Adelaide United will be determined to extend its five-match winning streak and simultaneously snap its recent hoodoo against Sydney FC on Sunday evening at Coopers Stadium.
The Reds have not prevailed past the Sky Blues in the A-League since April 2016, but are in form, playing some attractive and entertaining football.
Carl Veart’s side are one win away from making it six victories in a row, a feat they have not achieved in the competition since January 2006 when Veart himself was a player for the Reds.
Adelaide comprehensively dispatched Newcastle Jets 4-1 last weekend, while Sydney have not been at their usual, formidable best of late and were held to a 1-1 draw at Perth Glory despite dominating the contest.
Veart on keeping winning streak going…
It’s something for the players to strive for because it’s been quite a while since the Club has gone on a run like that. So it’s important that we keep the run going.
Veart on Reds’ turnaround in form…
I think winning breeds that confidence and it means now that the players go out with that confidence and a lot more of an attacking mindset. I think that’s the only thing that’s changed is that we’ve won some games and the players now have got that belief that what we’re doing is right and they’re going out in a very positive manner and playing some really good football at the moment.
Veart on Sydney and what he expects from his team…
Sydney FC are last year’s champions and they’re a very good side. They started the season a little bit slow but their last three or four games they’ve been excellent, back to where they were last year. It’s important we don’t allow them time and space on the ball because the quality of players that they’ve got they will hurt you. So it’s important that we go out with the same mindset that we have in the last five games, a really attacking mindset and put them under pressure.
Team news
New signing Juande, Yaya Dukuly and Jonny Yull have been promoted. However, James Delianov, Ryan Kitto and Mohamed Toure are out with hamstring injuries and are making good progress. Tomi Juric returned to light training this week but remains unavailable with soreness, Noah Smith is a couple of weeks away as he nurses a groin issue, and Nathan Konstandopoulos continues his recovery from his knee injury.
Head-to-head
Played: 48
Wins: 17
Draws: 10
Losses: 21
Last five meetings
1-1 draw (H)
2-1 loss (A)
2-3 loss (H)
2-0 loss (A)
2-1 loss (A)
Key stats powered by Opta
- Adelaide United has won its last five A-League games in a row, the last and only time the Reds enjoyed a longer winning run was a seven-match span from November 2005 to January 2006.
- Adelaide United boast the best shot conversion rate (16%) of any team in the 2020/21 A-League season, and seven percentage points higher than Sydney FC (9%).
- Adelaide United has made the most tackles per game (20) of any team this season, only Wellington Phoenix (13) have made fewer per game than Sydney FC (15).
Ones to watch
Stefan Mauk has been leading by example as Captain, scoring four goals in his last four games from midfield. His ability to make late runs into the box and get on the end of cutbacks adds another dimension and threat to United’s attack.
For the Sky Blues, it is hard to look beyond Milos Ninkovic. The Serbian maestro is integral to all of Sydney’s attacking play. Nullifying his time and space on the ball will be crucial for the Reds to experience a successful result.
Match details:
Sunday, 28 March vs Sydney FC
A-League 2020/21 – Matchweek 14
Kick-off 5.40pm ACDT
Gates open 4.40pm ACDT
Venue: Coopers Stadium
Broadcast: Fox Sports
Stream: Kayo Sports, MyFootball Live App
