Adelaide United vs Auckland Prediction: Jovanovic could be the difference in semi-final second leg

The first leg of the Australian A-League Men’s semi-final tie between Auckland FC and Adelaide United last weekend finished all square, with Harry Crawford’s 63rd-minute strike cancelling out Lachlan Brook’s 24th-minute opener at Go Media Stadium.

The Reds and the Black Knights go again in Friday’s second leg at Coopers Stadium (10:35 BST, TNT Sports 4), where extra-time and penalties could be in store. Below are my Adelaide United vs Auckland predictions, alongside all the latest team news and match odds, as I look to repeat my first-leg success of backing two winners (11/10 & 11/5).

Team News

Adelaide United striker Luke Jovanovic is expected to be thrown straight back into the side after serving a suspension last weekend. Anselmo is likely to drop out for the 20-year-old in what may be the only change to Airton Andrioli's starting XI.

Ajak Riak (hamstring) and Dylan Pierias (knee) remain in the Reds' treatment room.

Football Odds

Oli Sail (knee), Felipe Gallegos (hamstring) and Marlee Francois (foot) are still out injured for Auckland, whose head coach Steve Corica could bring Francis de Vries in at left-back for Callan Elliot.

Adelaide United vs Auckland Odds

Adelaide United go off as 13/10 favourites in the Match Result market, implying a 43.5% probability of success, with Auckland 13/8, or a 38.1% chance, to win in 90 minutes.

The draw, which would send the tie to extra-time at Coopers, is priced at 13/5, while the Reds and the Black Knights are 8/11 and 1/1, respectively, to win the tie by any means.

Anytime Goalscorer - Luka Jovanovic (ADL) @ 11/8

The clutch king.

Jovanovic has developed a reputation for scoring important goals, most recently coming off the bench in Adelaide's season finale at Melbourne City, where they were trailing 1-0, and bagging a brace to secure a 2-1 win for the Reds, which lifted them to third place.

The Australia U23 was sent off for his celebrations at AAMI Park, which meant he was banned for last weekend's first leg in New Zealand, but he's ready to return and fire his side into the final.

Today's Football Fixtures

Jovanovic scored against Auckland last November in a 2-1 win for the Black Knights at Go Media Stadium, so he already has experience of breaching their back line this season.

He's favourite in the Anytime Goalscorer market on Friday, and for good reason, having shared the Golden Boot with Auckland's Sam Cosgrove.

At 11/8, he's still worth taking on, in my opinion.

Bet Builder - Sam Cosgrove (AKL) 1+ Shots on Target & Panagiotis Kikianis (ADL) 1+ Shots @ 13/8

Cosgrove was kept quiet in Adelaide's box last weekend, managing just one shot, which was blocked, in the 42nd minute.

However, it's difficult to imagine him being as quiet in the penalty area at Coopers, where he registered a shot on target in April's 1-1 draw.

The 29-year-old also scored against the Reds earlier in the season at Go Media Stadium, so he's two from three for shots on target in this fixture.

United defender Panagiotis Kikianis, meanwhile, shot twice in the last meeting between these two teams in Adelaide, and backed it up with one effort against the Black Knights in Auckland.

The 20-year-old has now recorded at least one shot in each of his last six games, scoring twice in that run, so he should be in a confident mood heading into Saturday's contest, where he will be a target to aim for from set-pieces.

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