Then there were four: Newcastle Jets, Adelaide United, Auckland FC and Sydney FC.<\/p>\n
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 \u2013 starting on Saturday.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
ANDRIOLI INTERVIEW: The beautiful wish that came true for 61-year-old debut A-League coach<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThat was probably one of the best penalty shootouts I\u2019ve ever seen,\u201d Sydney FC fullback Ben Garuccio said on the\u00a0Football Friends Podcast.<\/p>\n The Jets and Adelaide are coming off a bye, and are refreshed in their Championship pursuit.<\/p>\n DEPARTURES? Why an A-League off-season \u2018exodus\u2019 is inevitable as current star pleads with Mata to stay<\/a><\/p>\n A Brazilian who coached against Guus Hiddink’s Socceroos has been living in Australia for 32 years.<\/p>\n It took him over three decades to land his first A-League head coaching role \u2013 but he has nailed it this season.<\/p>\n A story not many people know gives a wonderful insight into the\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/KfvKeZ6TdN<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Football360.com.au (@football360au) May 7, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Auckland FC v Adelaide United<\/p>\n The story line<\/p>\n This is a fascinating semi final tie between two sides with contrasting form and styles, starting at Go Media Stadium on Saturday.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Steve Corica\u2019s Auckland have not won a game in normal time since March 14.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Is the A-League about to face a player exodus? \ud83d\ude1f\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\uddfa@StefanMauk<\/a> , who is on loan from Adelaide United in Vietnam with Cong An Ha Noi, explains why he thinks it could be inevitable.<\/p>\n Listen to the full episode of the Football Friends podcast: https:\/\/t.co\/jYtzcxLyzt<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/URAPeni5GN<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Football360.com.au (@football360au) May 7, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n It is a run dating back to February, with Airton Andrioli\u2019s men eyeing a second Championship and first since 2015-16.<\/p>\n The headline<\/p>\n There will be no Luke Jovanovic for Adelaide in Auckland.<\/p>\n 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.<\/a><\/p>\n However, he ripped off his shirt in celebration \u2013 60 seconds after being booked among an all-in melee, leading to a red card and suspension for the opening leg.<\/a><\/p>\n It is a blow for Adelaide. Jovanovic\u2019s 11 goals mark the first time he has reached double figures for the first time in his career.<\/p>\n There are also question marks over Auckland\u2019s Cosgrove and his fitness.<\/p>\n Cosgrove ruptured ligaments in his ankle but still came off the bench and scored in the shootout against City. <\/p>\n The form guide<\/p>\n Auckland FC:\u00a0Draw, draw, loss, draw, draw Key match up<\/p>\n Ryan White v Louis Verstraete.<\/p>\n The centre of the park looms as a key area for both teams at Go Media Stadium.<\/p>\n Adelaide\u2019s White comes into the match having been named the 2026 Aurelio Vidmar Medallist following a breakout season<\/a>. The highly-rated 20-year-old is the youngest ever recipient of the Aurelio Vidmar Medal.<\/p>\n It will be a tough battle in Auckland, where the physical Black Knights \u2013 with Belgian Verstraete in midfield, will look to break things up.<\/p>\n \u201cWe know what Auckland are going to bring,\u201d White said. \u201cThey\u2019ll bring good fight, good intensity and they\u2019re physical all across the pitch. We\u2019ll be ready. I guarantee it.\u201d<\/p>\n The best and worst stadiums in the A-League, according to the players, have been revealed \ud83d\udc40\ud83c\udfdf\ufe0f<\/p>\n Full rankings: https:\/\/t.co\/FBwr7mMd6G<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/6fUeZyY4CI<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Football360.com.au (@football360au) May 7, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Pundit view<\/p>\n On the\u00a0Football Friends Podcast, Adelaide United\u2019s on-loan midfielder Stefan Mauk said: \u201cIt\u2019s a long travel for Adelaide. Auckland played at home already, so they\u2019re able to stay at home.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd potentially the week off (for Adelaide) is actually a disadvantage because then you go 14 odd days without a game.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere Auckland are already, I know they went to extra time, but the players will be able to recover in a week\u2019s time.\u201d<\/p>\n Sydney FC fullback Ben Garuccio added: \u201cThey\u2019ve (Adelaide) overachieved again and I think you\u2019ve got to tip your hat to Airton because I think probably across the whole season, I would say very tight between them and Newcastle.<\/p>\n \u201cThe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Sydney FC v Newcastle Jets<\/p>\n The story line<\/p>\n After almost a decade, the Jets are back in the finals.<\/p>\n Not since that unsuccessful 2017-18 Grand Final have Newcastle played a finals fixture\u2026 until now.<\/p>\n It has been a long time coming for the club from the Hunter region, but Mark Milligan\u2019s youthful and headline-grabbing side are soaring to unprecedented heights in 2025-26.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Standing in their way, however, is the competition\u2019s most successful side \u2013 Sydney FC.<\/p>\n Patrick Kisnorbo\u2019s Sky Blues play host to the Jets at Allianz Stadium on Saturday night.<\/p>\n The headline<\/p>\n Who else but Max Burgess?<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Burgess \u2013 who first joined the club in 2014, left having represented Sydney at every level \u2013 captaining the club\u2019s National Youth League squad to the 2016 Championship while also playing in the National Premier League and A-League Men\u2019s competition. He featured in 97 league matches across three separate stints, scoring nine goals.<\/p>\n Sometimes football dishes up scripts that are just \ud835\udc0f\ud835\udc04\ud835\udc11\ud835\udc05\ud835\udc04\ud835\udc02\ud835\udc13.<\/p>\n Max Burgess is the redemption arc at the centre of the A-League\u2019s best story.<\/p>\n He\u2019s gone from frozen out at Sydney FC to Player of the Year at the Premiers Newcastle Jets.<\/p>\n After 343 days between A-League\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/BOpDrnDvzC<\/a><\/p>\n
Adelaide United: Win, win, draw, draw, win<\/p>\n