{"id":19778,"date":"2016-05-02T21:19:55","date_gmt":"2016-05-02T11:19:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thefatwebsite.com\/?p=19778"},"modified":"2016-10-01T22:10:31","modified_gmt":"2016-10-01T12:10:31","slug":"a-league-201516-grand-final-adelaide-paints-the-town-red","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.thefatwebsite.com\/?p=19778","title":{"rendered":"A-League 2015\/16 &#8211; Grand Final &#8211; Adelaide Paints The Town Red"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thefatwebsite.com\/?attachment_id=5928\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-5928\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-5928\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thefatwebsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/tagfootball.jpg\" alt=\"tagfootball\" width=\"600\" height=\"75\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.thefatwebsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/tagfootball.jpg 600w, http:\/\/www.thefatwebsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/tagfootball-300x37.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thefatwebsite.com\/?attachment_id=19779\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-19779\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-19779\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thefatwebsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/redchamps.jpg\" alt=\"redchamps\" width=\"620\" height=\"330\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.thefatwebsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/redchamps.jpg 620w, http:\/\/www.thefatwebsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/redchamps-300x160.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>ADELAIDE UNITED 3 WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS 1<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>ADELAIDE UNITED ARE CHAMPIONS AND PREMIERES OF A-LEAGUE SEASON 2015\/16<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Adelaide Too Good, Finally Break Their Finals Hoodoo<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/pLPumwW6Y8M\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Adelaide United and their fans had a day to remember on May 1st as the club stormed to their first ever A-League championship title defeating Western Sydney Wanderers 3-1 in an entertaining game that had a couple of sensational goals as well as some nervy moments in the second half as the Wanderers chased the Reds lead.<\/p>\n<p>After a typically cagey opening twenty minutes, the game was blown wide open by Kenyan born Bruce Kamau who latched onto a cross whipped in by Marcelo Carrusca, clipping the ball past Andrew Redmayne and giving the Reds the early advantage. \u00a0It was a huge weight off the shoulders of the Reds. \u00a0In two previous grand final appearances, not only had they lost both games, they failed to get on the score sheet.<\/p>\n<p>The Reds doubled their advantage shortly after the half hour mark with an inch perfect free kick from Spaniard Isaias. \u00a0For his goal and tremendous efforts bossing the midfield, the Adelaide midfielder would go on to win the Johnny Warren medal.<\/p>\n<p>The game was a fine spectacle and befitting conclusion to what has turned into a thrilling A-League season as far as the on-field product is concerned. \u00a0Seeing the sea of red at ground whipping up a fantastic atmosphere and following that up with the jam-packed trophy presentation in the city, its pleasing to see that Adelaide is a proud footballing town that finally got its moment in the sun. \u00a0It&#8217;s the sort of moment that can sustain a club for years, bringing on potentially thousands of new memberships in future seasons and making reality the dreams of kids in South Australia who aspire to play football professionally and win titles in front of their home supporters.<\/p>\n<p>For the Wanderers, the grand final was a bridge too far after the gruelling semi-final against Brisbane. \u00a0To come back from 3-0 down in a home semi was one thing. \u00a0To try and claw back a two goal deficit against a home team that could actually defend properly was more than they could handle. \u00a0Fans online enjoyed the sight of Mitch Nichols labouring on the field for 50 minutes on his birthday before being ignominiously being substituted &#8211; a sharp dose of karma after his post-match shenanigans flipping the bird at Brisbane Roar fans a week prior.<\/p>\n<p>For Tony Popovic, the result will be a huge disappointment. \u00a0He remains one of the most successful managers in the league with an incredible record of winning an Asian Champions League, a Premiere&#8217;s Plate and making 3 grand final appearances in 4 years. \u00a0But to come home empty handed after 3 finals games will sting and the club now wears the stigma of being the competition bridesmaids.<\/p>\n<p>The game wraps up a wild season in the A-League. \u00a0Adelaide are deserved winners with their incredible form in the second half of the season losing just a single game from their last twenty. \u00a0Winning an A-League championship is hard. \u00a0Defending it is even harder. \u00a0Only Brisbane Roar have managed to go back-to-back. \u00a0How will Adelaide fare? \u00a0We find out in six months time when the 2016\/17 season begins.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-lang=\"en\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/edotherocket\">@edotherocket<\/a> Thanks mate. Soo happy. Finally!!!<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Josh Millard (@cptmunch) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/cptmunch\/status\/726685499608289281\">May 1, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" async=\"\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-lang=\"en\"><p>\nI know a Reds fan who was at the 2007 GF. I hope this is his day. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/ALeagueGF?src=hash\">#ALeagueGF<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 EdotheRocket (@edotherocket) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/edotherocket\/status\/726661607661572097\">May 1, 2016<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" async=\"\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-lang=\"en\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Protips. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/ALeagueGF?src=hash\">#ALeagueGF<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/V83wW6iIN9\">pic.twitter.com\/V83wW6iIN9<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 EdotheRocket (@edotherocket) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/edotherocket\/status\/726669927562665984\">May 1, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" async=\"\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-lang=\"en\"><p>\nChampagne showers. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/AUFC?src=hash\">#AUFC<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/ForeverUnited?src=hash\">#ForeverUnited<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/CThNDJmg5b\">https:\/\/t.co\/CThNDJmg5b<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Adelaide United FC (@AdelaideUnited) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AdelaideUnited\/status\/727089100814065664\">May 2, 2016<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" async=\"\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-lang=\"en\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Thank you to everyone for all the messages! Truly appreciated \u2764\ufe0f <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Champions?src=hash\">#Champions<\/a> &#x1f3c6;&#x1f3c6; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/07dYYvrLjw\">pic.twitter.com\/07dYYvrLjw<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Bruce Djite (@BDjite) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BDjite\/status\/726932219629961217\">May 2, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" async=\"\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-lang=\"en\"><p>\nI&#8217;m done &#x1f602;&#x1f602;&#x1f602; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/4KzFQLuzq4\">pic.twitter.com\/4KzFQLuzq4<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 James (@JamesK_1312) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/JamesK_1312\/status\/726694027475582977\">May 1, 2016<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" async=\"\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-lang=\"en\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">WATCH <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AdelaideUnited\">@AdelaideUnited<\/a> BECOME 1ST TIME CHAMPIONS OF AUSTRALIA!Sanchez sealed the 3-1 epic victory <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/ALeagueGF?src=hash\">#ALeagueGF<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/ADLvWSW?src=hash\">#ADLvWSW<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/zQ4Wj0pTGQ\">https:\/\/t.co\/zQ4Wj0pTGQ<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Hyundai A-League (@ALeague) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ALeague\/status\/726684485626949632\">May 1, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" async=\"\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-lang=\"en\"><p>\nAdelaide&#8217;s form going into the <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/ALeagueGF?src=hash\">#ALeagueGF<\/a>:<\/p>\n<p>WWDWDWWWWDWWWWLDWWWW<\/p>\n<p>Red hot &#x1f525; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/BuTF73gBpr\">pic.twitter.com\/BuTF73gBpr<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Unibet Australia (@UNIBETAustralia) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/UNIBETAustralia\/status\/726608369646223360\">May 1, 2016<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" async=\"\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-lang=\"en\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"und\">&#x1f64c;&#x1f3fd; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/sKcEd1zegk\">pic.twitter.com\/sKcEd1zegk<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Nice Orange (@AardigOranje) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AardigOranje\/status\/726685101099110400\">May 1, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" async=\"\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-conversation=\"none\" data-lang=\"en\"><p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Hirald0\">@Hirald0<\/a> \u270c&#x1f3fd;\ufe0f <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/xd6YVB678b\">pic.twitter.com\/xd6YVB678b<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Nice Orange (@AardigOranje) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AardigOranje\/status\/726689872392507392\">May 1, 2016<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" async=\"\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-lang=\"en\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Rundle Mall was crazy today. Scenes!!! <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AdelaideUnited\">@AdelaideUnited<\/a> supporters you are incredible. Sorry not sorry about voice &#x1f601;&#x1f3c6; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/01h9bIegu4\">pic.twitter.com\/01h9bIegu4<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Jarrod Walsh (@jarrodwalsh) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/jarrodwalsh\/status\/727032873350365184\">May 2, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" async=\"\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-lang=\"en\"><p>\n2016 <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ALeague\">@ALeague<\/a> Champions. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/AUFC?src=hash\">#AUFC<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/jO5tzv6Q2Q\">pic.twitter.com\/jO5tzv6Q2Q<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Adelaide United FC (@AdelaideUnited) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AdelaideUnited\/status\/726705497332584448\">May 1, 2016<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" async=\"\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Revisiting My Start Of Season Predictions<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thefatwebsite.com\/?attachment_id=18204\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-18204\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-18204\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thefatwebsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/season11.jpg\" alt=\"season11\" width=\"620\" height=\"330\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.thefatwebsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/season11.jpg 620w, http:\/\/www.thefatwebsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/season11-300x160.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">I made some predictions for Season 11 back in October in <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thefatwebsite.com\/?p=18200\">this post<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Here&#8217;s how I went.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Predicted Final Standings<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>1. \u00a0Melbourne Victory (<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>wrong!<\/strong> <\/span>6th)<br \/>\n2. \u00a0Sydney FC (<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>wrong!<\/strong> <\/span>7th)<br \/>\n3. \u00a0Western Sydney Wanderers (<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>wrong!<\/strong> <\/span>2nd)<br \/>\n4. \u00a0Wellington Phoenix (<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>wrong!<\/strong><\/span> 9th)<br \/>\n5. \u00a0Melbourne City (<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>wrong!<\/strong> <\/span>4th)<br \/>\n6. \u00a0Adelaide United (<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>wrong!<\/strong> <\/span>1st)<br \/>\n7. \u00a0Perth Glory (<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>wrong!<\/strong> <\/span>5th)<br \/>\n8. \u00a0Brisbane Roar (<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>wrong!<\/strong> <\/span>3rd)<br \/>\n9. \u00a0Newcastle Jets (<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>wrong!<\/strong> <\/span>8th)<br \/>\n10. \u00a0Central Coast Mariners (<span style=\"color: #339966;\"><strong>correct!<\/strong><\/span>)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Actual\u00a0Final Standings<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>1. \u00a0Adelaide United<br \/>\n2. \u00a0Western Sydney Wanderers<br \/>\n3. \u00a0Brisbane Roar<br \/>\n4. \u00a0Melbourne City<br \/>\n5. \u00a0Perth Glory<br \/>\n6. \u00a0Melbourne Victory<br \/>\n7. \u00a0Sydney FC<br \/>\n8. \u00a0Newcastle Jets<br \/>\n9. \u00a0Wellington Phoenix<br \/>\n10. \u00a0Central Coast Mariners<\/p>\n<p><strong>General Predictions<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thefatwebsite.com\/?attachment_id=19785\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-19785\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-19785\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thefatwebsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/fornaroli.jpg\" alt=\"fornaroli\" width=\"620\" height=\"330\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.thefatwebsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/fornaroli.jpg 620w, http:\/\/www.thefatwebsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/fornaroli-300x160.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Besart Berisha<\/strong> will be the top scorer in the competition. \u00a0<strong><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">WRONG!<\/span> \u00a0<\/strong><em>Bruno Fornaroli was the Golden Boot winner<\/em><\/li>\n<li><strong>Tony Walmsley<\/strong>\u00a0will be the first coach to lose his job. \u00a0<strong><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">WRONG!<\/span> \u00a0<\/strong><em>Inexplicably &#8211; and a competition first &#8211; not a single manager was sacked<\/em><\/li>\n<li>The final will be between <strong>Melbourne Victory<\/strong> and\u00a0<strong>Sydney FC<\/strong>\u00a0in a grand final repeat. \u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>WRONG!<\/strong><\/span> \u00a0<em>Neither team made the final<\/em><\/li>\n<li><strong>Melbourne Victory<\/strong> will win the FFA Cup \u00a0<span style=\"color: #339966;\"><strong>CORRECT!<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong>Melbourne Victory<\/strong> will win the treble \u2013 the minor premiereship, the grand final and the FFA Cup \u00a0<strong><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">WRONG!<\/span> \u00a0<\/strong><em>Victory won the FFA Cup but Adelaide took the rest of the silverware<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Adelaide United triumphed in front of 50,000 fans at Adelaide Oval in an entertaining finale to the 2015\/16 season<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":19779,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[218,682,1004,1427],"class_list":["post-19778","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","tag-a-league","tag-adelaide-united","tag-grand-final","tag-western-sydney-wanderers"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.thefatwebsite.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19778","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.thefatwebsite.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.thefatwebsite.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.thefatwebsite.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.thefatwebsite.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=19778"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"http:\/\/www.thefatwebsite.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19778\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20397,"href":"http:\/\/www.thefatwebsite.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19778\/revisions\/20397"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.thefatwebsite.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/19779"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.thefatwebsite.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=19778"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.thefatwebsite.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=19778"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.thefatwebsite.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=19778"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}