Adelaide United has become the first club to win the FFA Cup Final three times and go back-to-back in the process after dismantling Melbourne City 4-0 at Coopers Stadium on Wednesday night.
Al Hassan Toure sent the majority 14,920 crowd into a frenzy in the 25th minute with a brilliant near-post drive.
Adelaide doubled their advantage through Ben Halloran minutes after half-time, courtesy of a slick counter-attack, before Nikola Mileusnić made it three on the hour mark.
Riley McGree then sealed the rout, arrowing his strike into the bottom corner, sparking scenes of jubilation on 75 minutes.
Gertjan Verbeek made three alterations to the starting XI from Sunday’s encounter. Ben Halloran and Toure were inserted back into the line-up with Kristian Opseth and Vince Lia dropping to bench with Michaël Maria deployed in midfield. Meanwhile, Ryan Strain also returned after serving a one-match suspension.
Despite leading at half-time, Adelaide took a while to get going as they had to negate a lot of pressure with City dominating possession.
The visitors constantly looked to get in behind the Adelaide defence with long diagonal balls and at times successfully managed to.
Jamie Maclaren was extremely close to opening the scoring on seven minutes and had another shot which landed straight at Paul Izzo.
Though more often than not the likes of Michael Jakobsen and Michael Marrone executed timely interventions to end the threat.
But with honours still even Adelaide grew in confidence and began to enjoy a couple of foray forwards.
Toure broke the deadlock catching Dean Bouzanis out at his near post with a low drive.
After the re-start Adelaide turned defence into attack when Toure held up Ryan Strain’s long before before releasing McGree on the wing.
The 20-year-old then squared the ball back for Halloran who made no mistake.
Two-nil soon became 3-0 as Halloran turned provider with his low cross followed in by Mileusnić at the back stick.
The match was beyond a contest by the 75th minute as McGree connected with Mileusnić’s deflected cross to secure a famous victory.
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Key moments:
25’ | GOAL! Toure is played in by Strain and the striker catches the goalkeeper out with a near-post finish.
49’ | GOAL! Halloran doubles the lead after finishing off a blistering counter-attack.
60’ | GOAL! Mileusnić makes it 3-0 with a close-range finish after meeting Halloran’s low cross at the back post.
75’ | GOAL! McGree meets Mileusnić’s cross and his shot finds its way past the outstretched Bouzanis.
Match details:
Wednesday, 23 October 2019
FFA Cup Final 2019
Adelaide United 4 (Toure 25’, Halloran 49’, Mileusnić 60’, McGree 75’)
Melbourne City 0
Venue: Coopers Stadium
Attendance: 14,920
