Creative midfielder Jin-Hyung Song speaks to the fans ahead of this Sunday’s huge home game against Adelaide United at EnergyAustralia Stadium.
When the Newcastle Jets enter the prestigious AFC Champions League (ACL) in 2009 they will be looking to emulate this year-s superb performance by their opponents for this week, Adelaide United.
For Jets midfielder Jin-Hyung Song there may be some familiar faces lying in wait in next year-s competition.
The Korean import-s previous club, FC Seoul, has also qualified for the 2009 competition and could therefore become one of the Jets- opponents. Far from being tentative about the prospect, Song has become excited by the possibility of facing his old teammates.
“I hope I can play against them because they are my former team. They are a good team but I hope we play each other so I can win with the Jets,” he said.
In the dynamic playmaker-s more immediate future, of course, lies a tricky encounter with Adelaide, a team who are no strangers to Asia-s elite club competition. The Jets will take on this year-s AFC Champions League finalists this Sunday at EnergyAustralia Stadium, and Song believes it will take a wholehearted effort to topple the Reds.
“Adelaide played very well in the Champions League, they are a very good team, too. I think that we can beat them on Sunday, but only if we play well.”
“I think it will be difficult because Joel (Griffiths) will not play, so every player must work and play well for us to win.”
The Jets will be pressing to claim all three points in front of their home faithful this weekend after a couple of difficult weeks which saw the team draw 2-all in dramatic circumstances against Perth Glory in Round 11, before succumbing to Wellington Phoenix 2-0 with only 9-men last round. Both of those games were played on the road and this weekend-s homecoming could be exactly what the team needs to kick-start its season.
“We played two games and they were very long away trips, so it-s good for us to be home now. I think we must get three points at home,” he said. “I hope we have many supporters at the game on Sunday because we must win.”
Head-to-head records indicate that Sunday-s clash is set to be a scintillating encounter, with a total of 31 goals having been scored in the 11 times that the two clubs have met in Hyundai A-League competition. Interestingly, there has never been a draw between the two clubs in the 5 times that they have played in Newcastle.
Tickets for this Sunday-s crucial clash are available from www.proticket.com.au, or by calling (02) 4915 2345.
Match Details:
Sunday 30 November
Newcastle Jets v Adelaide United
EnergyAustralia Stadium, Newcastle
Local kick off: 5:00pm AEDT
Referee. Chris Beath
Live and exclusive broadcast on FOX Sports 1 and Sky Sport 3. Hyundai A-League club radio broadcast partner is 1233 ABC (Newcastle) and FRESH FM (Adelaide). To purchase tickets visit www.proticket.com.au
Newcastle Jets Squad. 1.Ante COVIC (gk), 2.Adam GRIFFITHS, 3.Jade NORTH (c), 5.James HOLLAND, 6.Jesper HAKANSSON, 7.Kaz PATAFTA, 8.Matt THOMPSON, 10.Jin-Hyung SONG, 11.Tarek ELRICH, 12.Jobe WHEELHOUSE, 13.Adam D-APUZZO, 14.Shaun ONTONG, 16.Ben KANTAROVSKI, 17.Antun KOVACIC, 19.Jason NAIDOVSKI, 20.Ben KENNEDY (gk), 24.Marko JESIC
*two to be omitted
In. Kaz Patafta (promoted), Jobe Wheelhouse (promoted), Antun Kovacic (promoted), Shaun Ontong (promoted)
Out. Joel Griffiths (suspended), Mark Milligan (suspended)
Unavailable. Jason Hoffman (knee – season), Noel Spencer (ankle – indefinite)
Adelaide United Squad. 20.Eugene GALEKOVIC (gk), 2.Robert CORNTHWAITE, 3.ALEMAO, 4.Angelo COSTANZO, 5.Michael VALKANIS, 6.CASSIO, 8.Kristian SARKIES, 10.CRISTIANO, 13.Travis DODD (c), 14.Scott JAMIESON, 15.Jonas SALLEY, 16.Daniel MULLEN, 18.Fabian BARBIERO, 19.Sasa OGNENOVSKI, 21.Jason SPAGNUOLO, 22.DIEGO, 24.Paul REID, 25.Robert YOUNIS, 30.Mark BIRIGHITTI (gk)
*four to be omitted
In. Robert CORNTHWAITE (promoted), Michael VALKANIS (promoted), Jason SPAGNUOLO (promoted), Robert YOUNIS (promoted)
Out. Nil
Unavailable: Paul AGOSTINO (calf – 1 week), Daniel BELTRAME (knee – season), Isyan ERDOGAN (hamstring – indefinite), Lucas Pantelis (knee – Indefinite)
Head-to-head. All matches (played 11): Newcastle Jets wins 4, Adelaide United wins 5 (2 draws). In Newcastle (played 5): Newcastle Jets wins 3, Adelaide United wins 2 (0 draws)
