Karim Matmour insists Adelaide United will do everything it can to advance from their Westfield FFA Cup Semi-final against Western Sydney Wanderers on Tuesday night.
The Reds will be determined to reach the Grand Final for the second time in the competition’s history, after clinching the trophy in the inaugural 2014 edition.
Adelaide’s passage to the last four has been smooth sailing and are yet to concede a goal in this season’s tournament.
Marco Kurz’s men defeated Newcastle Jets and Melbourne Victory 1-0 and 3-0 respectively, before recording a 3-0 triumph at Heidelberg United in the quarter finals.
The South Australians are also unbeaten in their first three Hyundai A-League matches – recording one win and two draws.
Matmour says the team are ready and excited to be playing, knowing a win would see them in contention for early season silverware.
“It’s a semi-final and we worked hard to be there and in one game you can be in the final,” he told reporters at Adelaide Airport.
“That’s why we are very excited.
“… We are confident and we go there to win and go to the final.”
The Algerian international also reflected on the Reds start to the campaign and believes their strong cup form has translated into a solid start in the Hyundai A-League.
“Every game is important to get the self-confidence and to build our team and in the cup we get a lot of confidence,” he said.
“This was the first good result that we got and we have started well I think this season because we played two away games which weren’t easy.
“And at home (against Melbourne Victory) we didn’t win and normally we have to win this game and we will see tomorrow.”
Meanwhile, the Wanderers are too undefeated across both competitions, but not without surviving a scare in the cup.
They edged past Wellington Phoenix in dramatic fashion in the last 32 and prevailed 4-0 over Bentleigh Greens. In the quarter finals WSW were on the brink of a cup upset against Blacktown City but equalised in extra-time and progressed via a penalty shoot-out.
Matmour expects the clash to be different from a typical league match given what is at stake and the unpredictable nature of cup football.
“I think anyway with my experience I know the cup games are totally different (than the league),” he said.
“Especially now in the semi-finals, it’ll be a different game than a league game.
“It’ll be more harder and the target is to go into the final and not to play well – only to win and that’s why it’ll be a totally different game I think.”
Westfield FFA Cup Record
Adelaide United
2014 – Champions
2015 – Quarter finals
2016 – Round of 32
Western Sydney Wanderers
2014 – Round of 32
2015 – Quarter finals
2016 – Quarter finals
Adelaide United will face Western Sydney Wanderers in the Semi-finals of the 2017 Westfield FFA Cup on Tuesday, 24 October at Campbelltown Stadium. Kick-off is at 7.00pm ACDT.
