Adelaide United has lost 3-2 to Western Sydney Wanderers at Coopers Stadium in tough conditions on Friday night.
Al Hassan Toure cancelled out Nicolai Muller’s opener, before he struck again in the second-half.
Mohamed Adam then extended the visitors buffer to 3-1 before George Blackwood slotted a late penalty to reduce the deficit.
The Reds were awarded another spot-kick deep in injury time for a controversial handball, but unfortunately the 22-year-old saw his penalty fly over the bar.
Gertjan Verbeek made three changes to his starting line-up. Paul Izzo returned from a minor niggle, Jordan Elsey received his first league start since Round 1 with Michael Marrone dropping to the bench, while George Blackwood was preferred over Nathan Konstandopoulos.
Al Hassan Toure squandered a golden opportunity when he mistimed Nikola Mileusnić’s cut-back from near the penalty spot.
But the Wanderers drew first blood, completely against the run of play on 11 minutes following an errant pass from Elsey. The ball was shifted to the right wing and Mohamed Adam’s deflected cross off Michael Jakobsen flew into the path of Muller, flicking his header past Izzo.
The visitors’ lead did not last long though, with Toure tapping home for his second league goal of the season after it was upheld by the VAR.
It was an incisive attacking move too with Ben Halloran playing in Mileusnić, who drilled a low cross into the area for the 19-year-old to finish in the 19th minute.
Blackwood then had an attempt saved off the line by goalkeeper Daniel Lopar from James Troisi’s corner, and as Western Sydney transitioned quickly a scuffle broke out near the centre of the field.
Halloran appeared to nudge Wanderers skipper Mitchell Duke, who retaliated by lashing out at the Adelaide winger.
The VAR was asked to review the incident with no further action taken to the surprise of many fans.
Adelaide continued to attack and were dangerous whenever Mileusnić was in possession, causing all sorts of problems for the WSW defence.
United missed an opportunity to make it 2-1 to start the second-half. Toure latched on to Troisi’s brilliant ball over the Wanderers’ defence, but the chance went begging when his cutback was just behind Halloran with only the ‘keeper to beat.
The Reds found themselves behind for the second time when former United defender, Tarek Elrich, picked out Muller with a searching cross on 59 minutes.
The German met the delivery, expertly looping his header beyond a scrambling Izzo.
Eighteen minutes later, Markus Babbel’s side extended their advantage when Adam profited from a fortuitous rebound after his initial shot was saved.
The VAR became the centre of attention in the final minutes with Toure blatantly fouled in the box before it was correctly overturned.
Blackwood stepped up and confidently dispatched his effort in the 94th minute.
The match descended into chaos moments later when another penalty was awarded for a handball on Daniel Georgievski with the assistance of VAR after what felt like an eternity.
The decision left the defender incensed who proceeded to walk off the pitch.
Blackwood stepped up again but skied his penalty over the bar, with the Reds unable to snatch a point.
Key moments:
11’ | GOAL: Muller flicks on Adam’s cross with his head to open the scoring.
19’ | GOAL! Toure finishes off a slick passage of play involving Halloran and Mileusnić to score from close range.
https://players.brightcove.net/5498268479001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6118396751001
59’ | GOAL: Muller nets his brace when he connects with Elrich’s deep cross and seeing his impressive header loop into the far corner.
77’ | GOAL: The ball falls kindly to Adam after his initial shot is well-saved by Izzo and slots the rebound.
90+4’ | GOAL! Blackwood converts the penalty after the VAR intervened following a foul on Toure.
https://players.brightcove.net/5498268479001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6118407883001
Match details:
Friday, 27 December 2019
Hyundai A-League 2019/20 Season – Round 12
Adelaide United 2 (Toure 19’ Blackwood 90+4′)
Western Sydney Wanderers 3 (Muller 11’ 59’ Adam 77’)
Venue: Coopers Stadium
Attendance: 8,846
