A-League club Adelaide United must be doing something right in its preseason preparation as it traditionally gives a strong showing in the FFA Cup tournament. During the week, the Reds made it through to its third consecutive FFA Cup final.
The Reds will be aiming for back to back FFA Cup trophies when it hosts Melbourne City in the final later this month after both teams emerged victorious from their mid-week semi-final matches.
They won their matches in contrasting styles. Whilst City overwhelmed Queensland NPL side Brisbane Strikers 5-1, with four second half goals, including a Jamie MacLaren brace, the Reds just edged out fellow A-League club Central Coast Mariners in a tightly fought 2-1 win.
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The Reds’ win came after they went behind to a 62nd minute Jack Clisby free kick. However the Mariners gave their opponents a huge break when Central Coast forward Matt Simon was dismissed for a second bookable offence after his arm caught an opponent. Minutes later, a penetrating run from Adelaide winger Mileusnic left three Mariners defenders in his wake before a cut back set up George Blackwood for a 74th minute equaliser.
With the score at 1-1 and extra time beckoning, a clever flick by Adelaide’s Kristian Opseth put Riley McGree into the box behind the Mariners defence and he scored the 90th minute winner with a powerful finish.
The Cup Final between Adelaide United and Melbourne City will take place on Wednesday 23rd October at Coopers Stadium, just three days after both teams will meet at AAMI Park in Melbourne for their Rd 2 A-League encounter. For City, it will be their second ever FFA Cup final after having won its first and only silverware, the FFA Cup trophy in 2016 when a Tim Cahill header gave it a 1-0 win over Sydney FC.