Adelaide United overcame an early deficit to record an impressive 2-1 win over Perth Glory at Coopers Stadium on Saturday night.
An own goal from Dino Djulbic and an expertly finished strike from Nikola Mileusnic cancelled out Andy Keogh’s fourth minute header, giving the Reds a third home win of the campaign.
Marco Kurz made just the one alteration to his starting XI from the win over Wellington Phoenix last round. Captain, Isaías, returned to the midfield from suspension at the expense of Nathan Konstandopoulos, who moved to the bench.
Adelaide made a slow start to proceedings, indicative of falling behind early when a lapse in concentration saw Keogh net a simple header.
The hosts got back into the match rather fortuitously through Djulbic’s own goal but following the equaliser it was Kurz’s men who dominated the first period.
And they duly went ahead through a sensationally well-taken goal from Mileusnic seven minutes prior to the break.
Adelaide’s intensity went to another gear after the re-start as they controlled possession and were unrelenting going forward – peppering the Glory goal.
Ben Garuccio came close to extending the advantage for the Reds when his free-kick landed just off-target.
Despite Adelaide’s supremacy for the majority of the clash, they did have to negotiate a spell of Perth pressure in the dying stages.
However, they defended resolutely to secure all three points and leapfrog Melbourne Victory into fourth spot on the league table.
Key moments:
4’ | GOAL: An unmarked Keogh nonchalantly heads home Scott Neville’s pin-point cross to give the visitors’ the lead.
11’ | GOAL! Ryan Strain’s inviting cross is inadvertently headed into his own net by Djulbic to restore parity.
https://players.brightcove.net/5498268479001/default_default/index.html?videoId=5724928733001
21’ | Mileusnic expertly beats Marc Warren with ease and his cross finds Ryan Kitto, but can’t generate clean contact as he forces gloveman Liam Reddy into a reasonably comfortable save.
28’ | Garuccio swings in a deep cross to the back post which is volleyed into the ground by George Blackwood and Reddy tips over the bar.
38’ | GOAL! Isaías’ perfectly chipped through ball plays in Mileusnic, who beats the offside trap and emphatically buries his one-on-one effort into the bottom left corner.
https://players.brightcove.net/5498268479001/default_default/index.html?videoId=5724928738001
52’ | Garuccio’s free-kick curls agonisingly wide of bending into the far post.
56’ | Penalty claims are waved away by the referee despite Marc Warren appearing to clip the heel of Strain inside the area.
78’ | Jordan O’Doherty surges forward, riding a few challenges, and feeds Kitto who unleashes a stinging drive which is parried out for a corner.
Match details:
Saturday, 3 February 2018
Hyundai A-League 2017/18 Season – Round 19
Adelaide United 2 (Djulbic OG 11’ Mileusnic 38’)
Perth Glory 1 (Keogh 4’)
Venue: Coopers Stadium
Attendance: 7,976
