Adelaide United has fallen 4-0 to Macarthur FC at Campbelltown Stadium on Friday night.
It was scoreless for the best part of 65 minutes, but a second-half hat-trick from Matt Derbyshire and Mark Milligan’s finish consigned the Reds to a third straight defeat.
Adelaide had to survive a barrage of Macarthur pressure in the opening 20 minutes of their inaugural meeting as the hosts dominated possession and looked to get balls into wide areas.
Derbyshire thought he had the ball in the net but his free header was remarkably denied by the outstretched leg of Jordan Elsey in the fifth minute.
They gradually got into the game and enjoyed some decent attacking passages without threatening Adam Federici.
Nathan Konstandopoulos provided intensity and impetus from midfield and Yaya Dukuly looked impressive on the left.
In the 37th minute, Derbyshire was again thwarted by a last-ditch goal-line clearance from Noah Smith.
Adelaide struggled to retain the ball to begin the second stanza and could not execute enough passes together in advanced areas to trouble Macarthur.
After being denied by three goal-line clearances, Derbyshire would finally get his goal in the 66th minute.
The floodgates subsequently opened as the Reds conceded another three goals in the final 20 minutes.
Adelaide will head back to the drawing board ahead of a home clash against Central Coast Mariners this Friday.
Team news
Two changes were made by Carl Veart from last weekend’s loss to Perth Glory. George Timotheou made his starting debut at centre-back, while Konstandopoulos was preferred over Joe Caletti in midfield for his second start of the campaign. Young Reds defender Fergus Lynch was named on the bench.
Key moments
5’ | CLEARANCE! Elsey makes an instinctive decision to stick out a leg and ricochet Derbyshire’s header over the bar.
https://players.brightcove.net/5498268479001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6231537485001
37’ | CLEARANCE! Hollman slips through Derbyshire and he rounds Delianov only to see his open goal finish incredibly cleared off the line by Smith.
https://players.brightcove.net/5498268479001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6231541710001
45’ | CHANCE: Delianov makes a diving save to his right, palming Loic Puyo’s curling attempt to safety.
54’ | CLEARANCE! Benat Etxebarria’s shot is saved and ricochets off Derbyshire and is headed off the line by Smith.
https://players.brightcove.net/5498268479001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6231550646001
66’ | GOAL: Derbyshire nods in Genreau’s flick on at the back post from Benat’s corner
73’ | GOAL: Derbyshire gets on the end of Oar’s low cross with a sliding tap-in at the back post.
83’ | GOAL: Milligan cuts through the heart of Adelaide and guides his low finish beyond Delianov.
90’ | GOAL: Oar swings in a cross and it is headed in by an unmarked Derbyshire.
Match details:
Game date: Friday, 12 February
A-League 2020/21 – Matchweek 08
Macarthur FC 4 (Derbyshire 66’, 73’, 90’, Milligan 83’)
Adelaide United 0
Venue: Campbelltown Stadium
