Reds edged in Sydney despite Burkitt’s opener

The Reds took the game to Sydney FC in the opening half at Allianz Stadium, taking a 1-0 lead into the break.

Sydney responded after the interval with two goals in the space of nine minutes, and United were left searching for a leveller they could not quite find. It was a result that did not reflect the control the Reds showed in the first half, and there are positives to take from the performance.

First half

Adelaide United had its first real sight of goal at Allianz Stadium in the 14th minute, when Anselmo de Moraes sent a right-footed effort from outside the box high and wide after Craig Goodwin’s pass. It was an early sign of the confidence the Reds were playing with.

Two minutes later, United had the lead. Brody Burkitt took the chance on himself, firing a right-footed shot from the centre of the box into the middle of the goal to put the Reds 1-0 up.

Burkitt was booked a minute later for excessive celebration, and Sydney pushed back. Joshua Smits did well to save Alexandar Popović’s shot from the centre of the box, and Al Hassan Touré went close with a right-footed effort from the right side of the box that just missed the top right corner.

United kept their composure and held a share of the ball. Juan Muñiz had a left-footed attempt from outside the box blocked on the half-hour, and after Takahiro Sekine was cautioned for a foul, another Muñiz strike from distance was also blocked.

Ben Garuccio was shown a yellow card in first-half stoppage time, and Ryan Kitto drilled a left-footed shot from the centre of the box just wide from Muñiz’s set-piece cross right before the whistle. The Reds took a 1-0 lead into the break.

Second half

United started the second half on the front foot, with Anselmo forcing a save from Harrison Devenish-Meares from outside the box straight after the restart, set up by Goodwin. Sydney FC had their first sights of goal soon after, and Wataru Kamijo was booked in the 51st minute for a foul as the hosts began to push higher.

The Reds kept probing, with Kitto heading wide from a Muñiz cross after a corner. Smits then made a good save to deny Touré from the right side of the box, before Muñiz saw an effort blocked from a tight angle on the left.

Sydney made the first change when Joe Lacey replaced Kamijo, and Jonny Yull came on for Kitto a minute later. Then, in the 64th minute, Rhys Youlley levelled with a right-footed strike from outside the box into the bottom left corner, set up by Tiago Quintal, who was replaced by Akol Akon a minute later.

Burkitt tested Devenish-Meares from distance in the 72nd minute, but Sydney struck again a minute later. Oriola Sunday finished from the left side of the six-yard box, with Touré providing the assist, to put the hosts 2-1 ahead.

Airton Andrioli responded with a triple change in the 76th minute, bringing on Ajak Riak, Feyzo Kasumovic and Joey Garuccio for Burkitt, Sotirios Phillis and Muñiz, and Smits denied Sunday a minute later. Amlani Tatu replaced Goodwin in the 84th, and the Reds pressed deep into stoppage time through Riak, Anselmo and Ethan Alagich, but Sydney held on.

Full time

It was a disappointing way to finish an afternoon that had started so well for Adelaide United, with the Reds unable to hold on to a half-time lead and going down 2-1 to Sydney FC at Allianz Stadium. Burkitt’s goal gave United a deserved advantage, and the numbers show the Reds were competitive throughout: 52.3% of possession, 484 passes to Sydney’s 437 with 397 of them accurate, reflecting the intent to play through the hosts. Smits made three saves to keep the Reds in the contest, and there was plenty in the way United controlled the opening stages that supporters can take encouragement from.

Match details

Next match

Adelaide United travel to face Perth Glory FC at HBF Park on Sunday 1 November, with kick-off at 6:30pm ACDT, as the Reds look to bounce back and pick up their first points of the season.