Adelaide United Jamu Auckland FC pada Semifinal Leg Kedua A-League

Adelaide United bersiap menjamu Auckland FC dalam pertandingan leg kedua semifinal Isuzu UTE A-League di Stadion Coopers yang terjual habis pada Jumat, 15 Mei 2026. Pertandingan penentu ini menyusul hasil imbang 1-1 pada pertemuan pertama di Auckland yang membuat agregat kedua tim masih sama kuat.

Tiket pertandingan di stadion berkapasitas 16.500 kursi tersebut dilaporkan Football Australia habis dalam waktu 36 jam. Pemenang dari laga ini akan melaju ke babak Grand Final, dengan ketentuan perpanjangan waktu dan adu penalti jika skor tetap imbang setelah 90 menit.

Adelaide United mendapatkan suntikan kekuatan besar dengan kembalinya pencetak gol terbanyak liga, Luka Jovanovic, yang sebelumnya absen karena skorsing. Sementara itu, tim tamu Auckland FC harus kehilangan penyerang Guillermo May akibat cedera pergelangan kaki yang dialami pada leg pertama.

Kapten Adelaide United, Craig Goodwin, menyatakan kesiapannya untuk membantu tim mencapai partai puncak musim ini.

"Feeling good. It’s been good to get back in with the team and be involved at a crucial point of the season. To have about three weeks to a month training to get myself back up to sharpness has been much needed." kata Craig Goodwin, Kapten Adelaide United.

Goodwin menambahkan bahwa dirinya bersedia mengemban peran apa pun yang diberikan oleh pelatih dalam laga krusial tersebut.

"I’m ready to play whatever role is called upon me. I am fit enough and comfortable enough to play 90 minutes at this stage. But I also know that if my role is coming off the bench, I have a part to play and can have a big impact in this next match." ujar Craig Goodwin, Kapten Adelaide United.

Ia juga menyoroti kematangan mental rekan-rekan setimnya yang dianggap lebih baik dibandingkan beberapa musim sebelumnya.

"I don’t think they’ll feel that pressure. There’s a particular attitude in this group that perhaps hasn’t been there in the past. There’s a very good focus and a very good maturity that we haven’t had over the last three or four years. I think we have a very focused and mentally ready team going into tomorrow." tutur Craig Goodwin, Kapten Adelaide United.

Goodwin berharap timnya bisa memanfaatkan atmosfer stadion tanpa merasa terbebani oleh ekspektasi pendukung tuan rumah.

"We have to enjoy the occasion and enjoy the crowd. It’s sold out. The atmosphere is probably going to be as good as it’s been at any point in history, given what’s at stake and the chance to play in the Grand Final. We have to use that energy, but remain focused on the job at hand. Not get overawed, not think too much about the noise, not try to do anything extraordinary. We know the way we have to play and our roles within our team and structure, and we have to play that way and feed off the energy the crowd brings." jelas Craig Goodwin, Kapten Adelaide United.

Pelatih Kepala Adelaide United, Airton Andrioli, menegaskan bahwa seluruh pemain dalam skuadnya saat ini berada dalam kondisi bugar.

"The whole squad, everyone’s available, everyone’s fit, ready to go. We’ll find out tomorrow who is playing and how we’re playing." ucap Airton Andrioli, Head Coach Adelaide United.

Andrioli mengingatkan anak asuhnya agar tetap membumi karena status pertandingan masih sangat terbuka bagi kedua tim.

"The message is that we’re close, but we’re not there yet. Nobody wins a football match before by talking – we have to do the talking on the pitch. No favourite for anyone. It’s a 50-50 match." tegas Airton Andrioli, Head Coach Adelaide United.

Sang pelatih mendesak timnya untuk memaksimalkan peluang emas melaju ke final yang kini sudah berada di depan mata.

"It’s massive. Not many people gave us a chance to be in the position that we are in, but once something’s in front of you, it’s what you do with that. We need to grab that with two hands. We know the opportunity we have, and now we just have to execute that on the football pitch tomorrow night." ungkap Airton Andrioli, Head Coach Adelaide United.

Andrioli juga mempertimbangkan berbagai strategi untuk memastikan kemenangan dalam waktu normal 90 menit.

"We’ve got a good headache at the moment. We want to get it over the line in 90 minutes, but we’re analysing all of that. We’re going to put the players on to start that we think can get the result, and if we need to make changes, we’ve got players off the bench who can come on and give us different dynamics and dimensions into our game." tambah Airton Andrioli, Head Coach Adelaide United.

Pada akhirnya, nasib tim berada di tangan para pemain saat mereka melangkah ke lapangan hijau di hadapan para pendukung.

"We’ve done everything we could to give direction and point you to certain ways and strategies, but in the end, they have to step onto that pitch in front of our supporters here, not an easy place to come, and get it over the line." pungkas Airton Andrioli, Head Coach Adelaide United.

Di pertandingan semifinal lainnya, Newcastle Jets akan menjamu Sydney FC di Stadion McDonald Jones pada Sabtu besok setelah kedua tim juga bermain imbang 1-1 di leg pertama.