An incredible second-half fightback has seen Adelaide United come from two goals down to draw 2-2 against Sydney FC at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday.
Bobo bagged a brace with a goal in each half for Sydney before the Reds scored two goals in four minutes after half-time to turn the match on its head.
Jordan Elsey pulled a goal back in the 74th minute from close range against the defending champions.
Tomi Juric then scored for the third consecutive game, executing a brilliant free-kick to rescue a deserved point for the visitors who displayed immense character and resolve.
Rhyan Grant was dismissed for a straight red for deliberately fouling Craig Goodwin, who was through on goal in the final minute of stoppage time.
The result means Adelaide move into equal second on the A-League table with 30 points.
Adelaide made a promising start in the opening 10 minutes of the clashes but they had little to show for its early control.
The hosts struck first on 19 minutes after Milos Ninkovic’s threaded through ball picked out Alexander Baumjohann and his cross was well-finished by Bobo.
Sydney began to grow in confidence and threatened at times on the counter with Adelaide enjoying more of the possession.
Juric came close to equalising before the break but his spectacular volleyed effort flew agonisingly wide.
The Reds began the second-half unconvincingly and appeared to be implementing a high defensive line and almost got caught a couple of times.
And those patterns of play foreshadowed what was to come as the Sky Blues made it 2-0 in the 51st minute.
Baumjohann played in Kosta Barbarouses and his heavy touch was smothered by Joe Gauci which fortuitously ricocheted into the path of Bobo for a simple tap in.
Despite seemingly being out of the contest, the Reds continued to probe and demonstrated immense resilience and determination.
They halved the deficit through Elsey after meeting Goodwin’s low cross for his first of the season and incidentally scored the Club’s 600th goal in the competition.
Four minutes later, Adelaide restored parity courtesy of a well-worked set-piece routine; Goodwin rolled the ball for Juric before arrowing his free-kick beyond Andrew Redmayne and into the bottom corner in the 79th minute.
It was the 29-year-old’s seventh goal for the campaign and sixth in his past five matches.
The Reds then had a couple of chances to net the winner via Louis D’Arrigo and Josh Cavallo but they could not breach Redmayne.
Grant was then brandished a red card for denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity in the third minute of stoppage time following a blatant foul on Goodwin, but he hit the subsequent free-kick into the wall.
Team news
Carl Veart made just the one change to his starting XI with Louis D’Arrigo straight back into the side from suspension at the expense of Joe Caletti.
Key moments
19’ | GOAL: Bobo makes it 1-0 after Ninkovic releases a ball wide to Baumjohann and his cross is turned in by the Brazilian.
40’ | CHANCE! Halloran clips a cross just behind Juric and his acrobatic attempt lands inches wide of the far post.
https://players.brightcove.net/5498268479001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6249301530001
51’ | GOAL: Bobo increases Sydney’s lead rather serendipitously as Gauci smothers Barbarouses’ dribbled attempt before it ricochets to the Brazilian who places it into the net.
59′ | CHANCE! Stefan Mauk fires over the bar following Ryan Strain’s cutback.
https://players.brightcove.net/5498268479001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6249302743001
75’ | GOAL! Elsey connects with Goodwin’s cross to throw the Reds a lifeline.
https://players.brightcove.net/5498268479001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6249303322001
79’ | GOAL! Goodwin rolls the ball into the path of Juric and the striker sends his free-kick into the bottom corner.
https://players.brightcove.net/5498268479001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6249302957001
Match details:
Sunday, 18 April 2021
A-League 2020/21 – Matchweek 17
Sydney FC 2 (Bobo 19’, 51’)
Adelaide United 2 (Elsey 75’, Juric 79’)
Venue: Leichhardt Oval
Crowd: 7,718
