The clash
Melbourne City FC will be looking to bounce back from a run of three consecutive losses when they travel to South Australia to face Adelaide United on Friday night.
With both Melbourne Victory and Western Sydney Wanderers hot on City’s heels in third place, Warren Joyce’s men head into Friday night’s clash in a must-win position.
City’s last result came a fortnight ago, when they suffered a 2-1 defeat at the hands of their city rivals in the deciding Melbourne Derby.
Kosta Barbarouses opened the scoring in 12th minute for Melbourne Victory, before Bruno Fornaroli marked his return to the starting line-up with a brilliantly taken penalty in the 54th minute.
Despite City’s efforts to equalise, their hard work was undone when Leroy George drifted into the box to head home the winner from the back post eight minutes later.
Equally determined to return to the winner’s list will be City’s opponents, Adelaide United.
Following a 2-2 draw against Central Coast Mariners in Round 20, the Reds have suffered consecutive defeats, with losses to Melbourne Victory and Brisbane Roar.
Eric Bautheac’s superb free-kick at Suncorp Stadium was enough to sink the Reds on the road setting up a vital clash for both teams at Coopers Stadium on Friday.
Team News
Bart Schenkeveld returns to the eleven for the clash against Adelaide. See our full team news.
Last time they met
City hosted United in Round 17 where Joyce’s men produced one of their most convincing performances of the season, running out 5-0 winners at AAMI Park.
Marcin Budzinsk’s double handed City a 2-0 lead at the break, before Dario Vidosic registered a three-minute brace which was topped off by a tremendous Ross McCormack strike in the sixth minute of stoppage time.
What was said
Head Coach Warren Joyce
“They have had a settled team the vast majority of the season and they know their jobs, their roles and we know it’s going to be a tough game. We’ve had success against them this season but I think it’ll be a game with a [hostile] atmosphere and everyone is up for it.”
Adelaide United Head Coach Marco Kurz
“Melbourne City is a strong team, very disciplined, very compact. We have the experience in the last game that they need only one or two chances to score a goal. That means we must use every single chance to score and not make simple mistakes like in the last games.”
Where and when
City face Adelaide United at Coopers Stadium on Friday, 16th March, kick-off 7:50pm (AEDT).
