Sunday’s first A-League Round 25 match is between Wellington Phoenix and Adelaide United. The opening kick-off is set to commence at 1pm AEDT with the game to be played at Westpac Stadium. The away team Adelaide United are the favourites for the match. View our preview and teams for the game between Wellington Phoenix and Adelaide United.
Round: Round 25, Sunday March 30 at 1pm AEDT.
Stadium: Westpac Stadium
Head to head: Played: 21, Wins: Phoenix 5, Adelaide 10, Draws: 6
Previous encounter: Adelaide 5-1 Phoenix, February 27 2014
Wellington Phoenix $2.87 vs Adelaide United $2.40 at Sportsbet Australia get a $250 FREE BET on this match
Wellington Phoenix $2.75 vs Adelaide United $2.40 at Luxbet Australia get a $500 FREE BET on this match
Odds Comparison:
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| Wellington Phoenix | 2.87 | 2.90 | 2.75 | 2.90 | 2.87 | 2.80 |
| Draw | 3.40 | 3.50 | 3.35 | 3.50 | 3.40 | 3.25 |
| Adelaide United | 2.40 | 2.30 | 2.40 | 2.30 | 2.40 | 2.38 |
All odds are subject to change. Odds listed are correct at the time of the latest update.
Teams:
Wellington Phoenix squad:
1.Glen MOSS (GK), 2.Manny MUSCAT, 5.Michael BOXALL, 9.Kenny CUNNINGHAM, 10.Stein HUYSEGEMS, 11.Jeremy BROCKIE, 12.Tyler BOYD, 14.Alex RUFER, 15.Jason HICKS, 17.Vince LIA, 18.Ben SIGMUND, 19.Hamish WATSON, 20.Lewis ITALIANO (GK), 21.Carlos HERNANDEZ, 22.Andrew DURANTE (c), 23.Matthew RIDENTON, 24.Roy KRISHNA, 25.Shaun TIMMINS
**Two to be omitted**
Ins: 14.Alex RUFER (promoted), 18.Ben SIGMUND (returns from suspension), 21.Carlos HERNANDEZ (returns from injury)…
Outs: Luke ADAMS (omitted).
Unavailable: 3.Reece CAIRA (fractured cheekbone 6-8 weeks), 6.Josh BRINDELL-SOUTH (ankle injury 4-6 weeks), 7.Leo BERTOS (groin injury (2 to 3 weeks), 8.Paul IFILL (ruptured Achilles, season), 13.Albert RIERA (groin injury, season), 6.Louis FENTON (shoulder injury, season).
Adelaide United squad:
1.Eugene GALEKOVIC (gk) (c), 2.Michael MARRONE, 3.Nigel BOOGAARD, 5.Osama MALIK, 7.JERONIMO, 8.ISAIAS, 9.Sergio CIRIO, 10.Marcelo CARRUSCA, 11.Bruce DJITE, 14.Cameron WATSON, 17.Awer MABIL, 18.Michael ZULLO, 20.Paul IZZO (gk), 21.Tarek ELRICH, 22.Fabio FERREIRA, 23.Jordan ELSEY, 25.Ryan KITTO (promoted), 32.Nathan KONSTANDOPOULOS
**Two to be omitted**
Ins: 25.Ryan KITTO (promoted), 32.Nathan KONSTANDOPOULOS (promoted)
Outs: 4.Jon McKAIN (quad 1 – 2 weeks)
Unavailable: 6.CASSIO (hamstring tendon – indefinite)
Preview:
Form:
Past five matches:
Phoenix: LDDLW
Adelaide: WDLWL
The Game:
Wellington can still dream about playing finals but their injury-hit squad desperately need to claim an upset win over an Adelaide side looking too all-but guarantee their place in the top six. With so many season-ending injuries and attacking midfielder Carlos Hernandez still at least a week away, this appears to be beyond Ernie Merrick’s men. Adelaide have a decent record at Westpac Stadium and thrashed the Phoenix 5-1 when the teams met at Hindmarsh in February. Josep Gombau will be hoping to see his side take their form to another level heading into the finals, with the Reds two points clear of seventh-placed Sydney and six ahead of the Phoenix.
The big issue:
Phoenix –can Wellington overcome injuries which have crippled their season? Merrick’s men are winless in four and were thrashed 5-0 by the Newcastle Jets last time out. The run that saw them lose just once in eight matches in late December to early February seems a long time ago. Hernandez’s absence with a quad injury is a blow, while the likes of Paul Ifill, Leo Bertos, Reece Caira and Louis Fenton are still sidelined. There is some relief – defender Ben Sigmund returns from suspension.
Adelaide – can the Reds win at Westpac Stadium for the first time since November 2007? Paul Agostino and Lucas Pantelis were on the scoresheet for Adelaide on that day. In five trips to the venue, that is the Reds’ only win – with the other four matches finishing in draws. They have lost in New Zealand three times, but those defeats were either in Auckland or Christchurch.
The game breaker:
Fabio Ferreira – the impressive Portuguese winger could be a real game breaker for Adelaide come the finals. He scored against Sydney and the last time the Reds met the Phoenix, and he is sure to enjoy taking on a Wellington side who conceded five against the Jets. Ferreira’s pace and directness makes him a regular threat to opposition teams and if Adelaide can continue to find him, particularly in one-on-one situations with his defender, he will lead them to three points.
Source: www.footballaustralia.com.au/aleague