Adelaide United have run-out 9-0 winners over Para Hills Knights on Tuesday evening at Marden Sports Complex.
A first-half hat-trick to George Blackwood and goals by Hiroshi Ibusuki, Ben Halloran, Bernardo, and a Musa Toure brace secured the friendly win over the Reds’ NPL SA State League 1 opposition.
Speaking after the match, Head Coach, Carl Veart, said: “It’s always good to have pre-season games because it’s an opportunity for the boys to work on their chemistry and the movements we’re looking to put in place against a competitive opposition.
“We’re wanting to make a few changes to the way we play compared to the last couple of years, so it’s going to take a few games for the players to completely implement.
“What was promising was that we saw glimpses of that tonight with the goals that we scored, which is very positive as we get closer to the season.
“Full credit to Para Hills for coming to play against us tonight too because it was tough for them after the long and hard season that they’ve had this year.
“Despite the scoreline, they made it difficult for us at times, which is what we needed.”
Goals:
3′ Blackwood — Reds’ number 14 is fed through on goal and finishes into the far post.
14′ Ibusuki — strong wing-play by Bernardo and Kitto creates space in the box, the latter putting a clinical ball across the face of goal. The Japanese striker, with all the coolness in the world, takes a touch and places it into the bottom right corner.
30′ Halloran — Isaìas sprays a pin-point ball out wide to Halloran, who feeds Ibusuki. Neat interplay between Blackwood and Ibusuki enables Blackwood to cut it back for Halloran who finishes neatly.
34′ Blackwood — Bernardo pounces on ball and squares it to a free Blackwood, who taps into open net.
42′ Blackwood — Kitto breaks free on the left and crosses near the bar-line to Blackwood, who finishes bottom left.
52′ Ibusuki — persistent work by Bernardo on the left as the winger loops the ball over the ‘keeper and back to Ibusuki, whose deflected strike goes in.
65′ Bernardo — Bernardo’s the quickest to react to an advantage played by the referee after Ibusuki is fouled on the edge of the box. The tricky wide-man’s deft dummy fools the ‘keeper, rounding him with ease before finishing with a simple tap in.
75′ Toure — Toure steals possession, beating a couple of players before slotting it past the ‘keeper.
83′ Toure — Toure wins a penalty and converts with relative ease.
Match details:
Pre-Season Friendly — Tuesday, 13 September 2022
Adelaide United 9 (Blackwood 3′ 34′ 42′, Ibusuki 14′ 52′, Halloran 30′, Bernardo 65′, Toure 75′ 83′ (P))
Para Hills Knights 0
Marden Sports Complex
