Adelaide United have suffered their first loss in three league matches after falling 1-0 to Sydney FC at Coopers Stadium on Friday night.
Adelaide controlled large portions of the clash, but could not take advantage of their ascendancy as Bobo’s first-half goal separated the two teams.
There was one enforced change made to the starting line-up by Head Coach, Marco Kurz. Mark Ochieng received his first league start on the left wing, replacing the suspended Ben Garuccio and moving Ryan Kitto to left-back.
Adelaide started the brighter of the two sides and dominated the entire 45 minutes but were unable to capitalise on their dominance.
However, Sydney did have one glaring opportunity when Paul Izzo had to rush off his line and smother Bobo’s effort after an errant pass from Isaías.
Nikola Mileusnic had the best chance to put the Reds ahead when he headed over Kitto’s sensational delivery.
And on the stroke of half-time, the visitors would make Adelaide pay by breaking the deadlock against the run of play, courtesy of a well-crafted goal finished off by Brazilian Bobo.
The second-half, Kurz’s men piled on relentless spells of pressure, though Sydney’s resistance could not be broken.
Key moments:
4’ | Ryan Strain cuts inside and his deflected strike almost finds the back of the net.
25’ | David Carney plays through Bobo after a mistake by Isaías, however Izzo is aware and stands tall to deny the striker.
36’ | Kitto’s in-swinging cross finds Mileusnic, who gets in between the two Sky Blue centre-backs, but cannot keep his header down.
45’ | GOAL: An outstretched Luke Wilkshire manages to cut-back Josh Brillante’s diagonal switch which enables Bobo to finish from inside six yards.
53’ | Alex Brosque lays the ball off for Carney, whose shot takes a deflection and fortunately lands wide of the target.
55’ | Ersan Gülüm rises highest, glancing his header just wide of the upright from Kitto’s in-swinging free-kick.
90’+3’ | Charles Lokoli Ngoy bursts forward as Adelaide pushed for a late equaliser, but Izzo parries his tame shot away.
Match details:
Friday, 1 December 2017
Hyundai A-League Round 9
Adelaide United 0
Sydney FC 1 (Bobo 45’)
Venue: Coopers Stadium
Attendance: 7,021
