The only game on Friday for A-League Round 23 is between Adelaide United and Sydney FC. The opening kick-off is set to commence at 7.30pm with the game to be played at Coopers Stadium. The favourite for the match is home team Adelaide United. View our live scores and teams for the game between Adelaide United and Sydney FC.
Round: Round 24, Friday, March 21 at 7.30pm (AEDT).
Stadium: Coopers Stadium
Head to head: Played 28: Wins: Adelaide 12, Sydney 12, Draws: 4
Previous encounter: Sydney 0-3 Adelaide, February 8, 2014
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Odds Comparison:
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| Adelaide United | 1.80 | 1.90 | 1.75 | 1.90 | 1.80 | 1.73 |
| Draw | 3.60 | 3.55 | 3.65 | 3.55 | 3.60 | 3.60 |
| Sydney FC | 4.33 | 3.85 | 4.25 | 3.85 | 4.33 | 4.33 |
All odds are subject to change. Odds listed are correct at the time of the latest update.
Preview:
Round 24 of the A-League kicks off this weekend, with five matches to look forward to as the season end draws nearer. The first game of the round is between Adelaide United and Sydney FC, 7.00PM on Friday night at Coopers Stadium. With both teams just hanging on to the top six and both Newcastle and Wellington within striking distance, this will be a tightly fought contest.
Adelaide will want to reverse their recent slump, after only managing to win one match from their last four. Relying on their impressive home form wont be enough if they want to take all the points this weekend, especially against a Sydney side that has lost just one of their last five matches. In a big boost for the Sky Blues, captain Alessandro Del Piero is looking good to return after missing last weekend with a hamstring injury.
The Reds have to reverse their recent form slump now before its too late, but will have a tough time of it against an in-form Sydney outfit. However, the Sky Blues were not exactly impressive last week against Brisbane, even if they did manage a draw against a 10-man Roar outfit. While Adelaide are favourites to win this game at Coopers Stadium, this one really could go either way.
Teams:
Adelaide United squad:
1.Eugene GALEKOVIC (gk) (c), 2.Michael MARRONE, 3.Nigel BOOGAARD, 4.Jon McKAIN, 5.Osama MALIK, 7.JERONIMO, 8.ISAIAS, 9.Sergio CIRIO, 10.Marcelo CARRUSCA, 11.Bruce DJITE, 14.Cameron WATSON, 16.Daniel BOWLES, 17.Awer MABIL, 18.Michael ZULLO, 20.Paul IZZO (gk), 21.Tarek ELRICH, 22.Fabio FERREIRA, 23.Jordan ELSEY.
**Two to be omitted**
Ins: 16.Daniel BOWLES (promoted), 23.Jordan ELSEY (promoted)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 6.CASSIO (hamstring tendon – indefinite)
Sydney FC squad:
1.Ivan NECEVSKI (gk), 2.Seb RYALL, 5.Matt JURMAN, 6.Nikola PETKOVIC, 9.Corey GAMEIRO, 10.Alessandro DEL PIERO (c), 11.Richard GARCIA, 13.Sasa OGNENOVSKI,16.Joel CHIANESE, 17.Terry ANTONIS, 20.Vedran JANJETOVIC (gk), 22.Ali ABBAS, 24.Hagi GLIGOR, 27.Chris NAUMOFF, 28.Matt THOMPSON, 29.Alec UROSEVSKI, 34.Aaron CALVER.
**One to be omitted**
Ins: 10.Alessandro DEL PIERO (return from injury)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: Rhyan GRANT (knee – season), Pedj BOJIC (back – season), Ranko DESPOTOVIC (knee – 3 weeks)
News:
FFA Chairman Frank Lowy says potential investors in Australian football will buy into “the fastest growing global economic region” adding that football in Australia was in a strong financial position.
At the Sydney FC In Business function today, Lowy was bullish about the future and said that part of Asia was a major selling point for potential investors.
“You are buying a stake in the world’s most popular sport – you’re never going to run out of people who love your product. That’s important in business,” Lowy said.
“You are buying into the fastest growing global economic region – Asia. The links are tangible through Australia’s membership of the Asian Football Federation.
“Ask Manchester City about why they invested in the Melbourne Heart. It’s a very clever move.
“Most importantly, you are buying into a growth story – for that is what Australian football is all about today.
“The possibilities are endless.”
With Australia hosting AFC Asian Cup 2015 next January this further strengthens the game’s links with the region.
Lowy also took the opportunity to spruik the game’s growth saying the game’s KPI’s are heading in the right direction.
“The competition [A-League] has seen a 40% jump in attendances and a 100% surge in TV ratings and a tripling of digital audiences over the past three years.
“We offer great sporting entertainment, an atmosphere like no other and a unique connection between clubs and fans.
“Business is very good right now,” he said.
And still on financial matters, Lowy explained that the FFA will make a submission to FIFA once the world governing body had completed its own inquiry into the bidding process on the 2022 World Cup bid.
“The story has a few chapters to be written,” he said.
“In relation to the money we spent, yes I would think compensation is warranted, but right now FIFA has to make a fundamental finding about the timing if the 2022 World Cup, then these other answers will follow.”
The FFA Chairman also foreshadowed A-League clubs taking a cut of the imminent sale of the FFA owned Western Sydney Wanderers, though said any final decision on the cut is yet to be made.
“In relation to the sale proceeds, allow me to say that football has many mouths to feed. Any net capital after costs from the Wanderers sale will be available for FFA to re-invest.
“We have many projects in need of funding – facilities, schools programs, women’s football, youth academies, it goes on and on,” he said.
“We have told the A-League clubs there will be something for them from the sale proceeds, but we’ll make the decisions in due course and take our time.”
In other news, Sydney FC announced a three-year sleeve sponsorship with Beechwood Homes commencing on July 1.