Adelaide United vs Tai Po Verdict
Adelaide United missed on the ACL Elite and now face Tai Po in the AFC Champions League Two. I'm backing another night of struggle for the Reds with value on a draw in this opener.
- Adelaide have seen BTTS land in 10 of their last 12 competitive games
- Tai Po have seen BTTS land in four of their last five competitive games
- Adelaide have gone winless in nine of their last 12 competitive games
- Adelaide have drawn six of those 12 games by a 1-1 score
- Tai Po have won 11 of their last 13 competitive games
- Tai Po scored in both games vs Macarthur in this competition last season
Head To Head
This will be the first meeting between the two clubs.
Adelaide United Form
Adelaide finished the regular A-League season in second spot on the ladder, but it was a disappointing end to the season.
Indeed, the Reds only won three of their last 10 games and were knocked out of the finals by eventual winners Auckland.
Hoping for a record fourth Australia Cup trophy this preseason, Adelaide were stunned 2-1 by South Melbourne in the Round of 32, with the NPL Vic side going on to make the final.
There was further disappointment a couple of weeks later, with Adelaide suffering a 2-0 defeat at home to Vietnamese champions Cong An Ha Noi, resulting in their relegation to the AFC Champions League Two competition.
Adelaide United Team News
Some big news recently, with teenage sensation Amlani Tatu linked with a January move to Real Madrid. Adelaide of course have history of producing young talent, with Nestory Irankunda, Mo Toure, Luka Jovanovic and Yaya Dukaly recently securing big moves abroad.
Not much player movement this preseason, with Socceroos veteran Craig Goodwin set captain the side again.
Adelaide United Possible Starting XI (4-3-3): Joshua Smits, Fabian Talladira, Panagiotis Kikianis, Bart Vriends, Jay Barnett, Harry Crawford, Ethan Alagich, Ryan White, Jonny Yull, Juan Muñiz, Craig Goodwin
Tai Po Form
It was a strong finish to the Hong Kong Premier League season for Tai Po. After ending the regular season in fourth spot, Tai Po won their final seven games when the league split into the top and bottom halves.
That earned Chi-Kin Lee's side a second place finish in the league, while they were also victorious in the FA Cup, earning qualification into the AFC Champions League 2 for the second straight season.
Tai Po were unlucky not to emerge from the group last term, beating Macarthur and Cong An Ha Noi, but their seven points saw them finish in third spot.
It's been a mixed start to the new league season, with Tai Po winning two and losing two of their four games, including a most-recent 2-1 loss to Hong Kong FC.
Tai Po Team News
Brazilian 37-year-old striker Paulinho was Tai Po's top scorer with eight goals in the league last term and he already has three in four games this season - but the veteran has featured off the bench in all four and might be used again as a super sub in this one.