Then there were four: Newcastle Jets, Adelaide United, Auckland FC and Sydney FC.
The A-League Men semi final ties are set as premiers Newcastle go head-to-head with rivals Sydney, while Adelaide will go up against Auckland over two legs – starting on Saturday.
Sydney and Auckland came through the Elimination Final path after the Sky Blues outlasted Melbourne Victory, while the Black Knights needed a penalty shootout to take down defending champions Melbourne City.
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“That was probably one of the best penalty shootouts I’ve ever seen,” Sydney FC fullback Ben Garuccio said on the Football Friends Podcast.
The Jets and Adelaide are coming off a bye, and are refreshed in their Championship pursuit.
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Auckland FC v Adelaide United
The story line
This is a fascinating semi final tie between two sides with contrasting form and styles, starting at Go Media Stadium on Saturday.
Auckland punched their ticket through to the final four thanks to a successful penalty shootout. But, the 2024-25 premiers remain winless in six consecutive matches in normal time (L2 D4). It is that form that led to the Black Knights going from second spot and the week off, down to third an Elimination Final.
Steve Corica’s Auckland have not won a game in normal time since March 14.
Red-hot Adelaide, meanwhile, are in the midst of a 10-match undefeated streak, having snatched second spot and AFC Champions League Elite qualification on a dramatic final day of the home-and-away campaign.
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It is a run dating back to February, with Airton Andrioli’s men eyeing a second Championship and first since 2015-16.
The headline
There will be no Luke Jovanovic for Adelaide in Auckland.
Jovanovic earned a share of the A-League Men Golden Boot alongside Auckland star Sam Cosgrove in the final round. The young gun came off the bench and scored twice, including an incredible 98th-minute winner, as the Reds stunned Melbourne City to finish in the top two.
It is a blow for Adelaide. Jovanovic’s 11 goals mark the first time he has reached double figures for the first time in his career.
There are also question marks over Auckland’s Cosgrove and his fitness.
Cosgrove ruptured ligaments in his ankle but still came off the bench and scored in the shootout against City.
The form guide
Auckland FC: Draw, draw, loss, draw, draw
Adelaide United: Win, win, draw, draw, win
Key match up
Ryan White v Louis Verstraete.
The centre of the park looms as a key area for both teams at Go Media Stadium.
Adelaide’s White comes into the match having been named the 2026 Aurelio Vidmar Medallist following a breakout season. The highly-rated 20-year-old is the youngest ever recipient of the Aurelio Vidmar Medal.
It will be a tough battle in Auckland, where the physical Black Knights – with Belgian Verstraete in midfield, will look to break things up.
“We know what Auckland are going to bring,” White said. “They’ll bring good fight, good intensity and they’re physical all across the pitch. We’ll be ready. I guarantee it.”
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Pundit view
On the Football Friends Podcast, Adelaide United’s on-loan midfielder Stefan Mauk said: “It’s a long travel for Adelaide. Auckland played at home already, so they’re able to stay at home.
“And potentially the week off (for Adelaide) is actually a disadvantage because then you go 14 odd days without a game.
“Where Auckland are already, I know they went to extra time, but the players will be able to recover in a week’s time.”
Sydney FC fullback Ben Garuccio added: “They’ve (Adelaide) overachieved again and I think you’ve got to tip your hat to Airton because I think probably across the whole season, I would say very tight between them and Newcastle.
“The best brand of football in terms of really playing possession-based, creating a lot of chances, exciting players. Fair Play, those two coaches for me have been top class.”
Sydney FC v Newcastle Jets
The story line
After almost a decade, the Jets are back in the finals.
Not since that unsuccessful 2017-18 Grand Final have Newcastle played a finals fixture… until now.
It has been a long time coming for the club from the Hunter region, but Mark Milligan’s youthful and headline-grabbing side are soaring to unprecedented heights in 2025-26.
Newcastle are premiers for the first time in their 21-year A-League history, with the Australia Cup trophy already in hand. The domestic treble dream is well and truly alive as the Jets also prepare for a lucrative AFC Champions League Elite campaign next term.
Standing in their way, however, is the competition’s most successful side – Sydney FC.
Patrick Kisnorbo’s Sky Blues play host to the Jets at Allianz Stadium on Saturday night.
The headline
Who else but Max Burgess?
Twelve months ago, Burgess was on the scrapheap at Sydney FC. The 31-year-old was out of favour in the Harbour City last season. He only made three appearances for the Sky Blues in 2024-25.
Burgess – who first joined the club in 2014, left having represented Sydney at every level – captaining the club’s National Youth League squad to the 2016 Championship while also playing in the National Premier League and A-League Men’s competition. He featured in 97 league matches across three separate stints, scoring nine goals.
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Now, Burgess reunites with his former side in the semi-finals and has established himself as one of the competition’s best players this term.
Milligan has elevated Burgess’ game, getting the best out of the talented midfielder, whose 24 appearances in the A-League this season are the most of his career. He has already been named the team’s Player of the Year.
The form guide
Sydney FC: Win, draw, draw, win, draw
Newcastle Jets: Win, draw, draw, loss, win
Key match up
It is hard to look past the midfield area, and Burgess v Paul Okon-Engstler.
Burgess has had a career-best campaign at McDonald Jones Stadium – flourishing in a more central role under Milligan. It has also led to his name being flouted about in the Socceroos conversation.
On the other side is Socceroo and Sydney star Okon-Engstler, who is on track to represent Australia at the FIFA World Cup. The 21-year-old has shown his quality throughout 2025-26.
But could another standout Burgess display in the semi-finals give Tony Popovic something to think about?
Pundit view
On the Football Friends Podcast, Mauk said: “I would assume you guys (Sydney) are going to set up in a way to stop Newcastle Jets rather than trying to outplay them at their game just with PK (Kisnorbo) coming in quite late into the season.”
Garuccio added: “I think it’s gonna be the same (like it was against Melbourne Victory). It’s going to be cagey, but all the games are going to be cagey in finals football.
“It’s just a little bit different, but that’s where having this experience sometimes does win out. And I think that’s probably Auckland’s strength in the finals and then probably the same for us.”