Mohamed Toure made history as two goals in two minutes gave Adelaide United a 2-0 win over Central Coast Mariners at Coopers Stadium on Friday night.
A stunner from George Blackwood finally broke the deadlock on 82 minutes and moments later Toure became the youngest player in the history of the Hyundai A-League to score a goal at 15 years and 326 days.
Riley McGree was instrumental in both goals, grabbing two assists in another impressive display.
Gertjan Verbeek made one change to the starting XI which lost to Brisbane Roar last weekend. George Blackwood returned to the midfield, shifting Stefan Mauk to right-back with Ryan Strain ruled out due to a hamstring injury.
Adelaide came out of the blocks firing and nearly opened the scoring two minutes into proceedings.
Kristian Opseth dispossessed his defender and found Louis D’Arrigo but his shot deflected over the crossbar.
It was the only chance the Reds could muster though in the early stages.
Central Coast began to control possession and Chris Harold fired a warning shot when the ball dropped to him on the edge of the box and his powerful volley skimmed the crossbar.
After a couple of relatively harmless attempts, Ben Halloran looked to continue his blistering form with United’s best opportunity of the first-half on 34 minutes.
The winger received a pass from George Blackwood and clipped his shot to the back post, leaving a scrambling Mark Birighitti to make a flailing save.
But it was a rather uneventful opening 45 with both teams struggling to really dominate.
Mauk, in his first home start since returning to the Club, had to be withdrawn at the break for Mirko Boland as a result of a sore quad and Verbeek was forced to alter the formation to a 3-4-3.
It took a while for the hosts to settle after struggling to adapt and get back into the rhythm of the game.
The injection of Toure on 77 minutes shifted the momentum in Adelaide’s favour.
A moment of magic saw Blackwood dispatch a spectacular shot curl into the top corner from 25 yards out.
And two minutes later, the lead was doubled when Toure met McGree’s incisive cross after a scintillating individual run.
Key moments:
7’ | CHANCE: Harold catches the top of the crossbar with a stunning volley.
34’ | CHANCE! Halloran produces a fingertip save out of Birighitti with an audacious effort.
82’ | GOAL! Blackwood unleashes a curling effort which flies into the top corner from outside the box.
https://players.brightcove.net/5498268479001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6132548667001
84’ | GOAL! Toure finishes off McGree’s low drive with a clinical close-range finish.
https://players.brightcove.net/5498268479001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6132552341001
Match details:
Friday, 14 February 2020
Hyundai A-League 2019/20 Season – Round 19
Adelaide United 2 (Blackwood 82’ M. Toure 84’)
Central Coast Mariners 0
Venue: Coopers Stadium
Attendance: 7,116
