Adelaide United’s Youth Team has lifted itself off the foot of the National Youth League table after downing the Central Coast Mariners Youth 3-2 in a five goal thriller at Hindmarsh Stadium.
A goal in each half from midfielder Brett Rayner before an 89th minute winner from striker Evan Kostopoulos ensured all three points stayed in Adelaide as the young Reds went a way to avenging their 5-1 loss to the Mariners back in early December.
United-s Youth were made to stave off a gallant Mariners outfit that came from behind twice and played the final 25 minutes with ten men after Sam Gallagher was sent off for a second bookable offence.
Despite the intent of both sides, it took until the 26th minute for the first serious chance of the game, Max Glanville missing a guilt edged opportunity to give the visitors the lead as he cannoned his shot straight into the post from two metres after a fine assist from James Oates.
Within a minute the young Reds made Glanville pay for his howling miss as Rayner timed his run into the penalty area to perfection and slotted the ball through the legs of Mariners keeper David Bradasevic.
The Mariners- response was swift as an unmarked Oates made no mistake tapping the ball in at the far post in the 31st minute as United-s Youth failed to deal with a free kick from the left hand side.
Bradasevic kept the young Reds from taking the lead into the break when he made a smart save to keep out Kostopoulos, the chance the last of fiercely competitive opening half.
Six minutes after the restart United-s Youth nearly found themselves behind when a Mitchell Duke strike took a wicked deflection wrong footing Reds keeper Luke Ostbye, but it flew just to the wrong side of the post.
Ostbye was then called into action as he saved another Duke effort, before the Mariners were reduced to ten courtesy of Gallagher-s brash challenge.
Senior Reds midfielder Lucas Pantelis had a curling free kick superbly tipped over the bar by Bradasevic as the young Reds looked to capitalise on their player advantage before Rayner latched onto a teasing Pantelis dead ball to make it 2-1.
Mariners substitute Mitch Mallia then hit back for the visitors again to set up a tense finale with just over 10 minutes to go.
Sensing all three points were there for the taking, United won a corner and again Pantelis turned provider as his in swinging left footer was met by Kostopoulos who nodded home the winner.
Match Details
Adelaide United Youth 3 (Rayner 27-/68-, Kostopoulos 89-)
Central Coast Mariners Youth 2 (Oates 31-, Mallia 77-)
Hindmarsh Stadium
Referee: Christian Verdicchio
Adelaide United: Jordan ELSEY (Jackson GROVES 49-), Matthew HALLIDAY, Evan KOSTOPOULOS, Perry MITRIS (Jordan SPADEVECCHIA 62-), Matthew MULLEN (c), Bradley NORTON, Luke OSTBYE (gk), Brett RAYNER, Liam WOODING (Francesco MONTEROSSO 62-), Lucas PANTELIS (OA)
Substitutes not used: Nick MUNRO (gk)
Yellow cards: Mullen 45+1-, Monterosso 81-
Red cards: Nil
Central Coast Mariners: David BRADASEVIC (gk), Mitchell DUKE, Nick FITZGERALD, Sam GALLAGHER, Max GLANVILLE (Zac FREEBURN 46-), Brendan GRIFFIN (Mitchell MALLIA 64-), Bernie IBINI ISEI (Nathan JAGELMAN 64-), Matthew LEWIS, Alex MANSUETO, Sam MUNRO (c), Jimmy OATES
Substitutes not used: Daniel NIZIC (gk)
Yellow cards: Lewis 32-, Gallagher 44-/65-, Mansueto 61-
Red cards: Gallagher 65-
