A sensational brace from Amlani Tatu helped Adelaide United’s Young Reds secure a vital 2–0 win away to FK Beograd on Sunday evening.
Tatu opened the scoring with a stunning strike in the eighth minute, before adding a superb solo second 15 minutes from time to seal United’s first win in seven matches.
Head Coach Paul Vanis made four changes to the starting XI from the side that drew with Campbelltown City, with Ethan Cox returning in goal and taking the captain’s armband. Israel Mbula-Monga, Fabian Talladira and Malual Nichola also came into the starting side, while Max Vartuli, Liam Stam, Daniel Wojcik and Deklan Cooper-Ndambuki made way.
On the bench, Campbell Mattner was named as the reserve goalkeeper, with Luke Hurst and Keron Longhe added to the matchday squad alongside Fabian Grelli, Chris Irakoze and Mitch Knight.
The Reds started brightly and looked to take full advantage of Beograd’s heavy schedule following their midweek Australia Cup appearance.
United took the lead in incredible fashion. Ali Mohtashami won possession from Brendon Centofanti midway inside the Beograd half, sparking a Reds attack. Tatu picked up the loose ball, shifted one way then the other, sending Centofanti to ground with brilliant footwork before unleashing a superb strike from just outside the box into the top corner.
Beograd then began to build pressure, with Cox forced to palm away a Lorenzo Boselli strike on the quarter-hour mark, before also dealing with a follow-up header from Atkinson.
Just before the break, Beograd substitute Natsiopoulos struck from distance, but Cox was again equal to it, pushing the effort away.
The Reds should have doubled their lead straight after half-time. Some neat build-up from the back eventually found Tatu in the box, who worked his way into a one-on-one position, only for Alex Woodlands to stand tall and deny him a second.
Returning substitute Keron Longhe also went close on 62 minutes, striking straight at the goalkeeper after another well-worked United move.
But the decisive moment arrived 15 minutes from time. Konstandopoulos fired from distance straight at Cox, who reacted quickly to release substitute Chris Irakoze down the right. Irakoze cut inside and, after a challenge, the ball ricocheted into Tatu’s path centrally outside the box. Just as he had in the first half, Tatu shifted one way then the other before rifling a left-footed strike into the far corner to give the Reds a valuable 2–0 lead.
Beograd pushed late, but Cox preserved the clean sheet deep into injury time, producing a superb save to tip Boselli’s thunderous volley over the bar.
Next up for the Young Reds is a clash with Sturt Lions with four games remaining in the regular season.
Squad
Starting XI
#15 Israel Mbula-Monga (off 60’)
#40 Ethan Cox (C) (GK)
#46 Ali Mohtashami (off 60’)
#48 Bae Versace
#52 Sotirios Phillis
#62 Fabian Talladira (off 79’)
#65 Joey Garuccio (off 79’)
#67 Luka Blazevic
#74 Amlani Tatu (off 81’)
#78 Malual Nichola
#79 Feyzo Kasumovic
Substitutes
#75 Fabian Grelli (on 79’)
#80 Campbell Mattner (GK)
#82 Chris Irakoze (on 79’)
#83 Mitch Knight (on 81’)
#86 Luke Hurst (on 60’)
#93 Keron Longhe (on 60’)
