Adelaide United climbed back into the top six on Saturday with a hard-fought 2–0 win away to Para Hills Knights, thanks to goals from Harry Crawford and Alex Battistella.
The Young Reds dominated for long stretches and created a host of chances, but were made to work for the result before finally getting the reward their performance deserved.
Head Coach Paul Vanis made four changes to the starting XI from the match against MetroStars, with Sotirios Phillis, Harry Crawford, Fabian Talladira and Joey Garuccio coming into the side. Liam Stam moved to the substitutes bench, while Vinko Stanisic, Kaspar Kuzman and Kalan Alagich dropped out of the starting group. Phillis also took on the captain’s armband, with Max Vartuli again starting in goal. On the bench, Campbell Mattner and Malual Nichola were added to the matchday squad, alongside Stam, Israel Mbula-Monga, Riad Rarhidi and Alagich.
United started brightly, with Crawford testing the goalkeeper early, while Amlani Tatu’s long-range strike drifted just wide on 23 minutes. A minute later, Vartuli produced a sharp double save to deny Lansana Smith, reacting well after the Knights attacker cut inside.
The Reds continued to build pressure. Fabian Talladira flashed a first-time effort wide on 38 minutes, before Joey Garuccio came within inches of opening the scoring on the stroke of half-time, unleashing a superb long-range strike that was brilliantly turned away by Lachie Fusco.
Fusco’s heroics proved only a brief reprieve. One minute into first-half stoppage time, crisp one-touch play between Garuccio and Luka Blazevic on the edge of the box opened the door for Crawford, who finished calmly to give the Young Reds a deserved 1–0 lead — his fourth goal of the season.
United almost doubled the advantage immediately, with Garuccio lofting an effort over the goalkeeper only for Fusco to claw it back to safety. Garuccio then went close again early in the second half, blazing over from close range after a dangerous Crawford cross.
From there it was largely one-way traffic, with Adelaide United continuing to create opportunities but unable to land the decisive second goal. On 76 minutes, Talladira’s clever touch on the byline opened space to drive the ball across goal for Garuccio at the back post, but a late bobble proved costly and the close-range finish sailed over.
Deep into stoppage time, the Young Reds finally sealed it. With Para Hills committing numbers forward, Stam carried the ball from inside his own half and squared across goal. Mbula-Monga’s initial effort was scrappy, but it fell kindly for Battistella, who forced it home to make it 2–0 and ease the late tension.
After the match, Vanis said:
“It was a really positive performance on a difficult pitch. I thought we controlled large parts of the game, created plenty of chances and, on another day, we probably score a few more. The most pleasing thing for me was the way we stayed patient and kept playing our football, even when the second goal wouldn’t come.
“To get another clean sheet is important as well as defending is an important part of development. Now it’s about backing it up, continuing to be more clinical in the final third, and taking that momentum into next week.”
The Young Reds now turn their attention to WT Birkalla at ServiceFM Stadium next Saturday afternoon.
Squad
Starting XI
#13 Max Vartuli (GK)
#36 Panashe Madanha (off 85’)
#45 Alex Battistella
#52 Sotirios Phillis (C)
#58 Harry Crawford
#62 Fabian Talladira
#65 Joey Garuccio (off 81’)
#67 Luka Blazevic (off 88’)
#74 Amlani Tatu (off 88’)
#79 Feyzo Kasumovic
#86 Luke Hurst
Substitutes
#15 Israel Mbula-Monga (on 88’)
#57 Liam Stam (on 81’)
#78 Malual Nichola (on 85’)
#80 Campbell Mattner (GK)
#88 Kalan Alagich (on 88’)
#91 Riad Rarhidi (on 81’)
