A double from Sergio Cirio has guided Adelaide United to a 3-2 win over Central Coast Mariners and set up a meeting with Perth Glory in the final of the inaugural FFA Cup at Coopers Stadium on December 16.

Awer Mabil also got on the score sheet in the victory while Matt Simon and Josh Rose were on target for the visitors in front of 4,548 spectators at Coopers Stadium on Wednesday night.

The Mariners tactics were clear from the outset with coach Phil Moss deploying a deep-sitting back five in a bid to keep the Reds at bay.

The strategy appeared to be working until five minutes before the break when Cirio broke the deadlock after a superb set piece straight from the Reds’ training ground.

Carrusca took the free kick 30 metres from goal and played a short, square pass to fellow import Pablo Sanchez who had made space on the edge of the area, before his one-touch through ball split the defence and found Cirio.

The Spaniard made no mistake from close range, expertly dispatching his shot past the on rushing Mariners’ keeper Liam Reddy.

Five minutes later Sanchez was again the provider, teeing up Mabil who beat Reddy at the near post with a 10-metre bullet to make it 2-0.

The visitors made a double substitution at half time and veteran Matt Simon made an immediate impact after latching onto a clever pass from Anthony Caceres and firing past Eugene Galekovic into the bottom corner in the 48th minute.

The Reds tried to kill off the contest with a third goal but lacked polish in the front half, while Central Coast was a significantly improved outfit in the second stanza.

Simon threatened and looked to be causing the Reds all sorts of problems, but his heroic shift ended just 15 minutes after coming on and the substitute limped from the field with a hamstring injury on the hour.

The Reds appeared to tire as the half wore on, while the Mariners pressed for an equaliser before United eventually found a third in the 88th minute.

Mabil picked up possession wide on the left after great build-up play from Carrusca and danced his way past two defenders before unleashing a shot from the edge of the area.

Reddy did well to keep the shot out but parried straight into the path of Cirio who steered the ball into the net for his second and fifth of the Cup competition.

With United looking to have wrapped up proceedings, the Mariners ensured a thrilling finish with Rose pulling a goal back for the visitors three minutes into injury time.

The fullback ran the length of the pitch after winning back possession for his side and Mitch Duke slipped in his team-mate and Rose neatly finished with the outside of his foot to make it 3-2.

United have just two full days to recover before taking on Wellington Phoenix at Coopers Stadium on Saturday in round 6 of the A-League while Central Coast face Melbourne City in Melbourne on Sunday.

Adelaide United 3 (Cirio 39’/88’, Mabil 44’)
Central Coast Mariners 2 (Simon 48’, Rose 93’)
4,548 @ Coopers Stadium