Adelaide United has bundled out of the Australia Cup after a narrow defeat to Brisbane Roar at ServiceFM Stadium on Wednesday evening.
With the Roar bursting out of the blocks, it took just seven minutes for the visitors to break the deadlock through Jay O’Shea, before Brisbane doubled their lead through Charlie Austin a minute past the half-hour mark.
Hiroshi Ibusuki halved the deficit after 42 minutes, however the Japanese striker received his marching orders early in the second half for an overzealous challenge, leaving Carl Veart’s men with a maintain to climb.
Despite finishing the match with ten men, United put in a gallant effort to level proceedings, but the Australia Cup’s most successful Club failed make their chances count.
Veart now has a little over a month to prepare his squad for their opening match of the Isuzu Ute A-League season against Wellington Phoenix in New Zealand.
Key moments:
5’ Save! Joe Gauci comes up with a massive save to deny Riku Danzaki, who burst through the United defence.
7’ Goal. Jay O’Shea’s right-footed strike from distance finds the top left corner, beating Gauci.
19’ Chance! Hiroshi Ibusuki snatches at a mis-hit strike by Louis D’Arrigo, but the effort rolls wide of the goal.
24’ Save! Gauci again with a huge hand to deny the Roar – this time preventing Connor Chapman from getting on the scoresheet.
31’ Goal. Charlie Austin meets O’Shea’s corner at the near post and glances his header into the back of the net.
41’ GOAL! Ibusuki is the first to react to Bernardo’s deflected shot, pouncing on a looped ball and pulling one back for the Reds.
54’ Chance! Ryan Kitto attempts an audacious chip following Isaías’ through-ball, but it’s over the bar.
56’ Red Card. Ibusuki is given a straight red card for a challenge on Henry Hore.
74’ Chance! Isaías tries his luck from 30-yards, but it’s saved by the Roar’s goalkeeper, Macklin Freke.
76’ Chance. O’Shea smacks the left upright with a curling free-kick from distance.
88’ Chance! Josh Cavallo’s cross-turned-shot almost beats Freke at the near post, but it hits the side-netting.
