John Kosmina has emphasised the importance of the Reds returning with nothing less than three points when they take on Gold Coast United at Skilled Park.
Adelaide United FC Coach John Kosmina has emphasised the importance of the Reds returning with nothing less than three points when they take on Gold Coast United at Skilled Park tomorrow (Sunday 12 February 2012) in Week 19 of the Hyundai A-League 2011/12 Season.
With seven games to go and the run in to the finals well and truly on, there are still enough points available for the Reds- push towards a place in the top six but time is starting to go against them.
Kosmina has seen a significant improvement in the football his team is playing, however it has not reflected on the Reds- results of the past month.
For the majority of their past four games, the Reds have put themselves in a position to take maximum points only to come out second best, which has left them five points off sixth spot heading into the clash with bottom placed Gold Coast.
“We-ve played some really good football in the last four weeks but we haven-t got the outcomes – we-ve got one point out of four games and we-ve played well enough to come out with 12 to be perfectly honest,” Kosmina said.
“We-ve led in three of those and conceded that lead, and the other one against Perth we battered them for 15 minutes and then everything went the other way.”
“So we-ve got to look at that and say ‘hey, our time is running out and we need to start getting some results on the board-. The process side of it is alright, we-ve got to start looking at the outcome now as well.”
Generally in the lead up to each game, Kosmina-s outlook is that every match is vital regardless of the opponent or what weekend of the season it is, but with Gold Coast playing to keep their finals flame flickering and the Reds needing start stringing some victories together, the added importance of tomorrow-s result is certainly not lost on the Reds boss.
“It-s easy to say all of them are important but this game is important,” Kosmina said.
“We need to come back from the Gold Coast with three points. We need to go there believing we can get it done, that-s probably more important.”
For what will be the Reds- first game at Skilled Park in over a year, Kosmina is set to promote Zenon Caravella into the starting eleven and unleash him against his former side at the expense of Fabian Barbiero, the Reds coach wary of managing the workload of his midfield brigade.
“I think Zenon has trained well enough and it-s against his old club, so that should be enough motivation in itself, and with Barbs, I think this is the longest number of consecutive starts he-s had since he-s been at the club, so I think he-s starting to flatten out a bit,” Kosmina said.
All three of the previous encounters between the teams at Skilled Park have ended in stalemates, but with neither team able to afford to slip up and with both desperate for a win, it looms as a contest that is certain to carry the tension of a final. Kick-Off is at 5.00pm ACDT.
Hyundai A-League 2011/12 Season – Week 19
Gold Coast United v Adelaide United FC
Sunday 12 February 2012, Skilled Park
Kick-Off: 5.00pm ACDT
Referee: Chris Beath
TV: Live and exclusive on FOX Sports 1
Twitter: https://twitter.com/adelutd_fc (hash tag #HALgcuau)
Adelaide United squad: 1.Eugene Galekovic (gk) (c), 2.Osama Malik, 3.Nigel Boogaard, 6.Cassio, 7.Zenon Caravella, 8.Evgeniy Levchenko, 9.Sergio van Dijk, 10.Dario Vidosic, 11.Bruce Djite, 12.Ricardo Da Silva, 14.Cameron Watson, 15.Jacob Melling, 17.Iain Ramsay, 18.Fabian Barbiero, 21.Francisco Usucar, 38.John Hall (gk)
*one to be omitted
In: Ricardo Da Silva (promoted), John Hall (gk) (promoted from NYL)
Out: Paul Izzo (gk) (knee)
Unavailable: Daniel Mullen (Qantas Australian U23 duty), Mark Birighitti (gk) (Qantas Australian U23 duty), Antony Golec (Qantas Australian U23 duty), Spase Dilevski (groin), Milan Susak (hamstring), Jon McKain (knee)
Gold Coast United squad: 40.Chris O-Connor [gk], 2.Josh Brillante, 3.Michael Thwaite (c), 5.Kristian Rees, 7.Golgol Mebrahtu, 11.Jake Barker-Daish, 13.Ante Rozic, 14.Ben Halloran, 15.Adama Traore, 16.Maceo Rigters, 17.Chris Harold, 18.James Brown, 20.Jerrad Tyson [gk], 21.Daniel Severino, 22.Peter Jungschlager, 23.Dylan McGowan, 24.Jonas Salley, 28.Daniel Bowles, 29.Mitch Bevan, 30.Brendan White [gk]
*four to be omitted*
In: 2.Josh Brillante (promoted), 11.Jake Barker-Daish (promoted), 18.James Brown (return from ankle injury), 20.Jerrad Tyson [gk] (return from wrist injury), 28.Daniel Bowles (return from ankle injury)
Out: Nil
Unavailable: 1.Glen Moss (groin injury – 4 weeks), 6.Paul Beekmans (compassionate leave – indefinite), 9.Joel Porter (calf – 3 weeks), 10.Tahj Minniecon (foot injury – 1 week), 12.Dylan Macallister (hamstring – 5 weeks), 19.Chris Broadfoot (ankle injury – indefinite)
Adelaide United vs. Gold Coast United – Hyundai A-League HEAD TO HEAD Record
Played 9 – 2 wins, 4 draws, 3 losses
16-Dec-2011… L 0-3… 2011/12 Wk 11 (Hindmarsh Stadium)
11-Nov-2011… W 2-1… 2011/12 Wk 6 (Hindmarsh Stadium)
27-Feb-2011… L 2-3… 2010/11 Elimination Final (Hindmarsh Stadium)
2-Feb-2011… D 0-0… 2010/11 Midweek (Skilled Park)
26-Nov-2010… W 2-1… 2010/11 Wk 16 (Hindmarsh Stadium)
17-Oct-2010… D 0-0… 2010/11 Wk 10 (Skilled Park)
9-Jan-2010… D 1-1… 2009/10 Rd 22 (Skilled Park)
20-Nov-2009… D 1-1… 2009/10 Rd 15 (Hindmarsh Stadium)
21-Aug-2009… L 0-2… 2009/10 Rd 3 (Hindmarsh Stadium)
At Hindmarsh Stadium
Played 6; Adelaide United 2, Gold Coast United 3, Draws 1
At Skilled Park
Played 3; Adelaide United 0, Gold Coast United 0, Draws 3
Last time they met
16-Dec-2011 Week 11, Hyundai A-League 2011/12 Season at Hindmarsh Stadium
Adelaide United 0
Gold Coast United 3 (Halloran 19-, Rigsters 36-, Macalister 90+3-)
Adelaide United last three results
Wk 18. 3-2-12… L 1-2… vs. Wellington Phoenix (Hindmarsh Stadium)
Wk 17. 29-1-12… L 0-3… vs. Perth Glory (Hindmarsh Stadium)
MW 25-1-12… D 1-1… vs. Newcastle Jets (Carrington Park)
