Adelaide United FC has rallied to see off an Alessandro Del Piero inspired Sydney FC 2-1 at Allianz Stadium tonight.
Adelaide United FC has rallied to see off an Alessandro Del Piero inspired Sydney FC 2-1 at Allianz Stadium tonight.
A first Hyundai A-League goal from winger Fabio Ferreira coupled with Qantas Socceroos bound Dario Vidosic-s fifth of the season leaves the Reds with 19 points out of a possible 24 from the opening eight rounds and ensures they stay on top of the table.
Vidosic was a standout for the Reds, the playmaker putting on a display that would certainly do his chances of a start in the Australian side for the upcoming tournament in Hong Kong no harm whatsoever.
“He was on fire tonight. He wants his spot back in the Aussie team and if he plays like that he deserves it,” Kosmina said of Vidosic-s performance.
Up against a spirited Sydney team that has had the blowtorch put on it after its less than favourable beginning to Season 8, the Reds were made to fight all the way to secure all three points and just their fourth win from 13 attempts at Allianz Stadium.
After the match, Coach John Kosmina credited his side-s ability to respond and find something extra in the tank when Sydney came at them hard and equalised 12 minutes into the second half.
“We got ourselves in a bit of trouble, we started to rush things…even in the first half when we were comfortable we stopped knocking the ball around and tried to force the pace,” Kosmina said.
“We let Sydney back in the game and it became a game of transition. They (Sydney) were always threatening, they-re a good side and Del Piero is clever, he can always hurt you.”
“Our guys showed a lot of character, a stack of character to stay alive in the game and score the winner like we did.”
The first goal took 21 minutes to come but it could have been earlier as Vidosic and Ferreira combined to create an opening in just the 2nd minute before Del Piero forced a sharp save out of Eugene Galekovic.
On 14 minutes the Reds were unlucky not be in front after having what appeared to be a legitimate goal disallowed for offside after brilliant interplay between United-s Argentine duo Jeronimo Neuamnn and Marcelo Carrusca.
Evan Kostopoulos then tested Ivan Necevski as the Reds were weaving some impressive flowing movement in the attacking third and in the 20th minute they deservedly went in front.
A masterful flick on from a long searching ball by Vidosic allowed Ferreira plenty of time in the penalty area to aim and fire convincingly past Necevski.
The interplay in the attacking half was being complemented by the efforts of Osama Malik, Nigel Boogaard and Iain Fyfe, who had their hands full with a 38 year old Del Piero who still threatens to make something happen whenever he is on the ball.
Del Piero was doing his utmost to get the Sky Blues back into the game as they tried to stem the tide, Galekovic called upon to tip a dipping free kick from the Italian legend over the bar just before half time.
The Reds were weathering a Sky Blues storm but in the 57th minute it was a lightning quick Yau that drew the home side level as he out sprinted Fyfe and coolly slotted the ball past Galekovic.
Neumann tried to find a quick response as he hit a hard low straight at Necevski, Kosmina making a double change with just under 20 minutes to go as he brought on Fabian Barbiero and Bruce Djite for the two Argentineans.
Djite had a couple of half chances to restore the lead before a rare forward run from Boogaard triggered what would prove to be the winner.
The defender took the ball into the attacking third, played it out to Djite before getting the ball back and then watching his shot canon into the underside of the crossbar.
Kostopoulos had an air swing at the rebound before Vidosic stepped up from behind him and showed him how it was done, sliding the ball into the back of the net.
Match Details
Sydney FC 1 (Yau 57-)
Adelaide United FC 2 (Ferreira 21-, Vidosic 88-)
Referee: Peter Green
Crowd: 13,317 @ Allianz Stadium
Sydney FC starting line-up: 1.Ivan Necevski (gk), 2.Sebastian Ryall, 3.Fabio, 4.Pascal Bosschaart, 7.Brett Emerton, 8.Adam Griffiths (23.Rhyan Grant 78-), 10.Alessandro Del Piero, 15.Terry McFlynn (c) (16.Joel Chianese 58-), 17.Terry Antonis, 21.Yairo Yau, 22.Ali Abbas (6.Jason Culina 68-)
Substitutes not used: 20.Vedran Janjetovic (gk)
Yellow Cards: Griffiths 7-, Antonis 19-, Yau 27-, Ryall 63-, Chianese 77-
Red Cards: Nil
Adelaide United starting line-up: 1.Eugene Galekovic (gk) (c), 2.Osama Malik, 3.Nigel Boogaard, 5.Iain Fyfe, 6.Cassio, 8.Marcelo Carrusca (18.Fabian Barbiero 72-), 10.Dario Vidosic, 14.Cameron Watson, 21.Jeronimo Neumann (11.Bruce Djite 72-), 22.Fabio Ferreira (17.Iain Ramsay 85-), 23.Evan Kostopoulos
Substitutes not used: 20.Paul Izzo (gk)
Yellow Cards: Cassio 37-, Boogaard 72-, Barbiero 83-
Red Cards: Nil
