Adelaide City v Adelaide Blue Eagles
Coca-Cola Federation Cup Round 2

When: Saturday, April 5th. Kick-off 2:30pm

Where: Adelaide City Park, Corner Fosters Road & Hilltop Drive, OAKDEN

Teams:

Adelaide City: J. Allwright, P. Blefari, N. Bucco, N. Budin, S. Day, M. Halliday, T. Love, M. Mullen, L. Ostbye, A. Rideout, J. Rideout, A. Sunasky, V. Talladira, S. Tobias

Adelaide Blue Eagles: C. Annicchiarico, S. Annicchiarico, C. Atsikbasis, J. Boyokino, D. Crettenden, G. De Lucia, F. Filletti, J. Giannitto, A. Harris, K. Harris, C. Mbarga, M. Nicholson, M. Tosic

Form:

Adelaide City: D W L

Round 5: South Adelaide 2-2 Adelaide City, O’Sullivan Beach Sports Complex
Round 6: Adelaide City 5-2 Western Strikers, Adelaide City Park
Round 7: Adelaide City 1-5 White City, Adelaide City Park

Adelaide Blue Eagles: L W W

Round 5: White City 2-0 Adelaide Blue Eagles, Frank Mitchell Park
Round 6: Adelaide Blue Eagles 2-0 Cumberland United, Marden Sports Complex
Round 7: Adelaide Blue Eagles 2-1 West Torrens Birkalla, Marden Sports Complex

 

Preview:

Rivals Adelaide City and Adelaide Blue Eagles will face off for a spot in the Quarter Finals of the Coca-Cola Federation Cup at Adelaide City Park on Saturday afternoon.

Adelaide City booked their place in the second round with a 4-1 win over Raiders, while Blue Eagles came from behind to defeat Playford City 4-3 in extra time to advance.

Cup holders Adelaide City will be looking to recover from their 5-1 loss to White City in Round 7 of the South Australia National Premier League.

Adelaide City attacker Joel Allwright said his side has worked on moving the ball around quicker for Saturday’s clash.

“White City did very well, but I don’t think we got played off the park; we let ourselves down by holding onto the ball when we should have passed it,” Allwright said.

“White City closed us down really well and they were on the counter all the time, so we have been working on playing the ball and moving during the week.”

Adelaide City defeated White City on penalties in last year’s Cup final to claim their 16th Coca-Cola Federation Cup, but Allwright said being reigning champions is not an advantage.

“It’s a little bit of confidence for us, but every game is different and we’re playing a good team in Blue Eagles, so I don’t think we can take anything for granted.

“We’re confident going into this match, but looking back, I don’t think last year’s win is really going to help us that much.”

After defeating West Torrens Birkalla 2-1 last weekend, Adelaide Blue Eagles will be looking to bring their league form into the cup.

Blue Eagles vice-captain Christopher Annicchiarico said his team has not altered its routine in preparation for Saturday’s game.

“Obviously it’s a big game, but we’ve approached it like any other week. We’ve had a couple of big wins in the past few weeks so we’ll try and carry the form over,” Annicchiarico said.

The last time these two sides met, Blue Eagles won 3-0 at Adelaide City Park, but Annicchiarico said that match did not give his side the edge for Saturday’s cup tie.

“They are a tough, hard side and they play good football. It’s never going to be an easy game, so the win in the league is not going to play any sort of factor in Saturday’s game.

“It’s a cup game, you never know what to expect, so we are going to have to be on top form on Saturday.”

Allwright believes the FFA Cup is a big stepping stone for the whole game, with the winner of the Coca-Cola Federation Cup earning a place in the nation-wide tournament.

“You’ve got the chance to play against A-League teams if you progress that far, so we’re ready for it and hoping to go back-to-back in the cup.”

Annicchiarico said the FFA Cup is an added incentive to win the cup and play in a national tournament.

“We want to win every game we play in so it doesn’t play too much of a factor, but obviously it’s a massive incentive for the local clubs to perform on the national stage.”

In other match-ups, MetroStars and Campbelltown City do battle at TK Shutter Reserve on Saturday.

Campbelltown defeated Adelaide Hills 2-1 to move into the second round, but MetroStars’ first round was much easier, walking through with a bye.

After five consecutive losses in the league, Cumberland United will hope to bounce back in the cup against Croydon at A.A. Bailey Reserve.

Cumberland cruised to a 6-0 victory in the first round against Gawler, while Croydon received a bye to advance.

Western Strikers take on NPL State League side Modbury Jets on Saturday at Carnegie Reserve.

Western Strikers won 4-1 against Sturt Lions 4-1 in the first round, while Modbury claimed a 7-3 victory against Seaford.

State League sides Adelaide Olympic and The Cove will battle for a quarter final place at Ferryden Park on Saturday afternoon.

Adelaide Olympic advanced after beating Northern Demons 3-1, whereas The Cove defeated rivals Salisbury United in a penalty shootout after drawing 2-2.

South Adelaide will host West Torrens Birkalla at O'Sullivans Beach Sports Complex on Saturday.

Both teams advanced to the second round with narrow wins against State League sides, as South Adelaide won 1-0 against Port Pirates, while Birkalla clinched a 3-2 win against Eastern United.

At Rushworth Reserve, Western Toros have the difficult task of taking on Premier League leaders West Adelaide.

Western Toros enjoyed a week off in the first round with a bye, but West Adelaide’s task was not as simple, winning 1-0 in extra time against Adelaide Cobras.

In the last game, Para Hills Knights will look to break a four-game losing streak against Adelaide Comets – who have won four in a row – at The Paddocks.

Para Hills clinched a 2-1 victory against White City to move on, while Adelaide Comets cruised to a 4-0 win against Salisbury United.

 

Saturday April 5

MetroStars v Campbelltown City
2:30pm - TK Shutter Reserve, Fourth Avenue, KLEMZIG

Cumberland United v Croydon
2:30pm - A.A. Bailey Reserve, Winona Avenue, CLARENCE GARDENS

Western Strikers v Modbury Jets
2:30pm - Carnegie Reserve, Kingston Avenue, ROYAL PARK

Adelaide Olympic v The Cove
2:30pm - Ferryden Park, 1 Perth Avenue, FERRYDEN PARK

South Adelaide v West Torrens Birkalla
2:30 pm - O'Sullivans Beach Sports Complex, Galloway Road, O'SULLIVANS BEACH

Western Toros v West Adelaide
2:30pm - Rushworth Reserve, Anson Street, BLAIR ATHOL

Para Hills v Adelaide Comets
2:30pm - The Paddocks, Bridge Road, PARA HILLS