Defending champions Adelaide United continue to struggle at the bottom of the table as they play host to a Melbourne City side looking to close in on the top two. Join The Roar from 7:50pm (AEDT) for all the live scores, highlights and action.
Both sides come into this Round 15 opener in less than stellar form but at very different spots in the A-League right now.
Adelaide have had one of the worst title defences off all time across any sport, sitting in dead last with just a single win from 14 games.
Another two-nil defeat to Melbourne Victory last week kept them at the bottom of the barrel with the Mariners sitting just three points ahead.
Having scored just ten goals this season, they have the worst attack in the league by far, a far cry from when they won the title less than 12 months ago with the second best goal difference in the competition, now they have the worst.
While sitting a little better in the grand scheme of things, City are in just as bad a form as their opponents tonight.
Despite sitting third, the light blue Melbourne side haven’t won a game since winning the FFA Cup at the end of November last year, going on a run of five games without a win to fall a long way behind league-leaders Sydney FC.
Once the Sky Blues’ main competition earlier in the season, City needed a vital win last week against the Wanderers to stay ahead of Brisbane Roar in fourth place.
They now sit 16 points behind Sydney and six behind crosstown rivals Melbourne Victory.
In amongst that they’ve lost their coach John van’t Schip who resigned from the club, who is now being managed by interim coach Mike Valkanis.
These two sides have met this season, the last time being a 2-1 win in favour of City, making it three wins from their last five games against Adelaide.
Team news
Adelaide welcome back two players from injury this week with the returns of Marcelo Carrusca and Iacopo La Rocca who both come back from Adelaide’s draw with the Phoenix two Rounds ago.
Nikola Mileusnic has been ruled out with a quad injury and is expected to miss a couple of weeks for it. Tarek Elrich is the other omission for tonight’s clash thanks to a fifth yellow of the season last week.
Coach Guillermo Amor has also brought Mark Ochieng and Ben Warland into an extended matchday squad.
George Mells and Riley McGree are both still fighting ankle injuries but are expected to be ready for next week.
For City, cult hero Fernando Brandan will make his return to the side after serving a two-match ban for his scuffle with Dino Djulbic in a heated clash with Perth Glory.
While they welcome back Brandan, City have lost Neil Kilkenny who racked up his eighth yellow card of the season last week and will have to sit out for the second time this season thanks to his bookings tally.
Daniel Arzani and Paulo Retre are the other two to be brought into the City squad.
Prediction
It’s hard to see Adelaide winning any more games this season at this stage, they’ve just played so consistently poorly each week and their results are showing that.
While Melbourne have been shaky at best across the last two months, they’re still in very good position in the league and will need a game like this to get their confidence back.
City to win 3-1
Join The Roar from 7:50pm (AEDT) for all the live scores, highlights and action.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
The crowd certainly love it when one of the kids fresh off the production line scores a goal. From the Adelaide development perspective it was pleasing to see Tongyik, Mauk and Malik all having good games.
Tim Foran
Roar Rookie
As much as I would love that Mariners can't come last again
Brian Orange
Roar Guru
What a superbly crafted goal from Holland and Guardiola and so well taken by the youngster Ochieng. He will remember that winning goal for the rest of his life and didn't the fans and players enjoy it. Great stuff.
Brian Orange
Roar Guru
Well done Adelina At the halfway point Adelaide United turn their season around and make a mad dash for the finals. Where have we seen that before.
Nemesis
Guest
Everything. Success on the park & off the park. Thumping win in the 1st Melbourne Derby. Lots of cockiness especially from Cahill & Brattan.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
What standard is that?
Nemesis
Guest
I thought City is now setting the standard in the A-League? Maybe that starts next week?
AZ_RBB
Guest
Great game of football. Happy for Adelaide and their fans.
TK
Guest
Wow big result for both teams. Adelaide played well against victory last week from all reports with no result... but i tipped city to get the job done tonight...no matter happy to see the reds notch a win. Thanks for the call Connor.
Connor Bennett
Editor
Adelaide United win 2-1 Adelaide move off the bottom of the ladder, finally!! Could they be on their way another miracle in the same vein of last season when they came from the bottom of the ladder to the premiership? Probably not, but the fans can dream!! City slip further away from Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC at the top of the standings and risk falling into fourth behind Brisbane Roar.
Connor Bennett
Editor
Connor Bennett
Editor
FULLTIME What a performance from Adelaide United and that is a massive win not only for them, but a huge defeat for City who continue their fall from grace away from the top of the table. A highly entertaining game of football from both sides but the home side stole it late with an 87th-minute goal to young gun Mark Ochieng. City dominated the second half and Adelaide were only surviving for the most part of the second stanza but they pulled a goal out of nowhere on a counter attack that started from nothing. Adelaide – 2 Melbourne – 1
Stevo
Roar Rookie
One of the most expensive teams in the A-league and this!!!!!! Timmy a complete passenger tonight.
Connor Bennett
Editor
90' +5 Cirio inside the box!! Can Adelaide get another? No the last touch as he cut back inside the defence was too big and he loses the ball. A wonderful long clearance from Galekovic up the other end of the park. Adelaide – 2 Melbourne – 1
Connor Bennett
Editor
90' +5 Late corner for City here. Can they steal it late? Nooooo they can't. Galekovic makes the save off the deflection inside the box and the crowd cheer just as loudly as they did for the Ochieng goal. Adelaide – 2 Melbourne – 1
Connor Bennett
Editor
90' +4 Plenty of time wasting going on here from Adelaide. The City players are looking very shaky here as they try to force the issue and make something, anything, happen. Adelaide – 2 Melbourne – 1
Midfielder
Guest
Beyond brilliant
Connor Bennett
Editor
90' +3 The Adelaide crowd are going nuts at the moment, they can feel just a second win for the season as Isaias takes a stab at goal from a loooooooong way out. The ball flew a long way high and long over the top of goal. Adelaide – 2 Melbourne – 1
Connor Bennett
Editor
90' +1 A lot of extra time on the end of this game. Can City make something of it and snatch a late equaliser. YELLOW CARD Jakobsen is shown the banana for a bit of a late slide on Carrusca who looked to have gone down hurt, but pops back up fine after the foul is given... as if he wasn't hurt at all. Adelaide – 2 Melbourne – 1
Connor Bennett
Editor
90' +5 minutes of stoppage time. Adelaide – 2 Melbourne – 1