A 93rd minute Ryan Kitto volley has handed Adelaide United a dramatic 2-1 come-from-behind away win over Central Coast Mariners, snapping a three-match losing streak on Thursday night.
Wout Brama opened the scoring albeit against the run of play after converting a 40th minute penalty, before Daniel Adlung restored parity after the break in stunning fashion with a thumping volley.
Kitto then deservedly claimed the three points in the Round 7 clash, volleying in Mark Ochieng’s overhead pass in stoppage time and provisionally lifting Adelaide into fifth place on the table.
There were three huge inclusions returning to the starting XI from the loss to Newcastle Jets last weekend. Marco Kurz inserted Ersan Gülüm back into the line-up to partner Jordan Elsey at the expense of Ben Warland after recovering from injury, while Karim Matmour replaced Nathan Konstandopoulos in midfield. Striker Baba Diawara received his first league start of the season with George Blackwood making way.
And it's 3 points! A wonder goal from Daniel Adlung and a beautiful finish from Ryan Kitto for the W! #CCMvADL #AUFC #ForeverUnited pic.twitter.com/s4doIzjKon
— Adelaide United (@AdelaideUnited) November 16, 2017
Adelaide enjoyed the better of the chances to start proceedings but were wasteful in front of goal – highlighted by Mileusnic hitting the crossbar from close range.
And moments later they were made to pay with Brama nonchalantly slotting a penalty following a foul on Connor Pain.
But Adlung responded emphatically in the second-half for the visitors with a phenomenal screamer to net the equaliser.
Adelaide continued to pile on the pressure in search of a winner and despite being initially profligate Kitto bagged the decisive tie-breaker.
Key moments:
13’ | Mileusnic flicks the ball to Diawara who reacts quickest and fires a low drive which whistles inches wide of the post.
20’ | Karim Matmour’s audacious volley forces Ben Kennedy into a smart save after Mileusnic’s resourceful shouldered lay-off.
26’ | Jake McGing delivers an inviting low cross though it evades everyone in the area.
33’ | Mileusnic is again the orchestrator, this time crossing the ball to the back post but it is just beyond the reach of Ryan Kitto.
37’ | Isaías wins the ball in midfield before marauding forward and lays off a pass to Mileusnic and his side footed shot smacks the crossbar.
40’ | GOAL: Diawara is adjudged to have shoved Pain inside the box and Brama calmly steps up to dispatch his spot-kick and make Adelaide rue their miss moments earlier.
59’ | GOAL! Adlung restores parity with an absolute rocket on the half-volley from outside the 18-yard-box after Isaías’ cross was headed clear and fell to the German.
ADLUUUUUUUUUUUUUNG! #AUFC #ForeverUnited #CCMvADL
🎥 @FOXFOOTBALL pic.twitter.com/pftViSfTPQ
— Adelaide United (@AdelaideUnited) November 16, 2017
70’ | Substitute George Blackwood forces Kennedy into another save with a decent header.
84’ | Adlung displays his dynamism and threads a pass to Kitto whose shot is brilliantly parried by the Mariners gloveman.
90’+3’ | With time fast running out Ochieng picks out Kitto with an improvised lob and the 23-year-old finds the bottom right corner with a lovely volley.
Three points… and that's the way it's gonna be, little darling! 😜 #CCMvADL #AUFC #ForeverUnited
🎥 @FOXFOOTBALL pic.twitter.com/F5hFCIgbET
— Adelaide United (@AdelaideUnited) November 16, 2017
Match details:
Thursday, 16 November 2017
Hyundai A-League Round 7
Central Coast Mariners 1 (Brama 40’)
Adelaide United 2 (Adlung 59’ Kitto 90’+3’)
Venue: Central Coast Stadium
