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Adelaide move into Cup final

Getty

Getty

Adelaide United produced goals of finesse and fury to down Central Coast and advance to the inaugural FFA Cup final.

Adelaide will host Perth Glory in the December 16 final after outclassing the Mariners 3-2 on Wednesday night.

United’s Spanish import Sergio Cirio scored twice and winger Awer Mabil thundered another into the Coopers Stadium net.

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Mariners attacker Matt Simon pegged one back in the second half before teammate Josh Rose scored a consolation in injury time.

Central Coast, with eight changes from their most recent A-League side, sat back in the opening half, seemingly waiting for disaster to strike.

And in a five-minute span, it did.

In the 39th minute the Mariners were fooled by some Adelaide trickery and Cirio scored.

Reds midfielder James Jeggo lined up to apparently take a free kick some 25 metres from goal but it was part of an elaborate hoax.

Jeggo feinted a kick, Marcelo Carrusca stepped in but instead of a cross into the danger zone, he angled a dainty five-metre pass to Pablo Sanchez.

The Spaniard in turn angled another five-metre pass through the confused Mariners into the path of Cirio, who goaled from close range.

Just five minutes later, Sanchez helped craft another goal with a shrewd pass to charging winger Mabil.

With only anchored goalkeeper Liam Reddy to beat, Mabil thundered a low strike into net with all the power he could muster.

After halftime, the Mariners showed overdue attacking intent and were instantly rewarded.

Three minutes into the half, Mitchell Duke played Simon into space and he coolly slotted past diving Reds goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic.

But Adelaide regained ascendancy and booked their berth in the final when Cirio netted again in the 88th minute.

The Spaniard tapped in from two metres after Reddy failed to control a Mabil shot but the Mariners replied in the 92nd minute when Rose scored from a suspect off-side position.

-AAP

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