ADELAIDE United are through to an A-League semifinal with Sydney FC, after breaking Brisbane Roar’s home finals dominance thanks to a double for Tomi Juric.
The Socceroos striker struck twice in the game’s opening 20 minutes, to make light of an injury crisis that deprived United of forwards Craig Goodwin and Kusini Yengi and shock a capacity Brisbane crowd.
After the best A-League season ever, we need a finals series to match A Set the default text size A Set large text size
Replay A Set the default text size A Set large text size
Leave it to Melbourne Victory to sign off on one of the most remarkable A-League premiership campaigns of all time with a dramatic last-second equaliser in the derby.
A 95th-minute equaliser from Lleyton Brooks might have been largely inconsequential in the grand scheme of things to everyone but Victory fans, but it summed up a genuinely thrilling and often chaotic A-League regular season campaign.
Central Coast: Oliver Bozanic and Matt Simon
The local duo have been crucial to the Mariners rise up the table in 2021. Skipper Bozanic s drive from midfield sets the tone while Simon has enjoyed an incredible resurgence as the target man up top. Macarthur: Markel Susaeta and Adam Federici
Matt Derbyshire may be Macarthur s leading scorer but it s Susaeta s creativity and guile that s crucial to much of their attack. Goalkeeper Federici has been immense between the sticks this season and will be keen to perform on the big stage. KEY TO THE GAME
Can Macarthur make the most of their weight of possession? The Bulls will need to get the creative Susaeta involved and turn that into goals. Otherwise they ll be susceptible on the counter against the Mariners - who ve had their number this season.
by Carly Adno 5th Jun 2021 5:12 PM | Updated: 5:28 PM
Kosta Barbarouses and Tom Heward-Belle helped consolidate Sydney FC’s second spot on the A-League ladder as the defending champions beat Brisbane Roar 2-0 in Redcliffe.
Barbarouses’ 16th minute strike proved decisive, but it was a standout performance from young goalkeeper Heward-Belle that ensured the Sky Blues took home all three points despite not being at their best.
“We weren’t great with the ball today,” Sydney coach Steve Corica said.
“We had patches that were okay, but I was very pleased with the players coming in - we had a number of changes with the Socceroos boys going away.