The Adelaide United Youth Team has defeated the Melbourne City Youth Team, 3-1, in Round 6 of the Foxtel National Youth League at the Elite Systems Football Centre on Saturday morning.
Melbourne City was quick out of the blocks in the opening stages, finding space on the left flank through Stefan Zinni. But United grew into the game and played the ball from the middle of the park well.
The Young Reds started to build momentum through the flanks as Jordan O’Doherty and Antoni Trimboli started to create troubling runs at the Melbourne City defence.
On 30 minutes, Captain, Adam Piscioneri, sent a beautifully weighted through ball into the path of O’Doherty who cut back to playmaker Dylan Smith, but his shot narrowly missed the far post.
Adelaide, who although were in control of possession early, went a goal down after a free kick from 40 yards by Captain of City’s Youth, Mahmut Ali Eyigun, was disallowed.
The half time whistle blew with neither side able to provide the break through with the match at 0-0.
After the restart, both sides came out of the blocks early however it was United who punished the visitors on 53 minutes, as an expert low driven cross by Oliver Zafridis found O’Doherty who neatly tucked the ball away.
However, Melbourne City did find an equalizer seven minutes later, as Zinni cut in from the right and played a sublime ball into the path of Luke Gallo who tapped the ball in with ease.
Although conceding, the Reds were not to be denied at home and three minutes later found themselves in the lead again as Trimboli popped up and acrobatically hit the ball into the side of the net on an acute angle restoring the Young Reds lead.
The Young Reds continued to penetrate the City defence, as both O’Doherty and Smith were able to operate and get in behind City’s two centre backs.
Adelaide all but sealed the points in the 75th minute, as Tom Love cut the ball back to Trimboli who made no mistake punishing Melbourne City, making it 3-1 to the home side.
As the whistle blew, Trimboli’s brace and O’Doherty single strike was enough for the Young Reds to remain top of Conference A and five points clear.
Head Coach of United, Michael Valkanis, expressed his pleasure in defeating a side like Melbourne City but states there is plenty more football to play.
“Melbourne City are a very good youth team and are a very good barometer of where any other youth team’s at, so we were pretty focused and we knew it was going to be tough game but the boys played really well and got a fantastic result,” said Valkanis.
“We needed to rise to the occasion today and I thought our defence stood up as Melbourne City are a very good attacking side, but again we took our chances and that at the end of the day was the difference.
“Overall, it was a very good team performance and I thought everyone in the side played their role which assisted us in getting the three points.”
