Adelaide United has defeated Melbourne City 2-1 in a behind-closed-doors friendly at City Football Academy on Tuesday.
Al Hassan Toure opened the scoring from a rehearsed corner move to continue his scintillating form in front of goal.
Jamie Maclaren equalised after the break for City but his effort was cancelled out by a Jordan Elsey sliding finish on 67 minutes.
Louis D’Arrigo impressed in midfield and was the architect behind both goals for the Reds.
AUFC Starting XI: Izzo; Strain, Elsey, Jakobsen, Kitto; Boland, D’Arrigo, Blackwood; Halloran, Toure, Mileusnić
As it happened:
6’ | Craig Noone delivers a cross from the left but his header flies wide of the back post.
14’ | GOAL! D’Arrigo’s corner is headed back across goal from Michael Jakobsen where Toure is there to head home from point-blank range.
28’ | Josh Brillante shoots from distance but his swerving effort is expertly saved by Paul Izzo.
38’ | Nikola Mileusnić gets in behind the City defence, finding himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper but his low strike is parried by Dean Bouzanis.
40’ | Ryan Strain’s cross finds Mileusnić at the back post though his header lands inches wide.
54’ | GOAL: Maclaren latches onto a long ball over the top before setting himself and placing his one-on-one finish beyond Izzo.
65’ | Mileusnić cleverly evades the attentions of two City defenders but his goal-bound strike is blocked by Harrison Delbridge.
67’ | GOAL! Elsey puts the Reds back in front by sliding in at the back post after meeting D’Arrigo’s perfectly weighted set-piece from the right wing.
68’ | Izzo produces a fantastic save to deny Noone’s curling shot which appeared to be destined for the top corner.
90’ | Delbridge’s glancing header from Noone’s corner fails to trouble to Izzo as the Reds hold on for the win.
Result details:
Tuesday, 24 September 2019
Pre-season friendly one
Melbourne City 1 (Maclaren 54’)
Adelaide United 2 (Toure 14’ Elsey 67’)
Venue: City Football Academy
Adelaide United played a second friendly following their 2-1 win, fielding a side that included some players from the Club’s Youth Team as the Reds brought over a squad of 24 for their pre-season camp to Victoria.
Striker, Kristian Opseth, bagged a brace in his starting debut as Adelaide lost 5-3 to Melbourne City in the second game. United Youth product, Jai King, was also on target for the Reds.
AUFC Starting XI: Marguš; Marrone, Abetew, Nunn, Smith; Lia, Konstandopoulos, McGree; Brook, Opseth, Niyongabire
Result details:
Tuesday, 24 September 2019
Pre-season friendly two
Melbourne City 5
Adelaide United 3 (Opseth x2, King x1)
Venue: City Football Academy
Adelaide United face Central Coast Mariners in the Semi-finals of the FFA Cup 2019 on Wednesday, 2 October at Central Coast Stadium. Kick-off is at 7.00pm ACST. Live and Exclusive on Fox Sports and Kayo Sports.
