Adelaide United have cruised to victory against the Central Coast Mariners to reach the inaugural FFA Cup final against Perth Glory on December 16.
Adelaide were far from their best and the Mariners did get a late consolation goal – but it was all Adelaide in the end, closing it out 3-2.
FINAL SCORE:
Adelaide 3
Central Coast 2
Adelaide United will start red-hot favourites when they take on the fellow A-League side, the Central Coast Mariners in the second semi-final of the inaugural FFA Cup at Coopers Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:30pm (AEDT).
It’s hard to argue with the bookies who have instilled the Reds as favourites for this tie. A-League form aside, they have had to account for A-League opposition in each of their three games.
The Reds have recorded wins against Wellington, Brisbane and an extra-time win against Sydney FC in the quarter final two weeks ago.
The Central Coast on the other hand, have had a much easier route to the final four, with wins against NPL sides South Coast Wolves, Olympic FC and a last start win against the Palm Beach Sharks on the Gold Coast.
And then of course there is the small matter of recovery. While the Reds played out a nil all draw with fellow A League high flyers Sydney FC on Friday night, the Mariners are coming off an energy and morale sapping loss on Sunday.
Which means while Adelaide have had a full four days to recover, the Mariners will be playing their second game in three days. Add to this the fact that Phil Moss’ side has lost three of their last four games and the odds certainly seem stacked against the side from Gosford.
Of course, it’s not just the short turn-around that the Mariners will have to deal with, there’s also the intimidating task of keeping Josep Gambau’s high-flying attacking force of Marcelo Carrusca, Awer Mabil and Sergio Cerio quiet.
The Reds will miss Bruce Djite, who is seemingly starting to live up to his potential, through injury, but have a worthy replacement with Pablo Sanchez slated for a return. We can also expect speedy winger Bruce Komau to get some game time.
Phil Moss, rested Josh Rose and Matt Sim from Sunday’s loss and will be looking at these two to help reinvigorate a Mariners side that has failed to click this year. With Mitch Duke, Malick Mane and Seung Yong Kim, they aren’t short on goal-scorers.
So will Josep Gombau’s side continue their winning ways or will Phil Moss’ strategy of resting key players from Sunday’s game against the Glory pay dividends?
One thing is for sure, one of these sides will join Perth Glory in the first ever FFA Cup final and have the chance to create history.
Socrates
Guest
WHO is running the show. The FFA OR Fox Sport. Sounds like David Gallop has some explaining to do. Or maybe Mark Bosnich will tell us why.
Socrates
Guest
FFA CUP* conditions apply *Some clubs are more equal than others. Why even have Gory in the A League in the first place, Poor Tony, it doesn't matter what he does to promote the game, he just gets kicked, time and time again. I think this might be the straw that broke the camel's back. Tony might take his ball (money) and go home this time. Please explain Master David Gallop.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
Adelaide Oval - cricket pitch is in and it's far too big.
Dribbler
Guest
I too would love to see it on Australia Day, but the NPL clubs etc would be way into their off season and would have had too much Christmas pudding to stand a chance of winning.
Bondy
Guest
Midfielder We need Musty and Rogic type players in the midfield . If this final went to a Bruce Stadium Canberra for instance we miss out on a gate as a sport better off in an A League venue . The Reds vs Glory should be a good contest.
Ben Carter
Roar Guru
Hi Fuss - at least in that case you'd get a similar telly-watching feeling if you're in Syd/Mel/Adel... a late-nighter from 10.30pm-12.30am, just like watching the English Cup! :-)
Ben Carter
Roar Guru
Hi Dave - GO UUU REDS!!!!! While this all sounds rather cool in itself, I too am weirded out about the final being at Hindmarsh. Three questions come to mind - one, why not the larger Adelaide Oval (if it must be in Adelaide), followed by whether the FFA had any sort of seeding or likely final venue in mind based on the position of the semi-finalists (e.g the A-League sides get preference over a tier 2 team like Bentleigh, etc) and three - surely, and maybe it's just me, but I've long envisaged the "Cup Final Day" in Australian football as always being at Homebush in Sydney, a-la Wembley. It's just the "home of the Final", play the thing on Australia Day every year, 2pm kick-off and so on... Hope that happens from 2015-16 onward...
AZ_RBB
Guest
Thanks for the responses guys. Nothing against the decision, just seeking clarification. Hoping to see my boys in the final next time around after we narrowly missed out this time.
Midfielder
Guest
My understanding twas Fox who said before a ball was kicked in the FFA Cup that because of time zones no matches would be played in WA or NZ ... if the Mariners had won the match would have been in Gosford ... thats how I understand it
langou
Roar Guru
Perth Glory and Glory fans are not happy. There was no draw, coin toss, nothing to do with ground availability or anything like that. FFA just decided it would be in Adelaide. Seems a really strange way to decide a cup final venue and perhaps proof that the FFA cup was just a marketing exercise rather than a serious competition
The Bush
Roar Guru
Daylight Saving - you don't have a savings account with daylight in it.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
The FFA said a few weeks ago, Perth cannot host the final due to its backward time zone - particularly exacerbated by their refusal to adopt Daylight Savings. In summer, WA is 3 hours behind Sydney & Melbourne. So, if they kick-off at 7:30 pm, the match in Sydney & Melbourne kicks off at 10:30 pm.
footballin
Guest
Perhaps the FFA never wanted Perth as an option? It's a long way, crowds are low, time slots not great....
AZ_RBB
Guest
FFA have just confirmed that the final will be held at Hindmarsh. Very confused as to how they reached that decision. Was this a judgement call made by the FFA? Is it because Adelaide were drawn out first in the semi final draw?
billyelliott
Roar Guru
And that's it folks. Chris Beath has had enough - and so has Phil Moss probably. They never really got out of first gear tonight and Adelaide were on cruise control. Adelaide were quality, they controlled the game from the outside and just know when to turn it on. So it'll be Adelaide v Perth in the inaugural FFA Cup final on December 16. ADL 3 2 CCM
jamesb
Guest
Adelaide United has been kissed by a Rose. But its too little too late for CCM. Adel 3, CCM 2. Adelaide to the final, CCM are goneski.
billyelliott
Roar Guru
90+3' Josh Rose with a lung busting run is on the end of nice counter by the Mariners and he slots home past Galekovic. ADL 3 2 CCM
jamesb
Guest
Game set bingo to Adelaide. Cerio scores another. Perth v Adelaide in the FFA Cup final on December 16. Is the final played at Wembley lol.
billyelliott
Roar Guru
88' Cirio finishes it for Adelaide after Reddy couldn't hold the shot for Mabil. He reacted fasted and just punches it home. He's now the equal top scorer with Mat Sim and Andy Keogh. Gombau uses the opportunity to make his final change, Konstandopoulos gets his chance in place of Carrusca ADL 3 1 CCM
billyelliott
Roar Guru
82' Inside the final ten minutes here. The Mariners pushing high and Montgomery has just gone straight through Boogaard. It didn't look like a good tackle in real time and he picks up a slice of cheese for his trouble. CCM looking better in this second half but just been unable to get the equaliser. ADL 2 1 CCM