Western Sydney Wanderers came from two goals down to register a stirring 3-2 comeback win over Adelaide United at Coopers Stadium on Friday night.
The Reds led 2-0 after 34 minutes, with Ethan Alagich and Archie Goodwin scoring the early goals in front of a sellout home crowd.
But Marcus Antonsson’s fourth goal of the season in first-half stoppage time inspired the Wanderers’ fightback; Brandon Borrello made it 2-2 four minutes after the restart and set the stage for substitute Bozhidar Kraev to seal all three points for the visitors with the winning goal scored in the 82nd minute.
Wanderers head coach Alen Stajcic received a red card and was sent down the tunnel in second-half stoppage time as tempers flared at Coopers Stadium, but his side navigated through 11 minutes of added time to seal a dramatic win on the road.
Adelaide came into Round 10 as the only team yet to lose in the 2024-25 Isuzu UTE A-League season but failed to take the opportunity to climb to the top of the table on Friday night. Instead, Carl Veart’s side remain one point behind league-leaders Auckland FC.
The Wanderers, meanwhile, climbed up to fifth with their second-straight win and third victory in four games as Alen Stajcic’s side begin to click after a difficult start to the season.
Friday night’s defeat was the second-consecutive game in which Adelaide squandered a two-goal lead; in Round 9 the Reds led 3-1 against Sydney FC up until the 89th minute until a late fightback saw the Sky Blues clinch a point in a 2-2 draw.
The visitors began the game on top but almost fell behind in the 14th minute when Ryan Kitto stole possession off Nicolas Milanovic and fired a strike from the edge of the box just wide of the top-right corner.
Down the other end, it was Antonsson who threatened to open the scoring for the Wanderers. The Swedish striker’s powerful shot took a slight deflection on its way toward goal but Adelaide keeper James Delianov reacted quickly to push the ball away from danger.
Half an hour ticked by without a goal to either side before a clinical Adelaide attacking move ended at the feet of Alagich, who scored his first Isuzu UTE A-League goal from a tight angle.
It was a moment to savour for the boyhood Adelaide fan and the son of club legend Richie Alagich who, after 48 league appearances without a goal, opened his account in style to put the hosts on top at Coopers Stadium.
Alagich’s opener clicked Adelaide into gear and three minutes after the home side’s first goal, the Reds were two goals clear as Goodwin continued his sensational scoring form with a powerful header.
The 20-year-old came into Round 10 having scored three goals in his past two games and kept the streak alive with Adelaide’s second goal of the evening. Zach Clough supplied the delivery with a sublime cross for Goodwin who leapt at the ball and buried it past Wanderers keeper Lawrence Thomas.
Adelaide were two goals clear and cruising to half-time before Antonsson brought the Wanderers back into the game just seconds before the break.
Milanovic’s delivery off the right wing towards the back post found Antonsson in space and despite having to track backwards to meet the flight of the ball, the Wanderers striker managed to direct his header back across goal and over the line.
In Round 9, Adelaide held a two-goal lead over Sydney FC before squandering their advantage in a game that ended 3-3. On Friday night, it was a similar story for Carl Veart’s side as Brandon Borrello brought the Wanderers back level at 2-2 early in the second half.
Borrello’s equaliser inspired a period of dominance by the Wanderers who had Adelaide on the ropes through the early stages of the second half.
Milanovic had a shot tipped off the post by Delianov and Antonsson flashed a left-footed effort just wide of the target as the Wanderers pressed on in search of a third goal and the lead at Coopers Stadium.
Western Sydney had the first six shots of the second half but almost came unstuck when Adelaide attacked down the right flank through Dylan Pierias, who rattled the side netting from a tight angle.
With less than 10 minutes left in regular time, the Wanderers found their third goal of the night and it was second-half substitute Kraev who sealed all three points for the away side.
The decisive Wanderers attack was launched by young midfielder Dylan Scicluna who did superbly to win possession off Ben Folami and pick out Kraev’s run through midfield. The Bulgarian carried the ball to the edge of the box and fired a low shot toward goal which slipped under the outstretched arm of Delianov on its way into the back of the net.
