Socceroos at Home Preview: A-League Stars gearing up for Semi-Finals

This weekend, two A-League based Socceroos will battle it out at AAMI Park while our youngsters will face off against each other before heading to Uzbekistan for U23 duty. 

Another clash at AAMI Park against Western United awaits for Melbourne Victory's Ben Folami and Nicholas D’Agostino, as they look to qualify for an A-League Men Grand Final after finishing last in the previous A-League season with the Victory. 

Meanwhile for Adelaide United they will be hoping their mix of new Australian U23 stars and Craig Goodwin can help the Reds overcome Melbourne City's Marco Tilio, Mathew Leckie, Jamie Maclaren and Connor Metcalfe on Sunday afternoon. 

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Melbourne City: 

After steamrolling to a second-successive A-League Men premiership, Melbourne City will look to repeat their championship-winning season against Adelaide United in the second-leg of their Semi Final Clash against the Reds.  

Back-to-back Golden Boot winner, Jamie Maclaren, will lead the line once again after netting 15 goals in 24 games for the Champions. He will be joined by Mathew LeckieMarco Tilio and Jordan Bos, who between them have provided 14 goals and 12 assists

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Melbourne City celebrates back to back A-League Men premierships.

Central-midfielder and Alex Tobin Medal winner, Connor Metcalfe,  who sealed an end of season move to St Pauli in the summer, will also be on hand to try an unlock the Reds following a 0-0 draw in the Semi Final First Leg in Adelaide.

Melbourne Victory: 

Tony Popovic's side will be looking to build on their 1-0 victory over Western United on Monday evening as they once again face the Green and Black on Saturday afternoon at AAMI Park. 

Both Ben Folami and Nicholas D’Agostino featured in the clash on Tuesday evening with the pair coming close to netting the opener in the first half if it weren't for a last-ditch effort of the Green and Black. 

Only one goal separated the two sides with a stunner from Jake Brimmer handing Victory the advantage leading into the second leg on Saturday. 

The Melbourne Derby between Melbourne Victory and Western United is scheduled for 5:15PM, live on 10 Bold, on Saturday evening with the match once again taking place at AAMI Park. 

Adelaide United:

Facing off against Central Coast Mariners in the A-League Men Elimination Finals, Craig Goodwin delivered a vintage performance with a goal and an assist as the Reds progressed to the A-League Semi-Finals against Melbourne City.

Adelaide would go on to triumph 3-1 over the Mariners with new Australian U23 winger, Bernardo Oliveira, putting the icing on the cake with a classy finish off the bench.

Oliveira will not be alone when the Australian U23 squad travels to Uzbekistan for the U23 Asian Cup as he will be joined by fellow United teammates Joe Gauci, Lachlan Brook and Louis D'Arrigo who have all been selected by Australian U23 Coach, Tony Vidmar. 

Named in the U23 squad just hours hours before facing Melbourne City at Coopers Stadium, the Reds custodian Gauci put together a man of the match performance as the youngster made a host of impressive stops to keep Melbourne City at bay in a 0-0 draw at Hindmarsh.

Led by Goodwin, Adelaide United's mix of youth and experience will now face the reigning champions in a second leg that has become a single elimination game, at AAMI Park on Sunday afternoon, live on 10, with kick-off slated for 2:05 PM.