Fresh off a barnstorming result in the Asian Champions League, Sydney FC return home to Allianz Stadium to host Adelaide United in their first match since winning the 2017-18 premiership. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match from 7pm (AEST).
Sydney FC did it again. Consecutive premiership winners for the first time in A-League history with two matches remaining as they prepare for a bout with their 2017 FFA Cup final opponents, Adelaide United, who are fresh off some remarkable results.
Sydney officially won the plate away from home to Perth last week as a spectacular first-half performance saw the Sky Blues clinch a 3-0 lead which included marquee striker Bobô breaking the record for most goals in a regular season with 24.
Sydney survived a late scare however with Adam Taggart pulling two back for Perth but Sydney ensured they brought he silverware back to the Harbour City.
Joshua Brillante was back in action in the Champions League and could slide back into the starting side after a break from international duty.
He could replace Brandon O’Neill who has been the lynchpin in midfield for Sydney FC since Brilliante’s absence or 21-year old Chris Zuvela who has handled himself well in his debut season.
A welcome return is also on the cards for Michael Zullo who has been missing for a number of weeks due to an ankle injury in the Asian Champions League.
After Zullo’s injury, Sydney fell into a lurch, losing two league matches in a row. His return solve Sydney’s experiments at full-back with Paolo Retre taking a seat on the bench.
Adelaide United are building up momentum ahead of the A-League finals and are still within reach of possibly snatching third spot with two rounds left.
Marco Kurz’s side have scored eight goals in their last two games which included a 5-2 battering of Newcastle Jets and a 3-1 win against Wellington Phoenix.
Johan Absalonsen returned from a long injury a few weeks ago and has been the catalyst for change at Adelaide scoring in their last three starts.
In a match where the Danish winger has scored or assisted, Adelaide haven’t lost.
Fellow winger Nikola Mileusnic is back form injury as well as young full-back Ryan Strain who has blossomed this season most notably in Adelaide’s last match against Sydney, which they drew 0-0.
However, Adelaide’s firepower could come to an end as Slovenian striker and new acquisition in January Džengis Čavušević has ruptured his ACL, taking him out for the rest of the season.
Čavušević had shown some promise in his past few matches scoring and assisting in Adelaide’s win against Newcastle as well as finally providing some options centrally in attack.
Aussie youngster George Blackwood is likely to replace him and it’s a big stage for the 20-year old to prove his worth.
Prediction
Graham Arnold is sure to rest a few players so I think the contest will be a little tighter than some think.
1-1 draw.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Suppose it was relatively straightforward in the end.
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FULL-TIME Bobo becomes the highest scorer in an A-League season with 25 in 26 matches. They've equalled the record for most goals in a regular season with 63. The records keep tumbling as a Bobo brace tore Adelaide apart 3-0.
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4 MINUTES OF ADDED TIME
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ADELAIDE UNITED SUBSTITUTION OFF: Tarek Elrich ON: Michael Marrone
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82' Mierzejewski caught Izzo unawares going for an ambitious shot from around 30 yards out. A spot where you'd expect the cross everyday of the week!
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SYDNEY FC SUBSTITUTION OFF: Matt Simon ON: Fabio Ferreira
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74' Garrucio flights in a wicked ball and Blackwood gets ahead of Warland and stretches to get his boot on it but it's off target.
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ADELAIDE UNITED SUBSTITUTION OFF: Taylor Regan ON: Vince Lia SYDNEY FC SUBSTITUTION OFF: Michael Zullo ON: Paolo Retre
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72' Corner whipped in from Mierzejewski and Ninkovic's front post effort almost flies in off the head.
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BOBO WHAT A BLOODY GOAL! Ninkovic has the ball at his feet on the left side of the box and tries the shot but it's deflected. It falls over to the right side of the box where Bobo pivots 180 degrees and volleys into the bottom left corner! Sydney FC 3-0 Adelaide
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SYDNEY FC SUBSTITUTION OFF: David Carney ON: Milos Ninkovic
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62' Mierzejewski puts in a vicious ball but Izzo is out comfortably to clean it up. Simon was lurking at the penalty spot.
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58' BOBO SCORES HIS 25TH IN HIS 26TH Mierzejewski snaps in a brilliant in-swinging ball and Bobo heads it into the bottom corner. Sydney FC 2-0 Adelaide United
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57' Adrian lays it off to Wilkshire to put a cross in but it's a poor attempt.Lucky corner eventuates.
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53' Mileusnic does well to find some space inside the left channel and wins a corner off Jordy Buijs.
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51' Adlung has a go from the edge of the area after Simon's defensive header! A volley that was closer to his head than his legs.
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50' Yellow card to Luke Wilkshire as he brings down Isaias after some quick feet from the Spaniard.
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49' Plenty of fouls flowing at the beginning of the second half. Tempo of the match is so erratic it's boring.
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ADELAIDE UNITED SUBSTITUTION OFF: Baba Diawara ON: George Blackwood Blackwood comes on against his former club.
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SECOND HALF UNDERWAY!