Adelaide City and Adelaide United are set to battle it out in a scintillating South Australian Australia Cup Round of 16 derby at ServiceFM Stadium on Wednesday night.
The clash will be the first time City and United have met in a competitive match with both sets of players aiming to prove a point in their battle for South Australian supremacy.
There will be a number of familiar faces on each side with nine current City players having previously represented the Australia Cup’s most successful club, Adelaide United, while three current United players have previously represented the reigning NPLSA Champions.
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Adelaide City come into the match after securing the 2022 NPLSA Premiership with a 6-0 win over Adelaide Olympic on the weekend, their seventh match unbeaten including their triumph over Logan Lightning in the Round of 32.
The Reds enter the match having defeated Newcastle Jets 2-0 in the Round of 32 with a goal from George Blackwood and a piece of individual brilliance from Hiroshi Ibusuki on a bicycle kick.
Adelaide City Head Coach,Paul Pezos said his side come into Wednesday’s clash with no fear.
“Our club’s got a great history and long history not just in South Australia but Australia and tomorrow night again we want to win the game,” Pezos said.
“We’re here to put on a show and to show everyone who Adelaide City is on the national stage.
“My philosophy is my style of football and we don’t change that, it doesn’t matter who the opponent is, we showed that and it was evident against Melbourne Victory last year.
“We’re going to come out and play our brand of football and we are going to put them under a lot of pressure, don’t let them get comfortable, you’ll see some really good talent (Wednesday) night.”
Paul Pezos | Pre-Match Press Conference | Adelaide City v Adelaide United
United Head Coach Carl Veart, who played for City in the NSL said he wouldn’t underestimate Wednesday’s opposition.
“They’re a very good side, they’ve won the Championship again in the local NPL so we know it’s going to be a difficult game,” Veart said
“At the end of the day our team is a professional team and they have to go out tomorrow night and do a professional job and get the job done.”
“If you don’t turn up and work hard and do what’s expected from you can get beaten and that was shown the other day with Western United.
“It’s important that our players turn up and start the game well and play the game at a high tempo and put the NPL side under pressure.”
Carl Veart & Lachlan Barr | Pre-Match Press Conference | Adelaide City v Adelaide United
A bumper crowd is expected at ServiceFM Stadium with a place in the Quarter Finals on the line.
The draw for the Quarter Finals will take place immediately following the conclusion of all four matches on Wednesday night, live on 10 Play, the Australia Cup Facebook page and My Football YouTube channel.
Opta Stats: #ACYvADL
- This will be the first meeting between Adelaide City FC and Adelaide United in the Australia Cup; indeed, it will be just the second fixture (Round of 32 or later) between two South Australian teams in the history of the competition (Adelaide United def. Adelaide Olympic FC 1-0, 17 October 2021).
- This will be Adelaide City FC’s second appearance in the Australia Cup Round of 16; they defeated Brisbane Strikers 1-0 in their inaugural such fixture in 2014.
- Adelaide United have won all their six Australia Cup Round of 16 matches and conceded just three goals across that span.
- Adelaide City FC won possession 74 times in the Round of 32 of the 2022 Australia Cup; only Bentleigh Greens SC (111) logged more in this category.
- Lachlan Barr (Adelaide United) made 10 clearances in the Round of 32 of the 2022 Australia Cup, the second most of any player (Ryan Ensor – 13 for Broadmeadow Magic).
Adelaide City v Adelaide United
Date: Wednesday 17 August 2022
Time: 7:30pm AEST
Venue: ServiceFM Stadium
Tickets: Purchase here
Broadcast: Live on 10 Play
