Reds Through to Australia Cup Round of 16 with Hard-Fought 3-2 Victory Over Blacktown City FC in Extra Time
Adelaide United booked their place in the next round of the Australia Cup after a tense 3-2 victory over Blacktown City FC, with a thumping extra-time strike from Yaya Dukuly and a brace from Luke Jovanović making the difference.
In a cold Western Sydney evening, Reds coach Carl Veart fielded a strong side, featuring a familiar starting XI. Isaís dropped into defence alongside Panagiotis Kikianis, while Jonny Yull and Ethan Alagich paired up in midfield. Youngsters Harry Crawford and Ryan White started on the bench, and recruit Dylan Pierias made his starting debut for the club.
The match, played on a synthetic surface, saw United enjoying long spells of possession but with few first-half chances. Ten minutes in, a bright Dylan Pierias looped a cross into the box for a grateful Stefan Mauk, whose header sailed over the bar. Panashe Madanha caused problems down the right-hand side with his pace throughout the first half.
Thirty-five minutes into the game, Stefan Mauk latched onto a tidy overlap from Yull to Kitto on the right, who cut back to Mauk to put the men in white 1-0 up.
In the second half, Delianov pulled off two wonderful saves, including one from a point-blank header midway through the half and another from a Danny Choi free kick after 69 minutes.
Eighteen-year-old Ryan White made his debut, replacing Johnny Yull midway through the second half.
Blacktown’s Major headed home with 19 minutes left on the clock from a floating cross to the back post, beating Madanha in the air. Blacktown City, third in the NSW NPL, looked much better in the second half though and appeared more dangerous.
Second-half substitute Yaya Dukuly looked bright on the left-hand flank and paid back Carl Veart’s faith, thrashing home in extra time from a sweeping Austin Ayoubi cross with a thunderous strike eight minutes into extra time.
Extra-time substitute Austin Ayoubi got his second assist of the night, stealing the ball from the Blacktown defense and feeding Luke Jovanović to slide home, putting the Reds into the hat for the next round. Eighteen-year-old Harry Crawford also made his senior debut in extra time.
It was a tense last few moments after Blacktown’s Awaritefe rounded Delianov and slid home into an empty net, but United held on, securing their place in the Round of 16.
Midfielder Zach Clough said “We’re delighted to get through to the last 16! It was a very tough game and we had to manage the conditions on a tough pitch against a good NPL side.”
“We are looking forward to the draw next week and building on tonight’s win,” Clough concluded.
Blacktown City 2-3 Adelaide United (AET)
Linden Park Stadium | Attendance: 1531
Blacktown City: Major 71′, Awaritefe 119′
United: Mauk 35′, Dukuly 98′, Jovanović 107′
