A-League Preview: Gold Coast United - Adelaide United

Posted Saturday, January 09, 2010 by Goal.com

Two teams with contrasting fortunes will meet at Skilled Park in Robina on Saturday evening, as title-chasing Gold Coast United welcome an Adelaide United side looking to avoid their first ever wooden spoon.

The Reds have won just once in nine games and now reportedly are threatened with the loss of talisman goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic, the club’s top performer this season and apparent European target. Thinks quite frankly can’t get any more difficult for Aurelio Vidmar’s men, who also continue to struggle to find the net with just five goals during those same nine matches.

Ironically they now face the competition’s most lethal attack, Shane Smeltz recently having bagged a characteristic hat-trick as United trounced local rivals the Brisbane Roar 5-1 to put their title challenge back on track. On the evidence of that performance the league’s glamour side are back to their cavalier best and will continue to be a threat to both Sydney and Melbourne so long as they maintain that attacking efficacy.

These are the sort of games that present banana skins for Miron Bleiberg’s side, who are certainly susceptible to them but equally are capable of crushing weaker opposition (a 5-0 early-season win against the North Queensland Fury and then a 2-0 defeat at home to the same side typify this Jekyll and Hyde personality).

One mustn’t ignore the lingering presence of Adelaide in the competition though; the Reds are sitting in last place but a shock victory on the coast will amazingly throw them right back into the mix for the finals.

FORM GUIDE

Gold Coast United

Nov 28. Melbourne Victory 4-0 Gold Coast United
Dec 5. Gold Coast United 2-1 Central Coast Mariners
Dec 13. Newcastle Jets 3-2 Gold Coast United
Dec 20. Gold Coast United 2-0 Perth Glory
Dec 26. Gold Coast United 5-1 Brisbane Roar

Adelaide United

Nov 28. North Queensland Fury 2-1 Adelaide United
Dec 4. Adelaide United 0-2 Newcastle Jets
Dec 12. Brisbane Roar 0-1 Adelaide United
Dec 18. Adelaide United 1-1 Wellington Phoenix
Dec 27. Sydney FC 1-0 Adelaide United

TEAM NEWS

Gold Coast United

In: Matt Osman (promoted), James Brown (promoted), Andrew Barisic (promoted), Steven Lustica (promoted)

Out: Steve Pantelidis (suspended - 2 matches), Adama Traore (ankle injury - 3 weeks)

Unavailable: Daniel Piorkowski (ankle injury - indefinite), Robson (knee injury - 3 weeks), Jefferson (knee injury - indefinite)

Possible Starting XI: (3-4-3) Vanstrattan, Rees, Van den Brink, Thwaite, Anderson, Culina, Caravella, Fitzsimmons, Miller, Smeltz, Porter

Adelaide United

In: Cassio (returns from injury), Lloyd Owusu (promoted), Robert Cornthwaite (promoted), Francesco Monterosso (promoted)

Out: Alemao (Hip - Test)

Unavailable: Joe Costa (knee - long term injury list), Kristian Sarkies (quad - 1 week)

Possible Starting XI: (4-4-2) Galekovic, Cornthwaite, Fyfe, Rudan, Jamieson, Cassio, Hughes, Marrone, Dodd, Leckie, Cristiano

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Shane Smeltz (Gold Coast United)

Another hat-trick last time out for the league’s top scorer, who is simply a goal machine. No matter how poorly his side might be playing he’ll always managed to fashion chances for themselves and usually put them away; which means he’s guaranteed goals when United are playing well.

Eugene Galekovic (Adelaide United)

Linked with a move overseas, he remains Adelaide’s best player and most consistent performer, often keeping them in matches single-handedly this season. Even his best efforts haven’t been enough though and that might just convince him to eventually depart Hindmarsh to boost his World Cup chances. The competition’s best shot-stopper.

WHAT THEY SAID

“There isn’t much that the players need to hear from me in terms of our situation because the picture is very clear when you look at the ladder,” Gold Coast United boss Miron Bleiberg on why inspirational speeches won’t be needed as the season draws to a close.

"I don't think we've got too many lives left, it's a crucial game for us so we'll go out there with a positive frame of mind,” Adelaide manager Aurelio Vidmar says time is running out for his struggling side.

PREDICTION

The Gold Coast are in red-hot form and Adelaide are a side on the brink. Smeltz will grab the goals in what should be a comfortable victory.

Gold Coast United 3-0 Adelaide United