A few years back Sydney FC would have been hot favourites going into this fixture but times have changed in the Westfield W-League.
Adelaide United, despite having never reaching the competition’s final series, currently sit in second and look extremely solid at the head of the chasing pack behind runaway leaders Melbourne City.
The Lady Reds, however, have lost ten straight against the Sky Blues, winning just once which came back in their maiden match way back in 2008.
They will rarely have a better chance to end that unwanted streak on Friday night given their bright start to the season. It will also be a weakened Sky Blues that arrive in the City of Churches with three key players – Amy Harrison, Kyah Simon and Alanna Kennedy – all in Korea Republic on Westfield Matildas duty.
The Lady Reds will be playing their first Friday night match of the season at their well-appointed Adelaide Shores Football Centre. Adelaide narrowly failed to end their winless run against Sydney FC in a memorable Friday evening match two seasons ago, only for the Sky Blues to win with virtually the last kick of the match.
This season Sydney FC have found goals extremely hard to find, netting just three times in their five outings to date. Ending that goal drought will be a key aim having partly arrested the leak of goals at the other end since that disastrous 6-0 opening loss to Melbourne City.
Sydney sit second-from-bottom albeit just two points from Adelaide and can leapfrog into a temporary hold on second with victory. There is indeed much to play for in Adelaide on Friday evening.
Adelaide United v Sydney FC
Friday 27 November 2015
Adelaide Shores Football Centre
Local kick-off: 7pm (7.30pm AEDT)
Join the conversation on Twitter using match hashtag #ADLvSYD
* Listen LIVE on Radio Italiana 531 from 6:30pm local time on 531AM or online at www.radioitaliana531.com.au
Adelaide United squad: 1. Kaitlyn Savage (gk), 2. Lauren Steer, 3. Alexandra Gummer, 4. Sarah Killion, 5. Allira Toby, 6. Chantelle Ryder, 8. Emily Condon, 10. Georgia Campagnale, 11. Rosie Sutton, 12. Elizabeth Milne, 13. Abbigail Dahlkemper, 14. Grace Abbey, 17. Tiarn Powell, 18. Lorena Maggio, 19. Gabby Bentley, 20. Claudia Jenkins (gk)
Ins: Lorena Maggio, Gabby Bentley (both promoted)
Outs: Marijana Rajcic (knee – season)
Unavailable: none
Sydney FC squad: 1. Michelle Betos (gk), 2. Elizabeth Ralston, 3. Ellyse Perry, 4. Sunny Franco, 5. Jasmyne Spencer, 6. Teresa Polias (c), 7. Nicola Bolger, 9. Princess Ibini, 11. Natalie Tobin, 12. Olivia Price, 15. Teigen Allen, 18. Sham Khamis (gk), 19. Leena Khamis, 20. Lyndsay Kohlet, Heidi Makrillos
Ins: Olivia Price (returns from injury), Ellyse Perry (returns from cricket commitments), Heidi Makrillos (promoted)
Outs: Amy Harrison, Kyah Simon, Alanna Kennedy (all Westfield Matildas duty).
Unavailable: Renee Rollason (knee – 3 weeks)
