Adelaide United have consolidated their place in the top six with a solid 3-1 win over Wellington Phoenix at Coopers Stadium on Friday night
Johan Absalonsen’s clinical header approaching half-time put Adelaide at ease before two goals in two minutes in the second-half from Ben Garuccio and Nathan Konstandopoulos secured a relatively comfortable victory.
There were three changes made to the starting XI by Head Coach, Marco Kurz. George Blackwood and Ryan Kitto replaced Džengis Čavušević and Nikola Mileusnic respectively, while Ersan Gülüm came in for Taylor Regan.
Adelaide were under pressure early when the ‘Nix had a golden chance to open the scoring after Roy Krishna’s shot deflected off Daniel Adlung and onto the post.
However, they responded well and began to control proceedings through Isaías and Adlung maintaining possession in the midfield.
The Phoenix remained dangerous on the break, highlighted by Nathan Burns’ pace and ability to thread neat passes into the likes of Andrija Kaluderovic.
After the break, however it was Adelaide who grabbed the ascendency.
Ben Garuccio bagged his maiden Reds goal in thunderous fashion, dispatching his angled shot into the roof of the net.
Two-nil immediately became 3-0 when Konstandopoulos snuck the ball in two minutes later after beating his marker.
Adelaide refused to take their foot off the pedal as they maintained their high-pressing aggressive style – suffocating the Phoenix.
Logan Rogerson pulled a goal back from the penalty spot in the 85th minute, but the Reds marched convincingly to their second consecutive win.
Key moments:
4’ | Wellington have a great chance when Nathan Burns gets into the box before the ball deflects into the path of Krishna whose shot ricochets off Daniel Adlung and onto the post.
5’ | Michael Marrone misses a glorious chance with his head from Absalonsen’s corner.
8’ | Adlung fires a ferocious drive from a long way out which forces Oliver Sail into a one-handed save.
28’ | Burns slips through Kaluderovic, who cuts inside but is held up well by Ben Garuccio, before the striker’s shot is comfortably dealt with by Paul Izzo.
42’ | GOAL! Absalonsen expertly meets Marrone’s cross to guide his header past gloveman Oliver Sail.
https://players.brightcove.net/5498268479001/default_default/index.html?videoId=5760941288001
61’ | GOAL! Garuccio is played through by Adlung and he dodges his man to fire a stunning strike into the top right corner on an acute angle.
https://players.brightcove.net/5498268479001/default_default/index.html?videoId=5760959579001
63’ | GOAL! Garuccio’s low cross falls to George Blackwood and his shot lands into the path of Konstandopoulos, who drags the ball onto his left to creep his effort in.
https://players.brightcove.net/5498268479001/default_default/index.html?videoId=5760965309001
85’ | GOAL: Rogerson scores his penalty unconvincingly down the middle as Izzo almost saved it.
Match details:
Friday, 30 March 2018
Hyundai A-League 2017/18 Season – Round 25
Adelaide United 3 (Absalonsen 42’ Garuccio 61’ N. Konstandopoulos 63’)
Wellington Phoenix 1 (Rogerson 85’ )
Venue: Coopers Stadium
Attendance: 11,738
