United coach Miron Bleiberg slung the first shot at Victory, labelling them a dirty side after his team fell to a 2-0 loss at AAMI Park at the end of January.

It was a double from Danny Allsopp that gave Victory the points on that day, but the sides have shared three rather low scoring encounters in season six.

But Bleiberg has more pressing concerns than what he believes is an aggressive Victory style with his team winning only one of their last five outings.

Ernie Merrick’s men beat Gold Coast in their only meeting at Skilled Park this season courtesy of a winner from Robbie Kruse.

They’ll need to break down a defence that has conceded just nine times at home this season but starting berths to Archie Thompson and Carlos Hernandez should be a boost after their substitute appearances in Adelaide.

Wellington Phoenix will regain three vital players ahead of their visit to Hindmarsh Stadium to face Adelaide United in another do or die battle.

Less than two weeks after they took a major step towards cementing sixth spot with a 1-0 win at the venue, Phoenix will return with three key men.

Paul Ifill, captain Andrew Durante and Vince Lia have all travelled with the squad after returning from injury and suspension.

Ifill could prove to be the key factor after his ankle injury, working hard in the gym and potentially getting some game time against the Reds.

The Reds looked a more dangerous proposition with Mathew Leckie working hard down the flanks against Victory.

With a home final the Reds should expect a win but Phoenix will make it hard work, especially with the confidence gained from their recent 1-0 win.

Brisbane Roar and Central Coast Mariners go head to head in the first leg of their major semi-final at Bluetongue Stadium.

Ange Postecoglou chose to play away from home first up and there will be hope the game is another like the thrilling 3-3 draw played early this year.

The Mariners led twice on that occasion before James Meyer struck a late equalizer to give the visiting Roar a point.

But unbeaten in 25 and coming off the back of a resounding 4-0 win over Gold Coast United, Roar will be confident of leaving with a positive result.

Central Coast’s form has also been good and if they can extend their unbeaten run to 10 they’ll back themselves in the return leg at Suncorp Stadium.

Adelaide United v Wellington Phoenix

This season:

Feb 5, 2011 ADEL 0 – 1 WGTN (Greenacre 35’)

Dec 5, 2010 WGTN 2 – 1 ADEL (van Dijk 14’, Brown 46’, Sigmund 90’)

Oct 22, 2010 ADEL 3 – 0 WGTN (van Dijk 71’, Flores 72’, Dodd 77’)

 

Central Coast Mariners v Brisbane Roar

This season:

Jan 12, 2011 CCM 3 – 3 BRI (Paartalu 23’, Kwasnik 37’, Simon 47’, Broich 65’, Perez 74’(pen), Meyer 79’)

Nov 28, 2010 CCM 1 – 5 BRI (Solorzano 8’11’, Nichols 24’, Kwasnik 50’, Reinaldo 88’, Wilkinson (og) 89’)

Oct 20, 2010 BRI 2 – 0 CCM (Broich 21’, Franjic 61’)

 

Gold Coast United v Melbourne Victory

Jan 30, 2011 MVC 2 – 0 GCU (Allsopp 28’57’)

Nov 6, 2010 MVC 0 – 1 GCU (Vargas (og) 55’)

Aug 29, 2010 GCU 0 – 1 MVC (Kruse 20’)

 

Adelaide United v Wellington Phoenix
Friday, 18 February 2011
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 most finals matches for any team.

MOST FINALS MATCHES leading in to 2011 finals series
11 Adelaide United
11 Newcastle Jets
11 Sydney FC
9 Central Coast Mariners
9 Melbourne Victory

  • While Phoenix have won just one of their past eight away matches, that victory was against Adelaide United, a one-nil win on 5 February 2011.

 

 Central Coast Mariners v Brisbane Roar
Saturday, 19 February 2011
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 v Melbourne Victory
Sunday, 20 February 2011
Skilled Park, Robina
Local kick-off: 4.30pm (5.30pm AEDT)
Referee: Strebre 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 visitwww.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:
Unavailable: Kevin MUSCAT (suspension).

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

 

  • Now with exactly 100 Hyundai A-League goals between them, Gold Coast’s SHANE SMELTZ (47 career goals) and Melbourne Victory’s ARCHIE THOMPSON (53 career goals) may square up against each other for the first time since November 2009. Despite the prominence of both players in the Hyundai A-League to date, the league’s top two all-time scorers have only come up against each other six times in the past, with Smeltz scoring in their first confrontation (for Wellington’s in their 2-2 draw with Melbourne Victory, August 2007 – Smeltz’s first Hyundai A-League goal) while Thompson scored twice the last time they met, in the Victory’s 4-0 win over Gold Coast on 28 November 2009.  
  • Gold Coast United defender STEVE PANTELIDIS is set to make his 100th Hyundai A-League appearance.