Adelaide United defender Michael Marrone set for home elimination final against Melbourne City
Michael Marrone has made the most of an Adelaide United teammate’s misfortune, re-inventing himself as a centre back. Now he is hoping to retain his place as the Reds prepare for Sunday’s elimination final.
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Michael Marrone considers it his sliding doors moment.
Adelaide United’s regular right back had started just two of the Reds’ 10 games since round 10 after losing his place to young gun Ryan Strain.
But a foot injury to centre back Jordan Elsey late in the home loss to Western Sydney on February 16, coupled with a lack of defensive cover, opened the door for 207-game veteran.
He made the most of the chance, demonstrating his quality and versatiltiy to nail down a stopper spot and help United advance to Sunday’s elimination final against Melbourne City.
“It’s funny, but it’s happened a few times over the career where you go in and out,” said Marrone, who played 90 minutes in each of Adelaide’s last eight regular season games.
“I think that’s what experience brings, you know that things like that can be just around the corner.
“A little injury, a little sickness, a change of mind, anything can happen in football.
“It took a few games (adjusting) becuase it’s a very different position to playing full back.
“But I’ve started to get the hang of it and I’m enjoying it.
“That comes with wining as well, becuase you really enjoy it when you’re winning.”
Marrone had been a key figure late in the campaign as the Reds turned a horror five-match winless streak into a five-match unbeaten run on their way to a fourth-place finish.
The one-cap Socceroo was uncertain whether the fit-again Elsey would return to the side, potentially forcing him to shift position for the Hindmarsh Stadium clash.
But he said the team would base its gameplan on a solid defensive structure, having leaked just two goals in four games prior to last Thursday’s 5-3 success over Brisbane Roar.
“I’ve been in finals campaigns before and it really counts a lot when you’ve got momentum leading into the games,” Marrone, 32, said.
“In the last five or six games, we’ve defended realy well apart from the last game.
“We’ve been hard to score against and the team works realy hard defensivley.
“We’ve got such pace up front in our wide areas and good players ... that we’re going to get chances regardless.
“Having a home final is such a big advantage, especially in a one-off game, so hopefully the crowd comes out.”
Adelaide was in the midst of a 10-day break before facing City, just three weeks after battling to a goalless draw with the same opponent at AAMI Park.
The knockout clash would pit Marrone against his former club, where he played from 2010-13 under its Melbourne Heart guise.
He would also face up to seven ex-Reds in the visitors’ squad, incuding goalkeeper
Eugene Galekovic and defender Iacopo La Rocca who Marrone won a title with in 2016.
“I don’t even think about it to be honest,” the Para Hills product said.
“Once they’re out (of the club), I don’t really think of them much as Adelaide United players any more.
“We play very differnet to how we played during that (title) winning year.
“But we still have a really good core group and a good winning mentality.
“The beauty of being in one-off finals is anything can happen and you’re a chance against anyone on any day.”