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Western Sydney Wanderers FC
1
Match Complete
Adelaide United
2
| 85' |  | M. Marrone | ||
| 72' | | M. Jakobsen | ||
| 66' |  | C. Goodwin | ||
| T. Elrich | | 54' | ||
| 53' | | V. Lia | ||
| R. Bonevacia | | 49' | ||
| 8' | | V. Lia |
| 15 | Shots | 17 | ||
| 4 | On Target | 7 | ||
| 16 | Fouls | 10 | ||
| 6 | Corners | 4 | ||
| 1 | Offsides | 1 | ||
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 | ||
| 1 | Yellow Cards | 3 |
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Round 14 is a chance for the Western Sydney Wanderers to dispel their demons after a regrettable few weeks (and season) when they take on Adelaide United at ANZ Stadium this Friday evening at 7:50pm (AEST). Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match.
The last couple of weeks have been diabolical for the Wanderers, who have shot themselves in the foot time and time again.
It’s four losses on the trot now for the Wanderers, who have improved their performances on the pitch, but haven’t improved results on the scoreboard.
A battling 2-1 loss to the Victory, where for long periods they were the better team was followed up by a 3-2 loss to the Phoenix where they gave up 89th minute winner to Roy Krishna.
But the dagger in the hearts of Wanderers fans was their 4-3 loss to Perth last week, conceding three goals in just over 10 minutes to blow a 3-1 lead.
Markus Babbel will decry their lack of luck, but the Wanderers don’t help themselves at times with poor defending and the lack of a clinical striker to finish off their good chances.
The only bright side for the Wanderers out of the last few weeks has been the potential solution to their finishing problem.
Kwame Yeboah announced his return to Australia in his first start against Perth, scoring the opener and setting up the other two.
Yeboah has returned from Germany to get his career back on track, and his early form suggests he has the fight and passion – and ability – that the Wanderers desperately need to lead the line.
Marquee striker Oriol Riera’s huge pay packet is not being matched by a huge goal tally, and he may now have officially lost his place in the starting team to Yeboah.
Adelaide’s recent form has been mixed – two wins, two draws and a loss in the last five – befitting of a team sitting sixth on the table.
More recently they blew the chance to assert themselves on the table by losing 2-1 to Sydney, a grave disappointment after knocking off the Victory the week before.
Craig Goodwin’s sparkling form has continued; six goals and three assists so far this season puts him seventh for both, and his 37 chances created sits him second in the league just behind Dimi Petratos.
But Goodwin is missing supply and support from team mates, with manager Marco Kurz on the record about looking for a striker in this transfer window to put more of those chances away.
Indeed, Adelaide are solid in defence, having conceded the second fewest goals this season, but lack that class in their attacking third that can allow them to compete with the top teams across a season.
Despite their lack of attacking depth and indifferent form Adelaide will be expecting three points in this game.
The matchup in midfield between newly nationalised Aussie Isaias and 20-year-old Olyroo Keanu Baccus will be a particular focus.
If the more defensively minded Baccus can stifle Isaias and his distribution, Adelaide will find it harder to engage Goodwin and their other attacking midfielders, Halloran and Ilso.
Prediction
The Wanderers are in goal scoring form, but sadly they’re also in goal conceding form.
Socceroo fans and A-League neutrals will be eager to see Kwame Yeboah’s form continue, but he alone won’t have enough to get over Adelaide.
Despite lacking elite firepower, Adelaide has enough talent to cut through the porous Wanderers defence.
Excitingly, this shapes to be another high scoring contest.
Western Sydney Wanderers 1 – Adelaide United 2
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