Adelaide United FC Coach John Kosmina knows the Reds can ill afford to take their foot off the pedal heading into Sunday afternoon’s clash against the Wellington Phoenix.
Adelaide United FC Coach John Kosmina knows the Reds can ill afford to take their foot off the pedal and will need to carry the emotional high of last Friday-s defeat of Melbourne Victory into tomorrow afternoon-s clash against the Wellington Phoenix at Hindmarsh Stadium.
The build up to tomorrow-s game may not comprise of the same level of hype as the showdown with the Victory, but nonetheless the result against the Phoenix is undoubtedly just as crucial if the Reds are to keep touch with the Hyundai A-League poll sitters, the Central Coast Mariners.
With three of the Reds- next four games at home, Kosmina understands the importance of making the most of the opportunity. Backing up after the rousing 4-2 win over the Victory, Kosmina said the key to another positive result tomorrow was for the players to bring the same energy levels, keep striving and not be satisfied with what has happened so far.
“I think you have to play every game with feeling, not just because it was Melbourne Victory last week,” Kosmina said.
“The mood in camp is pretty good…last week was a good buzz, a good and an important win because I think games like that actually reinforce what we-re capable of.”
“There-s a lot more in this team and I guess you need a good frame of mind to be able to bring that out of the players and they seem to be there at the moment.”
“It-s about being able to take it into a game that is probably the most important thing…it-s about a mindset, you come here in the right frame of mind and you-ll get the result, but the football aspect of it has been pleasing and I guess that-s the important thing.”
The Reds are set to make just one change, with captain Eugene Galekovic returning between the posts after missing the past two games due to Qantas Socceroos duty.
Unbeaten at home this season, Hindmarsh Stadium is again becoming a tough venue for opposition teams to visit and Kosmina says the Reds needed to continue to keep it that way.
“Central Coast got a win last night and we need to get a win to make sure we stay in touch with them. Secondly, we need to get a win because we-re at home and Hindmarsh is turning back into a fortress for us, so we need to make the most of those opportunities when we have them,” Kosmina said.
Wellington is a team the Reds have had the wood over at home, but Kosmina is certainly not underestimating the team from across the Tasman who will be hungry to keep themselves in the mix and respond after Coach Ricki Herbert put the heat on his players following last weekend-s home loss to Sydney FC.
But ultimately, Kosmina sees the game being decided by how his team approaches the contest and ensuring it sticks with what has been working.
“They-ve got enough quality in that squad to cause us issues, but we-ve got to focus on what we need to do though and be disciplined with it,” Kosmina said.
Kick-Off is at 4.30pm ACDT.
Hyundai A-League 2012/13 Season – Week 11
ADELAIDE UNITED FC v WELLINGTON PHOENIX
Sunday 16 December 2012, Hindmarsh Stadium
Kick-Off: 4.30pm ACDT
Referee: Strebre Delovski
Tickets: Available through Ticketek (call 132849, online at www.ticketek.com.au)
TV: LIVE & Exclusive on Fox Sports 1
Radio: ABC Radio online
Twitter: twitter.com/adelutd_fc (hash tag #REDSvNIX)
Adelaide United squad: 1.Eugene Galekovic (gk) (c), 2.Osama Malik, 3.Nigel Boogaard, 5.Iain Fyfe, 6.Cassio, 8.Marcelo Carrusca, 10.Dario Vidosic, 11.Bruce Djite, 14.Cameron Watson, 17.Iain Ramsay, 18.Fabian Barbiero, 20.Paul Izzo (gk), 21.Jeronimo Neumann, 22.Fabio Ferreira, 23.Evan Kostopoulos
In: Eugene Galekovic (gk) (returns from international duty)
Out: John Hall (gk) (returns to NYL)
Unavailable: Jake Barker-Daish (groin – 1 week)
Wellington Phoenix squad: 1.Mark Paston (GK), 2.Manny Muscat, 3.Tony Lochhead, 6.Alex Smith, 7.Leo Bertos, 8.Paul Ifill, 9.Benjamin Totori, 10.Stein Huysegems, 11.Jeremy Brockie, 12.Tyler Boyd, 16.Louis Fenton, 17.Vince Lia, 18.Ben Sigmund, 21.Dani Sanchez, 22.Andrew Durante (c), 30.Griffin McMaster (GK)
*one to be omitted
In: Dani Sanchez (returns from injury)
Out: Nil
Unavailable: Lucas Pantelis (knee injury – indefinite)
Adelaide United vs. Wellington Phoenix – Hyundai A-League HEAD TO HEAD Record
Played 17 – 8 wins, 5 draws, 4 losses
At Hindmarsh Stadium
Played 10; Adelaide United 7, Wellington Phoenix 2, Draws 1
Last time they met in the Hyundai A-League
27-Oct-2012 Week 4, Hyundai A-League 2012/13 Season at Hindmarsh Stadium
Adelaide United FC 3 (Neumann 55-/85-, Cassio 68-)
Wellington Phoenix 1 (Huysegems 42-)
