Adelaide United has failed to capitalise on a dominant first-half performance on its way to a 2-1 loss to Perth Glory at HBF Park on Wednesday night.
Kusini Yengi’s fourth goal of the season was cancelled out in the second-half after two goals in eight minutes from Bruno Fornaroli and Chirs Ikonomidis.
It is the fourth time this campaign the Reds have let a 1-0 advantage slip as they missed the chance to join Sydney FC in equal second.
The result is a blow to United’s finals aspirations and will now look to bounce back against Melbourne Victory on Sunday.
Adelaide were out to make a statement against the only team in the competition to have claimed two wins over them this season.
And they did just that, absolutely controlling the opening ‘45 as the Reds were camped in the Glory’s half, applying relentless pressure. Richard Garcia’s men were offered little respite and had no answers.
United exploited the wide areas, delivering numerous crosses through combination play involving Craig Goodwin and Ryan Kitto on the left and Ben Halloran and Ryan Strain on the opposite flank.
Adelaide notched 13 corners in the first-half, but Perth for the most part defended them well.
Although, they could do little on the second phase of a corner when Louis D’Arrigo’s accurate ball was bundled in by Yengi for his first goal in six matches and a deserved lead on 28 minutes.
While it was largely one-way traffic, Perth threatened twice with Ciaran Bramwell seeing two chances go begging.
Garcia made a triple substitution at half-time, trying to find a solution and get back into the contest.
Adelaide again enjoyed time and space to begin the second stanza and mustered two promising incursions which ended in attempts from D’Arrigo and Kitto.
However, in what has plagued the Reds in recent times they were wasteful in front of goal and were dearly punished.
Fornaroli equalised with a header after getting in between two defenders from Ikonomidis’ cross on 78 minutes.
And the Uruguayan reciprocated the favour when he set up Ikonomidis for the winner with a well-taken strike four minutes from time to turn the match on its head and render Adelaide’s impressive first-half inconsequential.
Team news
Ryan Kitto made his 100th A-League appearance for the Club as Carl Veart made a couple of rotations to his starting line-up in what was Adelaide’s third game in six days.
George Timotheou returned in place of Michael Jakobsen, who is out due to load management after only recently returning from a lengthy hamstring injury. Juande was deployed at the base of the midfield over Joe Caletti. Captain Stefan Mauk was a late withdrawal during the warm-up as a precaution with Louis D’Arrigo his replacement. Michael Marrone also featured via the bench.
Key moments
28’ | GOAL! D’Arrigo’s cross is sent to the back post and Yengi gets the better of Darryl Lachman to steer his finish past Liam Reddy.
https://players.brightcove.net/5498268479001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6255015039001
49’ | CHANCE! Cavallo’s first-time pass plays in D’Arrigo but a slight hesitation allows the defender to block his shot.
https://players.brightcove.net/5498268479001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6255026004001
78’ | GOAL: Fornaroli positions himself expertly to head home from Ikonomidis’ cross.
86’ | GOAL: Fornaroli returns the favour assisting Ikonomidis who finishes off a decent attacking move.
Match details:
Wednesday, 19 May 2021
A-League 2020/21 – Matchweek 21
Perth Glory 2 (Fornaroli 78’, Ikonomidis 86’)
Adelaide United 1 (Yengi 28’)
Venue: HBF Park
Crowd: 3,523
