The Lowdown: FFA Cup Final, Sydney FC v Adelaide United
FFA Cup Final
Sydney FC v Adelaide United
Tuesday, 7:30pm at Allianz Stadium. Live on Fox Sports.
ON THE FIELD
Clinical: Bobo (left) celebrates a goal with Jordy Buijs. Photo: AAP Likely teams
Sydney FC (4-2-3-1): Redmayne; Wilkshire, Buijs, Wilkinson, Zullo; Brillante, O'Neill; Mierzejewski, Brosque, Ninkovic; Bobo.
Key player: Bobo
The Brazilian striker has never been fitter, according to Sydney's coach Graham Arnold, and there's a sense that Bobo is beginning to hit his best form in the A-League. Now well and truly familiar with his surroundings, Bobo is linking up to lethal effect with his supporting forwards, Milos Ninkovic and Alex Brosque. His pace has picked up, he is outmuscling opponents easily despite shedding weight during the off season and handling his mobility will be one of the most difficult tasks Adelaide's defenders face on Tuesday night. Almost quietly, he's risen up the scoring charts having notched 12 goals in 11 games in all competitions this season. Chances are, he'll build on that on Tuesday night.
Adelaide United's Daniel Adlung has been a revelation this season. Photo: AAP
The German midfielder is emerging as one of the top buys in the A-League this season. Fast, industrious, creative and a good eye for goal – all the elements of a perfect modern central midfielder. His partnership with the more technically savvy Isaias makes for one of the most enticing battles of the season as they come up against Sydney's Josh Brillante and Brandon O'Neill. Adlung enters in a rich vein of form and if he can maintain that, there's no reason why the Reds can't return home with a second FFA Cup trophy.
IN THE DUGOUT
Graham Arnold, Sydney FC.
Sydney FC coach Graham Arnold. Photo: AAP
The importance of the FFA Cup has not been lost on Graham Arnold who desperately wanted to add the first silverware on offer this season to what the club already has won in 2017 and make it a treble of trophies in a calendar year, if not a season. He will leave nothing to chance, likely starting Adrian Mierzejewski who returned from injury with a half-hour appearance off the bench in their 2-1 win over the Jets while Luke Wilkshire will return to the defence to add experience.
Marco Kurz, Adelaide.
The biggest decision the German coach will have to make is whether to gamble on the fitness of Danish midfielder Johan Absalonsen who has not played since suffering a thigh injury in the FFA Cup semi-final win over the Wanderers. Absalonsen has resumed full training but with almost a month out, could be used as a substitute. Kurz' team had the perfect preparation for the final, five-days rest after a 2-1 away win against Central Coast Mariners and with a near full squad to select from. Imports Papa Diawara and Karim Matmour are growing with match fitness while the local options of Ryan Kitto, George Blackwood and Nikola Miluesnic are becoming increasingly more confident with each game.
