Adelaide United stunned Sydney FC 1-0 at Allianz Stadium on Saturday night in wet conditions.
An outstanding performance from club Captain and goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic kept the Reds in the match from the whistle.
And he even turned provider for Mabil’s match winner, when his massive clearance found the feet of the substitute, who turned inside and put the Reds 1-0 with 15 minutes to play.
It was a real tussle for the ball all match, not helped by the rain which heaped onto the turf for its duration.
The Reds started the match brightest with an early chance and looked best when they attacked the Sky Blues directly.
Josep Gombau was forced to shuffle the team around with the absence of both Marcelo Carrusca and Pablo Sanchez, which meant that Sergio Cirio dropped into a central role while Malik and Goodwin controlled the left side.
The home side quickly adapted to the change in personnel and grew comfortable in attack, particularly through Bernie Ibini and Alex Brosque who threw everything at goal.
But Eugene Galekovic’s stunning form kept Sydney FC goalless, much to their frustration.
20-year-old Bruce Kamau made his first Hyundai A-League start for the Reds in place of the injured Pablo Sanchez and looked threatening running with the ball.
Just as the game looked destined for a deadlock, Galekovic’s massive clearance fell to the feet of Mabil who cut in to convert far post on his opposite foot.
It wasn’t an easy win for the Reds who left nothing on the pitch as they went one point clear at the top of the table.
Speaking about the match, Head Coach Josep Gombau was, as always, satisifed with the result.
“I feel very good. We got three points at a place that is very difficult and against a team that’s also involved in the top five that we are fighting with to be at the top,” Gombau said.
“Sydney had a lot of chances but football is to put the ball in the net and we did and they didn’t.
“I’m satisfied because we had some difficulties this week with injuries and Elrich suspended and we prepared a game knowing what we wanted to do and in the end we got the result.”
Adelaide United return home to host Brisbane Roar in Round 25 of the Hyundai 2014/15 A-League season on Saturday, 11 April at Coopers Stadium. Kick off at 4:30pm ACST. To purchase tickets, click here.
Match Details
Saturday, 4 April 2015
Hyundai A-League Season 2014/15 – Round 24
Sydney FC 0
Adelaide United 1 (Mabil 82’)
Venue: Allianz Stadium
Attendance: 11,585
Sydney FC: Janjetovic, Ryall, Faty, Jurman, Petkovic, Tavares (Grant 64’), Dimitrijevic, Ibini, Brosque, Naumoff (Stambolziev 67’), Janko (Blackwood 77’)
Adelaide United: Galekovic, Marrone, McGowan, Boogaard, Malik, Isaias, Jeggo, Cirio, Kamau (Mabil 60’) (Watson 85’), Djite, Goodwin (Palanca 67’)
Scorers: Mabil 82’
Red cards: none
Yellow cards: Jeggo 10’, Boogaard 38’, McGowan 50’, Isaias 74’, Marrone 78’, Malik 90’, Cirio 90+2’
