Adelaide United have defeated Sydney FC 2-1 in the opening game of the Isuzu UTE A-League 2025-26 season, giving new head coach Airton Andrioli his first league win in charge of the Reds.
Sydney FC had goalkeeper Harrison Devenish-Meares to thank for keeping the scores level at half-time, with the shot-stopper making two top-class saves to thwart the Reds in the opening stages.
However, Adelaide’s dominance was rewarded early in the second half as a pinpoint Craig Goodwin corner was headed home by the diving Ryan Kitto in the 54th minute before Ethan Alagich then doubled their lead 10 minutes later, beating Devenish-Meares at his near post with a powerful strike.
Sydney captain Rhyan Grant rattled the post before talisman Joe Lolley halved the deficit in the 91st minute but the home side held on for a deserved victory in front of more than 12,000 fans at Coopers Stadium.
What they said
Hear from coaches and players from both sides in the aftermath of Victory’s 2-1 win over Sydney FC.
Ethan Alagich: “It’s good to have a coach that believes in you.”
Midfield dynamo Ethan Alagich played every single minute for Adelaide United last season and the 21-year-old is off to a flying start this campaign, scoring the winning goal in the 2-1 win over Sydney.
A key cog in the heart of the Reds midfield, Alagich revealed post-game that he’s thriving under new head coach Airton Andrioli, given he’s been playing under the Brazilian since he was 12.
