Adelaide United succumbed to a 1-0 defeat against Melbourne Victory in a closed trial match at Coopers Stadium on Friday afternoon.
Besart Berisha was the only goal scorer in a heated affair, converting a penalty which struck the left post before bundling into the net.
The match was fiercely contested as any rivalry should be, and it culminated in the booking of Victory players Dylan Murnane and Jason Geria for harsh challenges.
The Reds were impressive for large parts of the match, controlling possession through Isaias and Jeggo who always looked for a way forward.
They linked up well with the Reds’ latest signing Craig Goodwin, whose advanced positioning as a wingback meant he was a constant threat with his precise crossing ability.
But the Victory proved to be a strong opposition, as they were able to sustain their defensive pressure and block many of the shots attempted by Djite and Jeggo.
Meanwhile Archie Thompson and Andrew Nabbout were a constant threat to the Reds’ defence, with the former creating bursting runs and the latter producing many shots on target.
Nigel Boogaard and Dylan McGowan were equal to their attacking threats, however, as they were solid in the center of defence throughout the match.
The match was much more open in the second half, with both teams moving the ball up the field quickly in search of a goal.
Young Reds Mark Ochieng and Nathan Konstandopoulos also had the chance to make an impact for the Reds in midfield, two players who have featured regularly for the Reds in the pre-season.
Former Melbourne Victory midfielder Jeggo stepped up in the middle of the park and controlled a great deal of the Reds’ forward play, even latching onto a few chances on goal himself.
But the Reds were ultimately unlucky not to find a breakthrough but not for a lack of effort, just falling short on multiple occasions in front of goal.
You will be able to see the Reds in the new seats at Coopers Stadium against Brisbane Roar in the Westfield FFA Cup Round of 16 on Tuesday 23 September.
Tickets for the Westfield FFA Cup Round of 16 match against Brisbane Roar are available through Ticketek:
•   Phone: 132 849
•   Online: click here to by online
•   Outlets: click here for a full list of Ticketek Outlets
Match Details
Friday, 12Â September 2014
Closed Pre-season Friendly
Adelaide United FC 0
Melbourne Victory 1 (Berisha 34′ (pen))
Venue: Coopers Stadium
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