In a contest that had absolutely everything 10-man Adelaide United produced a thrilling comeback to record a resilient 4-3 win over nine-man Brisbane Roar at Coopers Stadium on Saturday night.
The Reds found themselves 3-0 down at one point but fought back thanks to goals from Isaías, Craig Goodwin, George Blackwood and a last-minute header by Nikola Mileusnić.
It sealed one of the most memorable victories in Australian football history and a night which will live long in the memories of Reds fans.
Marco Kurz made three changes to the starting line-up as well as switching to a traditional 4-4-2 formation. Ken Ilsø and George Blackwood were entrusted to lead the line in attack, while Ryan Kitto replaced Nikola Mileusnić on the wing for his fourth league start of the campaign.
Adelaide found themselves immediately on the back foot inside nine minutes after Ilsø was controversially sent off.
The Dane was reaching for a shot and inadvertently caught Matt McKay late. The Roar midfielder seemed to make the most out of it before the referee, to the crowd’s surprise, brandished a red card.
Minutes later Adelaide squandered a free header to take the lead when an unmarked Jordan Elsey met Isaías’ set-piece.
But Brisbane scored when Henrique was played through by Adam Taggart despite questions of offside.
WHOAAAAA WHAT? BLAAAAAA AAHHHH WHA SCENES AAAAAAHHHH THAT GAME HAD EVERYTHING! #AUFC #ADLvBRI pic.twitter.com/0WTNexY5M8
— Adelaide United (@AdelaideUnited) February 2, 2019
The visitors then added a second when Dylan Wenzel-Halls profited from a ricochet off Ryan Strain.
Adelaide then fell further behind as Taggart beat Paul Izzo from range.
However, the Reds were given a lifeline from none other than Captain, Isaías. The Spaniard dispatched an emphatic free-kick up and over the wall.
At half-time, Kurz turned to his bench summoning Nikola Mileusnić and German Mirko Boland in order to get a reaction.
And it nearly paid off, as Boland threaded a delightful pass for Goodwin to run on to, before the winger dragged his angled effort across the face of goal.
A lack of discipline then cost Brisbane dearly as Dane Ingham was sent off for a second bookable offence after kicking the ball away.
Goalkeeper, Jamie Young, was then red carded – reducing the visitors to nine players – for crashing into Goodwin and from the resulting action he scored.
The 27-year-old’s initial free-kick was blocked before he controlled the ball and finished his shot beyond Brendan White on 67 minutes.
Goodwin then assisted the equaliser as George Blackwood, like Isaías, scored for the second consecutive week with a towering header.
Adelaide continued to push for all three points with the extra man and it was substitute Carlo Armiento’s beautifully whipped cross for Mileusnić which sealed the victory and causing scenes of jubilation.
The speedster headed his effort back across the ‘keeper as United became the first side in Australian national league games since 1977 to triumph from three goals down in 90 minutes.
Key moments:
9’ | RED CARD: Ilsø’s dismissal raises a few eyebrows after inadvertently catching McKay on the follow through of his shot.
19’ | GOAL: Henrique is slipped through by Taggart, breaking the offside trap and rounding Izzo.
38’ | GOAL: Wenzel-Halls capitalises on a fortuitous ricochet off Strain to score his first Hyundai A-League goal.
43’ | GOAL: Taggart makes it 3-0 when his drive from distance beats Izzo despite managing to get a glove to it.
45’+2’ | GOAL! Isaías expertly picks out the top left corner with a sensational free-kick up and over the wall from the edge of the box.
https://players.brightcove.net/5498268479001/default_default/index.html?videoId=5997718143001
59’ | Second Yellow: Ingham receives his marching orders for kicking the ball away.
64’ | RED CARD! Young clatters into Goodwin collecting him all ends up and the referee has no hesitation in sending him off.
67’ | GOAL! Goodwin reacts quickest to his blocked free-kick and steers a right-footed shot past White.
https://players.brightcove.net/5498268479001/default_default/index.html?videoId=5997730161001
75’ | GOAL! Goodwin turns provider with a cross from the right which Blackwood rising highest to head past White.
https://players.brightcove.net/5498268479001/default_default/index.html?videoId=5997729380001
90’+7’ | GOAL! Mileusnić nets a dramatic winner with virtually the last play of the game after connecting with Armiento’s cross.
https://players.brightcove.net/5498268479001/default_default/index.html?videoId=5997734404001
Match details:
Saturday, 2 February 2019
Hyundai A-League 2018/19 – Round 17
Adelaide United 4 (Isaías 45’+2’ Goodwin 67’ Blackwood 75’ Mileusnić 90’+7’)
Brisbane Roar 3 (Henrique 19’ Wenzel-Halls 38’ Taggart 43’)
Venue: Coopers Stadium
Crowd: 7,071
