Western United FC
3
Match Complete
Adelaide United
4
| O. Dillon |  | 79' | ||
| 79' |  | N. Konstandopoulos | ||
| 76' | | M. Jakobsen | ||
| A. Diamanti | | 54' | ||
| B. Berisha | | 43' | ||
| 18' | | R. McGree | ||
| 15' | | N. Mileusnic | ||
| B. Berisha | | 12' | ||
| 9' | | N. Mileusnic |
| 10 | Shots | 27 | ||
| 4 | On Target | 6 | ||
| 12 | Fouls | 9 | ||
| 5 | Corners | 6 | ||
| 2 | Offsides | 5 | ||
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 | ||
| 1 | Yellow Cards | 1 |
It’s the battle of the United sides between Western United and Adelaide United, but all eyes will be on the iconic Besart Berisha as he prepares to play his 200th A-League game. Join The Roar for our live scores and coverage of from 6:00pm (AEDT).
It wouldn’t be unlike Berisha to grab the winner and take Western United closer to the top four as the forward is in good form, scoring two goals last weekend in the victory over Central Coast Mariners.
Mark Rudan will be without influential captain Alessandro Diamanti, however, which is a huge loss for his side. The match will also be played at the Whitten Oval, the first time football will take place there.
Adelaide United had been struggling in recent rounds but gained a morale-boosting 1-0 Original Derby win against Melbourne Victory last Friday night to extend their winning run.
A win would take them above their opponents in the league table, with a game in hand to boot. Gertjan Verbeek will also be able to call on midfielder James Troisi again and he should be expected to return to the starting line-up.
Catch all the action from Melbourne with The Roar‘s live coverage starting from 6:00pm (AEDT).
Game information
Kick-off: 6:00pm (AEDT)
Venue: Whitten Oval
TV: Fox Sports 505
Online: MyFootball Live App, Kayo Sports
Odds: Western United $3.00, draw $3.40, Adelaide United $2.25
Western United squad
1. Filip Kurto (GK), 4. Andrew Durante, 5. Dylan Pierias, 7. Valentino Yuel, 8. Panagiotis Kone, 9. Apostolos Stamatelopoulos, 11. Connor Pain, 12. Dario Jertec, 14. Max Burgess, 15. Jonathan Aspropotamitis, 17. Joshua Cavallo, 18. Besart Berisha, 19. Josh Risdon, 21. Sebastian Pasquali, 23. Alessandro Diamanti, 24. Thiel Iradukunda, 25. Luke Duzel, 27. Jerry Skotadis, 28. Oskar Dillon, 30. Ryan Scott (GK)
Adelaide United squad
2. Michael Marrone, 4. Ryan Strain, 5. Michael Maria, 7. Ryan Kitto, 8. Riley McGree, 10. James Troisi, 14. George Blackwood, 16. Nathan Konstandopoulos, 17. Nikola Mileusnic, 18. Lachlan Brook, 20. Paul Izzo (GK), 22. Michael Jakobsen, 23. Jordan Elsey, 26. Ben Halloran, 27. Louis D’Arrigo, 31. Mirko Boland, 40. Dakota Ochsenham (GK)
Stevo
Roar Rookie
The crowd looked pretty reasonable and boisterous in a suburban ground close to the CBD. Maybe this is where WU should be located not out in the boondocks.
conorl
Roar Pro
Thanks for joining us for this classic encounter!
conorl
Roar Pro
Match report: In one of the best games of this A-League season so far, Western United lost out 3-4 to Adelaide United in Western Melbourne. This fixture had a lot going for it in the buildup - the first game at the Whitten Oval, the first meeting between these two teams, Besart Berisha's 200th league appearance - and it certainly didn't disappoint. In front of a very healthy crowd, it was that man Berisha who came closest first with two decent chances before Adelaide scored the opener against the run of play. Nikola Mileusnic pounced on George Blackwood's cutback and made no mistake from inside the penalty area. Berisha finally got the goal he so craved only a few minutes after, taking his time to pick his spot before firing into the top left corner of the net. Adelaide then powered ahead, scoring two goals in just four minutes: Blackwood and Mileusnic combined again, the former sliding in the latter to tap into the empty net; Riley McGree then controlled excellently in the box before slamming a shot with the aid of a slight deflection past Filip Kurto. It was an unrelenting start to the game, a glorious one for the neutral, and things duly calmed down a little until Berisha grabbed his second just before half time, pouncing on Connor Pain's tantalising delivery to head home and give the home side hope going into the break. And it was Western United who found the next goal and the equaliser in the second half, the wonderful Alessandro Diamanti being given far too much time for a player of his quality to thunder a left-footed shot high into the net. A draw may have been a fair result for this tie given the wholehearted commitment and quality in attack of both teams but the substitute Nathan Konstandopoulos didn't care, placing an exquisite shot past Kurto which ultimately was the winner. The win takes Adelaide past their opponents in the league table and they now have a game in hand on Wellington Phoenix directly above them in fourth. A small consolation for Western United will be that they next travel to face the league's bottom side Newcastle Jets, a welcome chance to get back on track.
conorl
Roar Pro
Match report to follow!
conorl
Roar Pro
That was one of the best games of this A-League season. The first meeting between these two sides promises a lot for when they meet again.
conorl
Roar Pro
FULL TIME: This pulsating game of football comes to an end. Western 3-4 Adelaide
conorl
Roar Pro
93' - Smart play by Kitto who takes the ball into the corner and wins a set piece.
conorl
Roar Pro
Elsey clears easily though.
conorl
Roar Pro
91' - Burgess is all over the top of Halloran and wins a corner.
conorl
Roar Pro
Four minutes have been added at the end.
conorl
Roar Pro
89' - The impressive Mileusnic is off with Kitto taking his place on the pitch for Adelaide. Western 3-4 Adelaide
conorl
Roar Pro
85' - SUBSTITUTION - Diamanti comes off after another sterling effort to be replaced by Yuel.
79'
conorl
Roar Pro
Corner for Adelaide as they look to widen the gap with 10 minutes to go.
conorl
Roar Pro
78' - GOAL! - Konstandopoulos scores a great fourth for Adelaide! The away side have men left over and the substitute has the time to angle his shot into the bottom right hand corner. Western 3-4 Adelaide
79'
conorl
Roar Pro
77' - Elsey with a timely intervention as Pierias looks to find Berisha in the box for an open goal. The resulting corner leads to nothing from Diamanti's effort either. Western 3-3 Adelaide
76'
conorl
Roar Pro
Jakobsen goes into the book for Adelaide for a clumsy tackle attempt.
conorl
Roar Pro
75' - Some fans think McGree has scored again but it hits the side netting. Western 3-3 Adelaide