Coach John Kosmina has summed up in two words what the Reds need to do in order to secure a crucial three points against Perth Glory.
Adelaide United FC Coach John Kosmina has summed up in two words what the Reds will need to do in order to secure a crucial three points against an in form Perth Glory at Hindmarsh Stadium on Sunday – take chances.
Rather than any sophisticated method, theory or game plan, Kosmina said beating Perth would simply come down to the Reds- ability to capitalise in front of goal. Impressively, the Reds have scored at least once and created a number of openings in every game since Kosmina took over, but the United coach wants to improve the chances to goals ratio.
“In two words what we need to do to beat Perth – take chances. We make enough, in every game we make good opportunities, we just need to take them.”
Back home after a loss and a draw following matches against the Central Coast Mariners and the Newcastle Jets in the space of five days, the Reds do not have to be told about the importance of the two consecutive home games coming up if they are going to be around at the business end of the season.
“We-ve made it tough for ourselves because it was a week that we could have come back with six points quite easily and we came back with one,” Kosmina said.
“You look at the Central Coast game, we fixed up a lot of defensive issues that probably cost us the game, so it-s one step at a time, but I think we-re good enough to make the finals but we need to win games and it has got to start on Sunday against Perth, we can-t afford to drop any points at home anymore.”
Games like the one on Sunday are often deemed ‘must win- affairs, but Kosmina does not single it out especially, stating that every match should be treated it as a ‘must win- regardless of the circumstances.
“They are all must win matches. You can pick one out of the hat but they-re all must wins,” Kosmina said.
“If you take that attitude at the start of the season, that you win every game and play them a week at a time and play them on their merits, that-s how you get success.”
Kosmina confirmed he is likely to regain midfielder Zenon Caravella after he missed the match with the Jets because of a groin injury, while Cassio-s return is being marked down for next Friday night-s home game against Wellington.
Unfortunately Reds fans will have to wait before seeing former captain Travis Dodd in his first game back at Hindmarsh, the Glory midfielder ruled out with an abdominal tear. While Dodd-s absence could be seen to take some of the excitement and enticement away from the clash, Kosmina does not agree.
“It would be nice if Travis played, probably more for the Adelaide crowd and the fact that it-s playing against his home club, but if you-re going to build your motivation around Travis playing for the opposition we-ve got big problems,” Kosmina said.
“So it won-t take any sting out of the game. If it does, then like I said we‘ve got problems.”
One needs to look no further than the Glory-s recent results for proof that Sunday-s game still has the billing of being a highly anticipated encounter.
Perth have found a rich vein of form in the past month winning three of their last four games, two of which came away from home, while they scored a commanding 4-1 triumph over Melbourne Victory at nib Stadium in their last outing.
But apart from the narrow loss to the top of the table Mariners, the Reds have also shown a new found confidence, Kosmina quick to extinguish any suggestions that the players will not be up for the challenge after their recent NSW road trip.
“They-re young blokes and professional footballers, they-ve got to deal with these sorts of things, so they-re not fatigued. I was happy with the way they ran the game out on Wednesday night,” Kosmina said.
“You know you-ve got problems when the morning after a game players are whinging and moaning, but they were in a good mood yesterday morning and if you speak to the medical department there-s no one complaining of any general soreness, acute soreness or even fatigue.
“They-re fairly bubbly and in a good mood so I don-t think fatigue will be a factor, although the heat might be, but I suppose the good thing is we-ve been in cool and moist conditions for the best part of the week and Perth have had to train in 40 degrees.”
A high of 31 degrees is forecast for Sunday. Tickets for the match are available through Ticketek.
Hyundai A-League 2011/12 Season – Week 17
Adelaide United FC v Perth Glory
Sunday 29 January 2012, Hindmarsh Stadium
Kick-Off: 4.30pm ACDT
Referee: Jarred Gillett
Tickets: Available through Ticketek (call 132 849, online at www.ticketek.com.au)
TV: Live and exclusive on FOX Sports 1
Radio: ABC Radio (891 ABC Adelaide, ABC SA, Grandstand Digital and online)
Twitter: https://twitter.com/adelutd_fc (hash tag #HALaupg)
Adelaide United squad: 1.Eugene Galekovic (gk) (c), 2.Osama Malik, 3.Nigel Boogaard, 5.Daniel Mullen, 7.Zenon Caravella, 9.Sergio van Dijk, 10.Dario Vidosic, 11.Bruce Djite, 12.Antony Golec, 14.Cameron Watson, 15.Jacob Melling, 17.Iain Ramsay, 18.Fabian Barbiero, 20.Mark Birighitti (gk), 21.Francisco Usucar, 24.Teeboy Kamara
*one to be omitted*
In: Zenon Caravella (returns from groin injury)
Out: Nil
Unavailable: Spase Dilevski (groin), Milan Susak (hamstring), Jon McKain (knee), Evgeniy Levchenko (groin)
Perth Glory squad: 1.Danny Vukovic (Gk), 2. Josh Mitchell, 3.Bas Van Den Brink, 4.Billy Mehmet, 5.Steve Pantelidis, 7.Jacob Burns (C) 8.Adam Hughes, 9.Shane Smeltz, 10.Liam Miller, 14.Steven Mcgarry, 15.Tommy Amphlett, 16.Evan Berger, 17.Todd Howarth, 18 Jesse Makarounas, 19, Josh Risdon, 21.Mile Sterjovski, 27.Andrezinho 30. Lewis Italiano (Gk), 35. Dean Heffernan
*four to be omitted*
In: Josh Mitchell (Returns From Injury), Tommy Amphlett (Promoted), Jesse Makarounas (Promoted), Dean Heffernan (Promoted)
Out: Nil
Unavailable: Chris Coyne (Achilles), Victor Sikora (Hip – Long Term Injury List), Scott Neville (Knee), Travis Dodd (Abdominal Strain), Adam Taggart
Adelaide United vs. Perth Glory – Hyundai A-League HEAD TO HEAD Record
Played 19 – 10 wins, 3 draws, 6 losses
9-Oct-2011… L 0-1… 2011/12 Wk 1 (nib Stadium)
22-Dec-2010… L 2-4… 2010/11 Midweek (nib Stadium)
10-Nov-2010… W 2-0… 2010/11 Midweek (Hindmarsh Stadium)
24-Sep-2010… W 2-0… 2010/11 Wk 8 (Hindmarsh Stadium)
19-Jan-2010… L 2-3… 2009/10 Rd 19 (Hindmarsh Stadium)
9-Oct-2009… L 0-1… 2009/10 Rd 10 (nib Stadium)
7-Aug-2009… W 1-0… 2009/10 Rd 1 (Hindmarsh Stadium)
26-Dec-2008… W 1-0… 2008/09 Rd 17 (nib Stadium)
26-Oct-2008… W 2-1… 2008/09 Rd 9 (Hindmarsh Stadium)
17-Aug-2008… W 1-0… 2008/09 Rd 1 (Hindmarsh Stadium)
13-Jan-2008… L 2-3… 2007/08 Rd 20 (nib Stadium)
23-Nov-2007… D 1-1… 2007/08 Rd14 (Hindmarsh Stadium)
7-Oct-2007… D 0-0… 2007/08 Rd7 (nib Stadium)
28-Dec-2006… D 0-0… 2006/07 Rd18 (nib Stadium)
5-Nov-2006… W 3-2… 2006/07 Rd11 (Hindmarsh Stadium)
16-Sep-2006… W 3-0… 2006/07 Rd4 (Hindmarsh Stadium)
12-Jan-2006… W 2-1… 2005/06 Rd18 (nib Stadium)
6-Nov-2005… L 2-4… 2005/06 Rd11 (Hindmarsh Stadium)
17-Sep-2005… W 2-1… 2005/06 Rd4 (nib Stadium)
At nib Stadium
Played 9; Adelaide United 3, Perth Glory 4, Draws 2
At Hindmarsh Stadium
Played 10; Adelaide United 7, Perth Glory 2, Draws 1
Last time they met in the Hyundai A-League
9-Oct-2011 Week 1, Hyundai A-League 2011/12 Season at nib Stadium
Perth Glory 1 (Mehmet 76-)
Adelaide United 0
Adelaide United last three results
MW 25-1-12… D 1-1… vs. Newcastle Jets (Carrington Park)
Wk 16. 21-1-12… L 2-3… vs. Central Coast Mariners (Bluetongue Stadium)
Wk 15. 13-1-12… D 1-1… vs. Melbourne Victory (AAMI Park)
