Auckland (home)
- Auckland FC head coach Steve Corica is A-League Coach of the Year after creating a tough team to play against and a side that are a threat in transition.
- The New Zealand club have drawn three of their last five matches, losing just once, with Corica’s team as stubborn as a bad hangover in the knockouts.
- Corica has his side playing a compact, disciplined shape, pressing in numbers when they can to force the opposition into mistakes and then hitting on the counter with wingers or full-backs carrying the ball forward.
- Guillermo May has stepped up to the plate for Auckland, scoring goals when they mattered, including the equaliser that took them into a penalty shootout with Melbourne.
- The Kiwis' joint top scorer and Golden Boot winner Sam Cosgrove’s fitness is in doubt for this semi-final, so May will need to continue his goal-scoring form if Auckland are to have a chance.
Adelaide (away)
- Airton Andrioli has built a youthful, structured and energetic side at Adelaide United FC, one that presses with numbers and is capable of playing good possession-based soccer when they have to.
- They were much better in the run-in, winning three and drawing two of their final five A-League matches, finding a balance between defending and attacking that has given them momentum heading into the semi-finals.
- The 2025/26 A-League Golden Boot winner Luka Jovanović is Adelaide’s talisman, scoring 11 goals to lead the attack and give his team a focus point to play around.
Head-to-Head
- Auckland finished 3rd and Adelaide 2nd in the 2025/26 A-League Men, separated by just two points.
- These two teams have played four high-scoring, closely contested games in the past two seasons, with three draws and a one-goal win each way.
Key Players
- Guillermo May has stepped up to the plate for Auckland, scoring goals when they mattered, including the equaliser that took them into a penalty shootout with Melbourne.
- The Kiwis' joint top scorer and Golden Boot winner Sam Cosgrove’s fitness is in doubt for this semi-final, so May will need to continue his goal-scoring form if Auckland are to have a chance.
- The 2025/26 A-League Golden Boot winner Luka Jovanović is Adelaide’s talisman, scoring 11 goals to lead the attack and give his team a focus point to play around.
Betting Insights
- Upset Auckland are at 1.99 to beat Adelaide, who are 3.66 for the win, but we feel the hosts should be favourites here given their home advantage despite Adelaide having more rest for this matchup.
- The first-leg will be tense and both teams will try not to lose as much as they will look to win, but there should be chances for the game’s main stars to shine.
Prediction
- Watch out for Jovanović’s movement, Cosgrove’s involvement if fit and set-piece situations to decide the match.
- We’re going for a score draw here, although a narrow Auckland win is also a possibility.
- The Auckland team are tough to beat, have momentum from a shootout win, but Adelaide have better form and more rest, so the value looks like it is in the draw.
