A penalty in each half has helped Adelaide United come from behind to beat Brisbane Roar 3-1 at Moreton Daily Stadium and move into the top six.
Craig Goodwin and Stefan Mauk were both on target from the spot before the former completed his brace in clinical fashion five minutes from time, as the Reds secured their second win of the Isuzu UTE A-League 2021/22 season.
The result extends Adelaide’s unbeaten streak to four matches and provisionally climb into fifth spot with 11 points.
WHAT WENT RIGHT. WHAT WENT WRONG.
What went right: Reds’ resilience
It’s the fourth match the Reds have recovered points from losing situations this season. They have done it twice against Melbourne City and once against Melbourne Victory. However, against Brisbane was the first time they converted a fight back into three points. Conceding in the second minute obviously ensured there was ample time left in the contest, but to United’s credit they did not drop their heads and it seemed to spark them into life.
What went wrong: Sloppy goal to concede early
Adelaide were chasing the game after a needless turnover and succession of mistakes resulted in falling behind inside two minutes. Former Adelaide forward Nikola Mileusnić profited from Jacob Tratt’s inability to clear the ball before his shot wrong-footed Joe Gauci as his finish went straight down the middle of the goal. The soft concession, however did not appear to negatively affect the Reds and they clicked into gear and dominated the majority of the game, but were a little careless at times in possession.
What went right: Goodwin at the double
Craig Goodwin is undoubtedly back to his best. Following a slow start to the campaign, mitigated by a disrupted pre-season, Goodwin has been on fire to start the new year. His scintillating form has also not gone unnoticed and was rewarded with another Socceroos call-up for upcoming FIFA World Cup 2022 qualifiers against Vietnam and Oman.
Indeed, two days later, Goodwin marked the news with a brace against the Roar and those two goals takes his overall tally this season to six – all of which have arrived in his previous five games across all competitions.
After missing a penalty last weekend against Melbourne City, the 30-year-old was desperate to make amends and he did it emphatically to draw the Reds level. This time there was no stutter step, just a smooth run up and confident strike of the ball to dispatch it in the corner and send the goalkeeper the wrong way. Goodwin then sealed the triumph on 85 minutes by cutting inside and executing a sumptuous right-footed finish into the bottom corner, to cap off a blistering counter-attack on. His brace moves him joint-second behind Travis Dodd in the Club’s all-time top scoring charts with 39 goals, two behind leader Bruce Djite.
What went right: Experienced duo prove vital
Michael Jakobsen and Isaías might not be getting any younger but with age comes wisdom. The pair’s return to the starting line-up made a huge difference in United’s ability to retain possession. The experience and calming influence they provide is invaluable. The Spaniard had a pass completion rate of 90% and won three duels. In defence, Jakobsen’s proficiency in anticipating imminent danger and commit timely challenges is immense. A special mention must also go to fellow Spaniard Juande, who alongside Isaías, screened the back-four particularly well.
What went wrong: Brisbane afforded too many chances
Despite the Reds being comfortable for the most part, they did invite pressure on themselves occasionally and were caught in transition a couple of times. Nikola Mileusnić arguably could have added two more goals to his opener, had he been sharper in front of goal. The winger’s speed did cause a few issues for Adelaide, particularly down the right side of the field.
Match details:
Sunday, 23 January
Isuzu UTE A-League 2021/22 – Matchweek 11
Brisbane Roar 1 (Mileusnic 2’)
Adelaide United 3 (Goodwin (p) 24’, 85’, Mauk (p) 48’)
Venue: Moreton Daily Stadium
Attendance: 5,269
