Hyundai A-League

Adelaide United FC v Wellington Phoenix FC

Tip - Although the 'Nix have done very well fighting into the 6, I think the Reds will do enough at home this time (despite the Paul Reid disruption).

Friday, 18 February 2011 - 1st Elimination SemiFinal - Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide - Local kick-off: 7:30pm (8.00pm AEDT)

Referee: Jarred Gillett; Assistant referees: Paul Cetrangolo Ashley Beecham; Fourth official: Chris Beath

Live and exclusive broadcast on FOX Sports 1, FS1 HD and Sky Sports 2 (NZ). Hyundai A-League partner is ABC Digital Adelaide and The Radio Network Wellington. To purchase tickets visit www.ticketek.com.au

Adelaide United: 1.Eugene GALEKOVIC (gk), 2.Robert CORNTHWAITE, 3.Nigel BOOGAARD, 6.CASSIO, 7.Lucas PANTELIS, 8.Adam HUGHES, 9.Sergio VAN DIJK, 10.Marcos FLORES, 11.Andy SLORY, 13.Travis DODD (c), 14.Cameron WATSON, 16.Dario BODRUSIC, 17.Iain RAMSAY, 19.Mathew LECKIE, 20.Mark BIRIGHITTI (gk), 21.Francisco USUCAR

In: CASSIO (returns from injury), Sergio VAN DIJK (returns from injury); Out: Paul REID (omitted); Unavailable: Daniel MULLEN (knee – season), Joe COSTA (knee – season), Joe KEENAN (leg – season), Fabian BARBIERO (ankle – season) Wellington Phoenix: 2. Manny MUSCAT, 3 Tony LOCHHEAD, 4. Nick WARD, 6. Tim BROWN, 8. Paul IFILL, 9. Chris GREENACRE, 11. DANIEL, 13. Troy HEARFIELD, 15, Jade NORTH, 17 Vince LIA, 18. Ben SIGMUND, 19. Danny VUKOVIC, 20. Reece CROWTHER, 21, Marco ROJAS, 22, Andrew DURANTE (c), 23. Dylan MACALLISTER

In: Paul IFILL (returning from injury), Vince LIA (returning from injury), Andrew DURANTE (returning from suspension), Out: James MUSA (omitted), Mirjan PAVLOVIC (omitted), Unavailable: Leo BERTOS (groin – season), Mark PASTON (leg – season), Oscar Roberto Cornejo (groin – 3 weeks)

Head-to-Head: All matches (played 12): Adelaide United wins 5, Wellington Phoenix wins 3 (4 draws) - This will be Adelaide United’s 12th Hyundai A-League final series match, a new record for the most finals matches for any team.

Central Coast Mariners FC v Brisbane Roar FC

Tip - A game between the two teams ending up clearly 1 and 2 after 30 games will be hard to call. I'm just going to show my bias by tipping the Coast to have learned by the last 2 games at home and will take a close into the return leg.

Saturday, 19 February 2011 - Qualifying Final - Leg 1 - Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford - Local kick-off: 7.00pm

Referee: Matthew Breeze; Assistant referees: Ben Wilson Rod Allen; Fourth official: Gerard Parsons

Live and exclusive broadcast on FOX Sports 3, FS3 HD and Sky Sports 3 (NZ). Hyundai A-League partner is 96.3 Coast FM (Gosford). To purchase tickets visit www.ticketek.com.au

Central Coast Mariners: 2. Daniel McBREEN, 3. Joshua ROSE, 4. Pedj BOJIC, 6. Patrick ZWAANSWIJK, 7. John HUTCHINSON, 8. Rostyn GRIFFITHS, 10. Patricio PEREZ, 11. Oliver BOZANIC, 14. Michael McGLINCHEY, 16. Trent SAINSBURY, 18. Alex WILKINSON, 19. Matt SIMON, 20. Mathew RYAN (gk), 22. Mustafa AMINI, 23. Adam KWASNIK, 24. Bernie IBINI ISEI, 25. Mitchell DUKE, 30. Paul HENDERSON (gk)
*two to be omitted*

In: Matt SIMON (return from injury), Rostyn GRIFFITHS (promoted), Mitchell DUKE (promoted); Out: Nil; Unavailable: Brad PORTER (knee - four weeks), Nik MRDJA (knee - six weeks), Jess VANSTRATTAN (knee - season)

Brisbane Roar: 1. Michael THEOKLITOS (gk), 2. Matt SMITH, 4. Shane STEFANUTTO, 5. Ivan FRANJIC, 6. Erik PAARTALU, 7. Kosta BARBAROUSES, 8. Massimo MURDOCCA, 9. Jean Carlos SOLORZANO, 10. HENRIQUE, 12. Matt MUNDY, 14. Rocky VISCONTE, 15. Matt McKAY (c), 17. Mitch NICHOLS, 20. Andrew REDMAYNE (gk), 22. Thomas BROICH, 23. Milan SUSAK

In: Massimo MURDOCCA (returns from injury), Jean Carlos SOLORZANO (returns from injury); Out: Chris BUSH (omitted); Unavailable: James MEYER (toe injury 4-6 weeks)

Head-to-Head: All matches (played 20): Central Coast Mariners wins 3, Brisbane Roar wins 10 (7 draws)

· The scene is set for a battle between goalkeepers MATTHEW RYAN (Central Coast – 12 clean sheets) and MICHAEL THEOKLITOS (Brisbane Roar – 11 clean sheets) for the title of most clean sheets for season 2010/11, and with it a new Hyundai A-League season record. Last weekend against Newcastle, Ryan set a new Hyundai A-League for most clean sheets in a season when he kept his 12th clean sheet for 2010/11, while last month Theokiltos equaled the season record of 11 clean sheets. The previous record of 11 clean sheets in a season was initially set by Clint Bolton (2009/10 Sydney), and equaled recently by Glen Moss (2010/11 Gold Coast). A clean sheet is attained when a goalkeeper plays a whole match without conceding a goal.
· Having not lost any of their last 25 matches and clearly surpassing the previous record longest undefeated streak in Australian national league football (22 matches undefeated, Apia Leichhardt 1986-1987), Brisbane Roar could equal the longest undefeated streak ever recorded in AFL/VFL history, the longest undefeated streak record in that competition being 26 matches, set by Geelong in 1952-1953.

Gold Coast United FC v Melbourne Victory FC

Tip - Despite the absence of Kevin Muscat I think it is the Victory who hav the momentum here and the Gold Coast get little return from playing at home in front of what would be good state league crowds, so I am going for Victory.

Sunday, 20 February 2011 - 2nd Elimination SemiFinal - Skilled Park, Robina - Local kick-off: 4.30pm (5.30pm AEDT)

Referee: Srebre Delovski; Assistant referees: Hakan Anaz Scott Edeling; Fourth official: Matthew Gillett

Live and exclusive broadcast on FOX Sports 2, FS2 HD & delayed on Sky Sports 3 (NZ). Hyundai A-League partner is 774 ABC (Melbourne). To purchase tickets visit www.ticketek.com.au

Gold Coast United: 1.Glen MOSS [gk], 2.Steve PANTELIDIS, 3.Michael THWAITE (c), 6.Dino DJULBIC, 7.Zenon CARAVELLA, 8.ANDERSON, 9.Shane SMELTZ, 11.Bruce DJITE, 13.Bas VAN DEN BRINK, 14.Joel PORTER, 15.Tahj MINNIECON, 16.Kristian REES, 20.Scott HIGGINS [gk], 22.Adama TRAORE, 23.Steve FITZSIMMONS, 26.Ben HALLORAN, 27.Chris HAROLD, 32.Steven LUSTICA, 33.Peter PERCHTOLD
*Three to be omitted*

In: 11.Bruce DJITE (return from hamstring injury), 13.Bas VAN DEN BRINK (return from ankle injury), 14.Joel PORTER (return from calf injury), 26.Ben HALLORAN (promoted); Out: Nil; Unavailable: John CURTIS (shoulder injury – unknown), 10.Jason CULINA (knee injury – season), ROBSON (hamstring injury – 2 weeks), Daniel PIORKOWSKI (ankle injury – indefinite)

Melbourne Victory: 1.Michael PETKOVIC (gk), 3. Mate DUGANDZIC, 4. Petar FRANJIC, 5. Surat SUKHA, 6. Leigh BROXHAM, 7. Matthew KEMP, 8. Grant BREBNER, 9. RICARDINHO, 10. Archie THOMPSON, 11. Marvin ANGULO, 12. Rodrigo VARGAS, 13. Diogo FERREIRA, 14. Billy CELESKI, 15. Tom PONDELJAK, 16. Carlos HERNANDEZ, 17. Matthew FOSCHINI, 18. Danny ALLSOPP, 20. Sebastian MATTEI (gk), 21. Robbie KRUSE, 23. Adrian LEIJER (c)
*Four to be omitted*

In: Leigh BROXHAM (returns from injury), Billy CELESKI (returns from injury), Grant BREBNER (returns from injury), RICARDINHO (promoted); Out: Nil ; Unavailable: Kevin MUSCAT (suspension)

Head-to-Head: All matches (played 6): Gold Coast United wins 2, Melbourne Victory wins 4 (0 draws)