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Adelaide Utd, Western Sydney to face off in Australia's A-League Grand Final

Xinhua, April 29, 2016 Adjust font size:

Adelaide United and the Western Sydney Wanderers will on Sunday look to end their A-League Grand Final hoodoos, when they square off in the 2016 installment of Australian football's biggest domestic clash.

Between them, the Reds (Adelaide United) and the Wanderers have made the A-League Grand Final on four prior occasions, however have been unable to secure the A-League Trophy from two attempts apiece.

In front of an expected sell-out crowd of 50,000 people at Adelaide Oval on Sunday evening, the Reds will attempt to complete 'the double' by winning both trophies on offer from the 2015-16 season, after they secured the Premiers plate after finishing top of the table in the regular season.

Despite both teams being relatively low scorers throughout the year, the Wanderers and Reds have scoring form heading into the final.

Adelaide demolished Melbourne City 4-1 in a clinical and ruthless display last week, while the Wanderers had to shake off a dogged Brisbane Roar who pushed them to the brink. After being 0-3 down, Western Sydney fought back at home to force extra time at 4-4, before pulling ahead to down the Brisbane side 5-4 after 120 minutes.

The two teams met twice throughout the regular season; both matches ended in draws, with one match ending 0-0 while the return game was a 1-1 tie.

It has been widely regarded that if Adelaide can win its first Champions trophy, it would be one of the most remarkable turnarounds in A-League history; after eight rounds of the A-League season the Reds found themselves firmly on the bottom of the table.

In contrast to the Reds' remarkable season, Western Sydney found itself around the top of the table for most of 2015-16 following a horror season the year before. Coach Tony Popovich instilled a possession-based style of game play that relies heavily on wearing down the opponent's defense.

But victory would be even sweeter for Adelaide United and coach Guillermo Amor, after no players on the Premier's roster was selected in the Professional Footballers Australia team of the year earlier this week.

Amor himself got the tick of approval as coach of the year in the A-League, while three Wanderers players were selected in the 16-man team.

Adelaide will be deserved favorite heading into the clash, as it has both history and the home ground advantage on its side.

Five out of the last seven winners of the A-League Champions Trophy have been the team that topped the table and took home the Premiers Plate.

Both teams having impressive form going into Sunday's match, but United's slick midfield and goal-stopping ability could be too much for the often mercurial Wanderers outfit.

A-League Grand Final:

Adelaide United vs Western Sydney Wanderers FC

Adelaide Oval, Sunday 4:00 p.m. AEST. Endit