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Only three points will do for Adelaide United as they look to snatch second spot against a Melbourne Heart outfit with little to play for at Coopers Stadium on Friday night. Join us for live scores and commentary from 7.30pm AEDT.
The Reds are in with a real shot at a top-two finish and qualification for next season’s Asian Champions League, with a win to see them leapfrog the Wanderers and the Mariners into second for the time being.
Josep Gombau’s men churned out a crucial 1-0 result at Wellington last time out and will be hoping for a more dominant display at home to the Heart, whose dwindling form has coincided with the evaporation of its finals hopes.
Even so, the Yarraside men showed plenty of attacking verve last weekend, despite going down 2-1 to Brisbane, ultimately undone by the Roar’s finishing quality.
This is something that Adelaide certainly are not lacking, especially at home where they hold the league’s best goal return, with 27 in 12 matches.
Adding fearsome potency to the Reds’ strike force will be Segio Cirio and Jeronimo Neumann, the pair returning to the squad after having missed the win over the Phoenix through injury.
Meanwhile, the Heart’s versatile midfielder Jonathan Germano is back up for selection.
For United, it will be about getting back to their attacking best and taking those chances after failing to create much last game, in spite of picking up the win.
The Heart’s chances of upsetting the home fans will pivot largely on whether John van’t Schip can motivate his troops with scarce incentive other than avoiding bottom spot.
Adelaide is on an eight-match unbeaten streak at home, while the Heart has mustered just the one win on the road this season.
Adelaide United 3-1 Melbourne Heart.
Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7.30pm AEDT.