Adelaide United has suffered their first competitive loss of the season, falling 2-0 to Melbourne City at Coopers Stadium on Saturday night.
An early brace from Ross McCormack downed the Reds, who despite dominating possession for extended periods, were unable to get back into the clash.
Head Coach, Marco Kurz, made just the one alteration to the starting XI which defeated the Western Sydney Wanderers in the Westfield FFA Cup Semi-final on Tuesday. Karim Matmour was brought in and replaced the injured Johan Absalonsen. However, there were new faces on the bench with Mark Ochieng returning and Apostolos Stamatelopoulos receiving his maiden senior call up.
The undermanned hosts, missing five experienced players, conceded a penalty in the 11th minute allowing McCormack to calmly slot home.
The Scotsman then bagged his second five minutes later with a brilliant curling free-kick.
Kurz’s men applied relentless pressure to salvage something from the game, but their endeavours ultimately proved fruitless.
Key Moments:
11’ | GOAL: McCormack opens the scoring via the penalty spot after Paul Izzo clattered into Stefan Mauk from Osama Malik’s chipped ball.
16’ | GOAL: McCormack gets his second after dispatching a top-class free-kick into the top left corner, leaving Izzo with no chance.
25’ | Ben Warland, on his weaker right foot, forces Eugene Galekovic into a spectacular save with a thumping drive on the edge of the 18-yard box.
25' | @BenWarland1 forces Galekovic into a spectacular save. What a strike from the centre-back on his weaker foot. #ADLvMCY
— Adelaide United (@AdelaideUnited) October 28, 2017
25’ | Jordan Elsey meets Isaías’s corner but his header is wide of the target.
45’+2’ | Warland almost pulls a goal back as his glancing header falls inches wide of the upright from a brilliant Isaías free-kick.
52’ | The ball spills out to Nikola Mileusnic on the 18-yard box and strikes a stinging low drive which goes agonisingly wide of the post.
55’ | Michael Marrone swings in a lovely cross for Blackwood, who heads just over the crossbar.
61’ | SEND OFF! The visitors are reduced to 10 men afetr Osama Malik receives a second booking for a late tackle on Isaías.
63' | SO CLOSE! @nmileu shoots agonisingly wide of the top corner after a brilliant square ball from @Bengaruccio. 0-2. #ADLvMCY
— Adelaide United (@AdelaideUnited) October 28, 2017
63’ | Mileusnic fires his close range shot inches off the top right corner after an inviting square ball from Ben Garuccio.
74’ | Against the run of play, Iacopa La Rocca sees his header from Luke Brattan’s corner smash the woodwork.
82’ | Stefan Mauk is slipped through on goal but he misses his one-on-one finish.
Match Details:
Saturday, 28 October 2017
Hyundai A-League Round 4
Adelaide United 0
Melbourne City 2 (McCormack 11’ 16’ )
Venue: Coopers Stadium
Attendance: 11,689
