Adelaide United’s AUFC Legends took on the Australian Defence Force Open Men’s Football Team at Coopers Stadium prior to the Reds’ Hyundai A-League match against Perth Glory.
The testing conditions in the heat on Remembrance Day did little to wipe the smiles off so many of our past players who took to the field for a great cause.
Coached by Aurelio Vidmar, the Legends boasted a number of high-quality names including Travis Dodd, Cássio, Lucas Pantelis, Marcelo Carrusca, and Fabian Barbiero.
However, they fell behind through a classy finish from the ADF’s number nine.
Cássio levelled proceedings with a tidy finish across the ‘keeper before the ADF scored two goals of their own to take a 3-1 lead.
But as the Legends seemed out of puff, they still had a fair bit left in the tank, and really wound back the years with a four-goal onslaught.
Cristiano climbed over his opponent to score a thumping header from a cross from the left before Pantelis struck from close range.
Carl Veart unleashed a sensational hit from outside of the box to give the Reds a 4-3 lead.
Pantelis made sure of the result in the final stages of the game with a near-post header off Adam van Dommele’s cross.
No doubt most will be feeling worse for wear tomorrow if they were not already during the match but it was a fun game played in great spirit.