' 1-1: That's changed the game hugely, and subs a plenty. Fasten your seat belts, more to come.
Katie Lambeski
Roar Guru
62' 1-1: Griffiths ON, Mabil OFF. Germano ON, Mifsud OFF.
Katie Lambeski
Roar Guru
61': GOALLLLLL!!! Kewell converts from the spot. 1-1! Can't argue with that penalty call in my view, Boogard's legs flailing about and knocked down Dugandzic.