Adelaide United has overcome a gallant Newcastle and an ordinary finals record to clinch a rematch with Melbourne in the A-League grand final via the white-knuckle passage of a penalty shootout at Hindmarsh Stadium.

After the sides finished 120 minutes locked at 1-1, Reds goalkeeper Daniel Beltrame capped a match in which he had been prominent by saving the spot kicks of Vaughan Coveny and Stuart Musialik to deliver United's first grand final appearance in three attempts, following preliminary final losses in the last season of the NSL and in last year's first instalment of the A-League.

United converted all four of its penalties with the precision of a side rich in experience and desire, and despite looking a tired bunch at the end should prove a stern test for the Victory at Telstra Dome, just as they did in losing 2-1 last week.

Adelaide coach John Kosmina heaped praise on his side but refuted suggestions that the win had "lifted a monkey" from his club's back.

"The only people who said there was a monkey on our backs was the media, we never believed it," Kosmina said.

"We went out and won the game, how we won it is irrelevant, it's the result that counts, the outcome, and the process was good as well, I'm not worried about monkeys."

Kosmina also declined to be drawn into a verbal battle with Melbourne, despite the history of enmity between the two clubs.

"I saw a quote from somebody at Melbourne earlier in the week that they were a bit worried about Newcastle," he said.

"I think that's a bit of Brer Rabbit, don't throw me in the prickle bush."

Beltrame, who had spent the first half of the season on the bench due to the strong form of fellow 'keeper Robert Bajic, was also important in an evenly-contested extra time period with a handful of cool saves to deny the Jets.

Ageless strikers Carl Veart and Coveny earlier traded second half goals to send the match into an extra period during which neither side could break through, despite chances at both ends.

Defeat was particularly cruel for Newcastle playmaker Nicky Carle, who played an outstanding second half to bring his team back into contention, and captain Paul Okon.

Adelaide had its own hard luck story in the case of left-back Matthew Kemp, whose industrious work was marred by a second yellow card of the finals series, meaning he will miss next week's finale.

Angelo Costanzo continued his outstanding finals series with another series of intercepts.

Fellow left-sided players Bobby Petta and Jason Spagnuolo are slim chances to come back into the squad after injury.

United began with plenty of energy and direction, but did not capitalise until the second half.

Olyroo Nathan Burns, ducking in from the left, flicked a 57th minute lob into the box that was expertly knocked down by Fernando, for Veart to drive emphatically into the bottom corner.

With a crowd of 13,798 baying for more, the Jets were in a tight spot, and Milton Rodriguez was substituted for target man Coveny as the match ticked into its final 20 minutes.

The big Kiwi striker came up trumps on 74 minutes, ramming home a goal from Carle's low cross after United appeared to make the mistake of being content with their lead.

Six minutes later Coveny played provider for Carle.

The city of Adelaide held its breath as Carle found himself with space on the penalty spot, but his left-footed effort flew over the bar via Beltrame's shoulder and from there penalties always seemed probable.

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