Adelaide United has recorded a 5-0 friendly victory over local National Premier League side Raiders at Taperoo Reserve on Tuesday night.
A late flurry in the second-half flattered the scoreline with Michael Jakobsen, Michael Marrone, Pacifique Niyongabire, Riley McGree, and Nikola Mileusnić all finding the net.
Gertjan Verbeek fielded a strong starting eleven which stayed on the park for the majority of the contest as player work loads continue increasing ahead of their FFA Cup 2019 Round of 32 match next Wednesday.
Michaël Maria was handed his unofficial debut and was a lively presence on the wing, while Riley McGree continued to cause problems with his shooting and dribbling ability in and around the 18-yard box.
Nathan Konstandopoulos was also impressive, pulling the strings in midfield and involved in three of the goals.
Adelaide were on the front foot early and nearly broke the deadlock inside two minutes. Ryan Kitto released Maria and his cross picked out McGree, whose impressive volley was tipped onto the crossbar.
But in the 19th minute the opening goal arrived as Michael Jakobsen headed in Konstandopoulos’ brilliant corner.
Jordan Elsey was the only half-time substitute for the Reds as he replaced Ryan Strain and pushing Marrone across to right-back.
Thanks to @ptpiratessc for hosting us again and thank you to @CroatiaRaiders for the game. #AUFC pic.twitter.com/jiNvBnOZgY
— Adelaide United (@AdelaideUnited) July 30, 2019
Ben Halloran also struck the crossbar with a curling effort from Konstandopoulos’ lay-off, before United doubled their advantage.
Marrone’s cross ricocheted off the Raiders defender and looped over the goalkeeper’s head and into the net.
It soon became 3-0 on 78 minutes when substitute Niyongabire finished off an impressive move. Konstandopoulos, again the architect, sprayed a ball out to the winger, who executed a stepover to create space and unleash his angled finish beyond the shot-stopper.
A minute later and it was 4-0 after substitute Mileusnić returned a pass for McGree to slam his emphatic finish home.
Mileusnić would then get himself on the scoresheet with a tidy finish four minutes from time; meeting Carlo Armiento’s lowly driven cross into the area from the left wing.
It was a solid hit-out for the squad who face Melbourne Knights in the cup in their first competitive game of the 2019/20 season.
Match details:
Tuesday, 30 July 2019
Pre-season Friendly
Adelaide United 5 (Jakobsen 19’, Marrone 71’, Niyongabire 78’, McGree 79’, Mileusnić 86’)
Raiders 0
Venue: Taperoo Reserve
